The ruling on bank interest and its permissibility, and whether the one who permits it considers riba (usury or interest) lawful

The questioner:
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. Is the one who permits bank interest considered to be treating riba (usury or interest) as lawful?

The Shaykh:
Yes, the one who permits bank interest is treating riba (usury or interest) as lawful. This is because bank interest means that the bank lends with interest; it lends a sum of money and recovers more than that after a period of time. This is explicit riba (usury or interest), this is clear, explicit riba (usury or interest). Or it says, "I will deal with you; give me your money, and I will buy and sell and give you a specific amount." This is also not permissible. Fixing the profit at a specific amount is not permissible. Rather, the profit must be shared; the profit is shared, so your share is a quarter, or a half, whether it increases or decreases. As for fixing a specific amount that the bank gives you, this is not permissible; this is riba (usury or interest). However, the one who issues a fatwa (a scholarly legal ruling) permitting this is not declared a disbeliever, given the existence of scholarly disagreement. Even if the disagreement is not the stronger position or correct, this averts the declaration of disbelief. The disagreement averts the declaration of disbelief because it is a doubtful matter by which the declaration of disbelief is averted.

The questioner:
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah preserve you. Is the presence of riba (usury or interest) banks in the country evidence that they are considered lawful?

The Shaykh:
No, no, it is not evidence that they are considered lawful. But it is evidence of committing the forbidden and sin, and it is not evidence of considering riba (usury or interest) lawful. One may use something that is forbidden without believing it to be lawful. Yes, it is among the sins. Yes.