Disposing of riba money in public interests

The questioner : There is a question regarding riba money. People are often confused about where to spend it and how to dispose of it. Some hold that it should be spent on public facilities and must not be given to the poor, nor used to buy books, build mosques, or anything else.

The Shaykh : We hold that a person should dispose of it, so whatever benefits the Muslims, whether generally or specifically, is fine. Even if he gives it to a person to use it for his marriage, there is nothing wrong with that.

The questioner : What is this talk?

The Shaykh : Or if he buys books with it, there is nothing wrong, or if he repairs a mosque with it, there is nothing wrong, because the man wants to get rid of it.

The questioner : Is it not said that it is from evil earnings?

The Shaykh : This is part of his repentance; he wants to repent. He wants to repent. Even if he intends to give it as charity, and it is not accepted as charity by Allah the Exalted, there is no blame on the recipient. The recipient received money that he was entitled to, so he owes nothing. Glory be to You, O Allah, and praise be to You. I bear witness that there is no god but You. I seek Your forgiveness and I repent to You.