Disposing of interest-based profits in charitable projects
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Some of the students sent abroad have heard a rumor that there is a fatwa permitting the taking of interest-based profits from banks abroad and investing them in charitable associations, whether abroad or domestically. The reason is that some banks use these profits to distribute them to Christian or Jewish associations, or for works against Islam. The problem now is that some of them believe these rumors to be fatwas issued by scholars or well-known students of knowledge. What is your opinion, O Shaykh?
There is no juristic preference in the face of an explicit text, and no acceptance of a fatwa that contradicts the Book and the Sunnah.The Noble Qur'an says, Allah the Mighty and Majestic: [al-Baqarah: 278-279] , And in the Sunnah, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) announced on the Day of 'Arafah during the Farewell Pilgrimage: (The interest of the pre-Islamic age of ignorance is abolished -Meaning: The interest that existed in the pre-Islamic age of ignorance is abolished, and the first interest I am abolishing is the interest of 'Abbas ibn 'Abd al-Muttalib) So he abolished the interest that existed in the pre-Islamic age of ignorance before it was prohibited in Islam and rendered it void. How can we exercise juristic preference, in the face of this text, to take this thing and dispose of it in charitable interests? This is not permissible. And how will a person face his Lord on the Day of Resurrection while saying such things?And you say: We take it by way of juristic preference. I see this as a wrong and prohibited fatwa.
As for their claim that these people put it into things against the Muslims, all their wealth, from the beginning to the end, they intend to use it against the Muslims. So do not trade with them or buy from them. If you buy a commodity from them and claim that they take it from the Muslims, the profit you give them, they will use it against the Muslims, and there is no difference. Then, is this interest a gain of your wealth? Because your wealth, perhaps they will use it and trade with it and lose it, so it is not an increase of your property. Rather, it is interest that they themselves place. If that is the case, then you are not the one who is negligent, and you are not the one who is aiding against the Muslims.Because with ease you say: This is not a financial profit. I do not know what they did with it, whether they profited or lost.
So the important thing—my brother, and this is for everyone—is that you do not exercise juristic preference for anything that Allah and His Messenger have prohibited.And if you leave this, you have gained many things: 1- Let these disbelievers know that you are truly a Muslim; because they are disbelievers—and especially their scholars—they know that riba is forbidden. It is forbidden in the Torah and the Gospel and in Islam. So if you leave this, they will know that you are a true believer and that you will not prefer the worldly life over the Hereafter.
2- If you leave this, and especially if it involves millions, it becomes obligatory for the Muslims to establish Islamic banks and be independent in their transactions, as we heard today on the radio in London that the Muslims in England are demanding Islamic banks and that the government is studying this request. As for us following the people and using our minds to exercise juristic preference for what the Shari'ah has prohibited, this is a mistake. This is of the same kind as what the deniers of the divine attributes, such as the Asha'irah and others, exercised juristic preference for in denying what Allah attributes to Himself, on the pretext that the mind rejects it. Hold fast to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger, for they are the ones to be followed, not the ones to follow.
We ask Allah to grant us and you the ability to hold fast to His religion and to die upon it. Indeed, He is capable of all things. And with this, the session has ended, and all praise is to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon his family and all his Companions.
There is no juristic preference in the face of an explicit text, and no acceptance of a fatwa that contradicts the Book and the Sunnah.The Noble Qur'an says, Allah the Mighty and Majestic:
(278) O you who have believed, fear Allah and give up what remains [due to you] of interest, if you should be believers. (279) And if you do not, then be informed of a war [against you] from Allah and His
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَذَرُوا مَا بَقِيَ مِنَ الرِّبا إِنْ كُنْتُمْ مُؤْمِنِينَ * فَإِنْ لَمْ تَفْعَلُوا فَأْذَنُوا بِحَرْبٍ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِAs for their claim that these people put it into things against the Muslims, all their wealth, from the beginning to the end, they intend to use it against the Muslims. So do not trade with them or buy from them. If you buy a commodity from them and claim that they take it from the Muslims, the profit you give them, they will use it against the Muslims, and there is no difference. Then, is this interest a gain of your wealth? Because your wealth, perhaps they will use it and trade with it and lose it, so it is not an increase of your property. Rather, it is interest that they themselves place. If that is the case, then you are not the one who is negligent, and you are not the one who is aiding against the Muslims.Because with ease you say: This is not a financial profit. I do not know what they did with it, whether they profited or lost.
So the important thing—my brother, and this is for everyone—is that you do not exercise juristic preference for anything that Allah and His Messenger have prohibited.And if you leave this, you have gained many things: 1- Let these disbelievers know that you are truly a Muslim; because they are disbelievers—and especially their scholars—they know that riba is forbidden. It is forbidden in the Torah and the Gospel and in Islam. So if you leave this, they will know that you are a true believer and that you will not prefer the worldly life over the Hereafter.
2- If you leave this, and especially if it involves millions, it becomes obligatory for the Muslims to establish Islamic banks and be independent in their transactions, as we heard today on the radio in London that the Muslims in England are demanding Islamic banks and that the government is studying this request. As for us following the people and using our minds to exercise juristic preference for what the Shari'ah has prohibited, this is a mistake. This is of the same kind as what the deniers of the divine attributes, such as the Asha'irah and others, exercised juristic preference for in denying what Allah attributes to Himself, on the pretext that the mind rejects it. Hold fast to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger, for they are the ones to be followed, not the ones to follow.
We ask Allah to grant us and you the ability to hold fast to His religion and to die upon it. Indeed, He is capable of all things. And with this, the session has ended, and all praise is to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon his family and all his Companions.