What is the ruling on placing bank interest to build houses, hospitals, and schools in East Asia, given that they are very poor, knowing that the merchants here are compelled to do so?
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The questioner : Allow me one last question, or are you unable to?
The Shaykh : Please go ahead.
The questioner : What is the ruling on placing bank interest to build houses, hospitals, or schools for Muslims in the East Asia region, who are extremely poor, and the bank interest here—we merchants here are compelled to do so, we are compelled.
The Shaykh : First, before answering your question, I must warn you that it is not permissible for you or any other Muslim to change the legal terms to innovative terms that alter the legal rulings. You call riba interest. Riba is not interest; rather, it is misguidance. This warning must remain in your mind at all times, such that you erase the word "interest" from your tongue and it does not slip from your tongue, and you establish in its place the word riba, which is the legal term for this interest that the disbelievers, who do not prohibit or permit it, call interest. So we followed them in name and action. Therefore, it is not permissible to call riba interest. This is a note, and wait for the continuation.
The questioner : Fine.
The Shaykh : Yes, and upon you be peace, the mercy of Allah, and His blessings. Open?
Once you know this, I say that the riba called interest is a fruit resulting from the forbidden transaction, which is...
Another questioner: Welcome, my Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Welcome... which is depositing money in banks that deal in riba. Muslims should remember the saying of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)Sahih Muslim 1598 So there is no excuse for a Muslim to eat riba, nor is there an excuse for him to have riba eaten by others. And whoever deposits his money in a bank, whatever the name of that bank may be, this action is not permissible, because the curse mentioned by the Messenger (peace be upon him) in the hadith includes him. And I must repeat to your ears once again the saying of our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) Sahih Muslim 1598 Therefore, if you know this and that, you know the answer to your question: it is not permissible to deposit money in the bank, nor is it permissible to deposit it with the intention of benefiting poor Muslims or a group of Muslims with that riba. This is the answer to the question. I hope you understood it?
Allahu Akbar.
The questioner : Peace be upon you.
The Shaykh : And peace be upon you.
The questioner : Excuse me, it seems the line was cut...
The Shaykh : Okay, what did you understand?
The questioner : I understood that it is not permissible for me to say bank interest.
The Shaykh : Good, and then?
The questioner : I say riba.
The Shaykh : And then?
The questioner : And then, I heard nothing.
The Shaykh : There is no power and no strength except with Allah.
Another questioner: ...
The questioner : I apologize, my Shaykh.
The Shaykh : In any case, I will summarize. I spoke at length. I say it is not permissible to deal with banks with any intention, with the purpose of taking riba and benefiting a group of the Ummah with it, because the Messenger saysSahih Muslim 1598
The questioner : Yes
The Shaykh : We must stop fighting Allah and His Messenger by engaging in riba, whether by eating it or by having it eaten, in case the speech is clear?
The questioner : Very clear.
The Shaykh : Okay, I entrust you to Allah, and goodbye until another night, and peace be upon you.
The questioner : And upon you be peace, the mercy of Allah, and His blessings, our Shaykh.
Another questioner: May Allah assist you, our teacher.
The Shaykh : May Allah preserve you.
Another questioner: How are you?
The Shaykh : How are you doing?
Another questioner: May Allah preserve you and bless you.
The Shaykh : We are well.
Another questioner: May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : May Allah keep you safe.
Another questioner: Abdullah al-Athari sends his greetings.
The questioner : ... .
Another questioner: Yes, from Turkey.
Another questioner: Turkish.
Another questioner: Yes, that is right.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The Shaykh : Please go ahead.
The questioner : What is the ruling on placing bank interest to build houses, hospitals, or schools for Muslims in the East Asia region, who are extremely poor, and the bank interest here—we merchants here are compelled to do so, we are compelled.
The Shaykh : First, before answering your question, I must warn you that it is not permissible for you or any other Muslim to change the legal terms to innovative terms that alter the legal rulings. You call riba interest. Riba is not interest; rather, it is misguidance. This warning must remain in your mind at all times, such that you erase the word "interest" from your tongue and it does not slip from your tongue, and you establish in its place the word riba, which is the legal term for this interest that the disbelievers, who do not prohibit or permit it, call interest. So we followed them in name and action. Therefore, it is not permissible to call riba interest. This is a note, and wait for the continuation.
The questioner : Fine.
The Shaykh : Yes, and upon you be peace, the mercy of Allah, and His blessings. Open?
Once you know this, I say that the riba called interest is a fruit resulting from the forbidden transaction, which is...
Another questioner: Welcome, my Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Welcome... which is depositing money in banks that deal in riba. Muslims should remember the saying of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) cursed the accepter of interest and its payer, and one who records it, and the two witnesses
لعن الله آكل الربا وموكله وكاتبه وشاهديهAllah's Messenger (ﷺ) cursed the accepter of interest and its payer, and one who records it, and the two witnesses
لعن الله أكل الربا وموكله وكاتبه وشاهديهAllahu Akbar.
The questioner : Peace be upon you.
The Shaykh : And peace be upon you.
The questioner : Excuse me, it seems the line was cut...
The Shaykh : Okay, what did you understand?
The questioner : I understood that it is not permissible for me to say bank interest.
The Shaykh : Good, and then?
The questioner : I say riba.
The Shaykh : And then?
The questioner : And then, I heard nothing.
The Shaykh : There is no power and no strength except with Allah.
Another questioner: ...
The questioner : I apologize, my Shaykh.
The Shaykh : In any case, I will summarize. I spoke at length. I say it is not permissible to deal with banks with any intention, with the purpose of taking riba and benefiting a group of the Ummah with it, because the Messenger says
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) cursed the accepter of interest and its payer, and one who records it, and the two witnesses
لعن الله آكل الربا وموكله وكاتبه وشاهديهThe questioner : Yes
The Shaykh : We must stop fighting Allah and His Messenger by engaging in riba, whether by eating it or by having it eaten, in case the speech is clear?
The questioner : Very clear.
The Shaykh : Okay, I entrust you to Allah, and goodbye until another night, and peace be upon you.
The questioner : And upon you be peace, the mercy of Allah, and His blessings, our Shaykh.
Another questioner: May Allah assist you, our teacher.
The Shaykh : May Allah preserve you.
Another questioner: How are you?
The Shaykh : How are you doing?
Another questioner: May Allah preserve you and bless you.
The Shaykh : We are well.
Another questioner: May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : May Allah keep you safe.
Another questioner: Abdullah al-Athari sends his greetings.
The questioner : ... .
Another questioner: Yes, from Turkey.
Another questioner: Turkish.
Another questioner: Yes, that is right.
The Shaykh : Yes.