My mother has an inheritance. The heirs used to deal in riba (usury or interest), both taking and giving. Now they want to get rid of the riba, and they are no longer taking riba, and
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The questioner : number six: My mother has an inheritance. The heirs used to deal in riba (usury or interest), both taking and giving. Now they want to get rid of the riba, and they are no longer taking riba, but they are forced to pay the bank with riba because they had previously borrowed from the bank, and they must settle the bank's debts. Knowing that they have buildings with lawful rental income, is it permissible for us to take anything from my mother's money or accept her gifts?
The Shaykh : The question is actually weak and unclear in some aspects. It also appears to have two parts, meaning it contains two questions. The first question, as we understand it, is that this mother inherited money from her deceased relatives, and she may have had siblings who inherited with her. They have debts in the banks that are based on riba (usury or interest). The question is: Is it permissible for them to pay off the debts they owe to the banks with riba? The answer is, of course, no. Because it is obligatory for everyone, assuming they know that dealing in riba is forbidden, to stop immediately and never to think of returning to what Allah has forbidden again, no matter how apparent the material justifications may be. If it is possible to get rid of paying the riba-based debts, then that is fine. Otherwise, this mother and those in her situation should pay from their lawful money, rather than continuing to deal in riba and paying riba in exchange for riba. This is the answer to the first part of the question.
The second part can be understood from what has been said before. It is best to summarize it as follows: If this girl can avoid benefiting from anything of her mother's money, whether it be food or a gift, then that is fine. Otherwise, let her fear Allah as much as she is able to do so, in order to maintain her mother's pleasure and avoid creating a severance between her and her daughter.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : The question is actually weak and unclear in some aspects. It also appears to have two parts, meaning it contains two questions. The first question, as we understand it, is that this mother inherited money from her deceased relatives, and she may have had siblings who inherited with her. They have debts in the banks that are based on riba (usury or interest). The question is: Is it permissible for them to pay off the debts they owe to the banks with riba? The answer is, of course, no. Because it is obligatory for everyone, assuming they know that dealing in riba is forbidden, to stop immediately and never to think of returning to what Allah has forbidden again, no matter how apparent the material justifications may be. If it is possible to get rid of paying the riba-based debts, then that is fine. Otherwise, this mother and those in her situation should pay from their lawful money, rather than continuing to deal in riba and paying riba in exchange for riba. This is the answer to the first part of the question.
The second part can be understood from what has been said before. It is best to summarize it as follows: If this girl can avoid benefiting from anything of her mother's money, whether it be food or a gift, then that is fine. Otherwise, let her fear Allah as much as she is able to do so, in order to maintain her mother's pleasure and avoid creating a severance between her and her daughter.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.