How does a repentant person dispose of usurious money?

The questioner : Regarding interest, a person who had been depositing his money in the bank has now repented. What is the ruling on the interest? They gave him the interest; should he throw it away or use it for something?

The Shaykh : First, do not call riba "interest," and do not be led by the whip of the general public, nor be lashed by the whip of the general public. Do you know the whip of the general public? This is the whip of the general public, and you have admitted it, saying, "This is what they say." Who says it this way? The general public, who are heedless of the Shari'ah of Allah. This is called riba, , so they call it by a name other than its true name, "interest." So do not be dragged along by the whip of the general public, and do not be lashed by these whips by which the general public is driven. After that, we say that for this riba, you have two options, one of which I consider stronger than the other. One option is to leave it in the bank, yes, leave it in the bank. The other option, which I consider stronger, is to take it and spend it on public utilities. By public utilities, we mean something from which the general public benefits, not a specific individual, even if that individual is poor. Public utilities, for example, paving a road, or bringing a water supply to a place that needs water, and so on. Is the answer clear?

The questioner : Is that clear?