What is the ruling on taking riba-based interest and spending it on charitable projects?
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The questioner : Shaykh, some of the students sent abroad, may Allah bless you, some of the students sent abroad, have a rumor or something that there is a fatwa permitting the taking of riba-based interest from banks abroad and investing it in charitable associations.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : Whether abroad or inside the country.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : The reason is that some banks use this interest to distribute it to associations, whether Christian or Jewish, or in works against Islam. So the problem now is that some of them believe these rumors as if they were fatwas issued by known scholars or students of knowledge. What is your opinion, O honorable Shaykh? May Allah reward you with good?
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : There is no juristic preference against an explicit text, and no acceptance of a fatwa that contradicts the Book and the Sunnah. The Noble Qur'an says, and Allah Mighty and Majestic says in it:[Al-Baqarah 2:278] [Al-Baqarah 2:278-279] And in the Sunnah, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) informed on the day of 'Arafah in the Farewell Pilgrimage that the riba of the pre-Islamic age of ignorance is abolished, meaning the riba that was in the pre-Islamic age of ignorance is abolished. And the first riba I abolish is the riba of al-Abbas ibn 'Abd al-Muttalib. So he abolished the riba that was in the pre-Islamic age of ignorance before it was prohibited in Islam and he annulled it. So how can we exercise juristic preference in taking this thing and spending it in charitable interests in the face of this text? This is not permissible. And how will a person face his Lord on the Day of Resurrection while he says such a thing? Allah says such a thing and you say, "I will take it by juristic preference." I see that this is a wrong fatwa, prohibited. As for their saying that these people put it in things against the Muslims, all their wealth, from the beginning to the end, they want it against the Muslims. So do not trade with them and do not buy from them. If you buy a commodity from them and claim that they use it against the Muslims, the profit you give them, they will make it against the Muslims, and there is no difference. Then, is this riba the earning of your wealth? Answer, O my brother? Answer, O questioner?
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : No, answer my question: is it the earning of your wealth?
The questioner : No, no.
The Shaykh : Because your wealth, perhaps they will make it and trade with it and lose, so it is not for us to... it is only riba that they themselves place. And if that is the case, then you are not the one who is negligent, and you are not the one who assists against the Muslims, because with great ease you say, "This is not the profit of my wealth. I do not know about my wealth when they disposed of it, whether they profited or lost." So the important thing, O my brother, and the speech is for everyone, do not exercise juristic preference in anything that Allah and His Messenger have prohibited. And if you leave this, you will gain many things.
First, you make these disbelievers know that you are a true Muslim, because the disbelievers, especially their scholars, know that riba is forbidden, forbidden in the Torah and the Gospel, and in Islam as well. 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.
Second, if you leave this, especially if it is millions, it obligates the Muslims to form 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. Did you understand? As for our following the people and exercising juristic preference with our minds in what the Shari'ah has prohibited, this is wrong. This is of the same kind as what the deniers of the divine attributes, from the Asha'irah and others, exercised juristic preference in, denying of the attributes of Allah what Allah has affirmed for Himself, on the pretext that the intellect denies 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 who follow. We ask Allah to grant us and you adherence to His religion and death upon it. Indeed, He is capable of all things. And here the session ends, because the call to prayer for the midday prayer has been made, and praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon his family and all his Companions.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : Whether abroad or inside the country.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : The reason is that some banks use this interest to distribute it to associations, whether Christian or Jewish, or in works against Islam. So the problem now is that some of them believe these rumors as if they were fatwas issued by known scholars or students of knowledge. What is your opinion, O honorable Shaykh? May Allah reward you with good?
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : There is no juristic preference against an explicit text, and no acceptance of a fatwa that contradicts the Book and the Sunnah. The Noble Qur'an says, and Allah Mighty and Majestic says in it:
O you who have believed, fear Allah and give up what remains [due to you] of interest, if you should be believers.
يا أيّها الذين آمنوا اتّقوا الله وذروا ما بقي من الرّبا إن كنتم مؤمنينgive 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 Messenger
ذروا ما بقي من الرّبا إن كنتم مؤمنين فإن لم تفعلوا فأذنوا بحرب من الله ورسولهThe questioner : ...
The Shaykh : No, answer my question: is it the earning of your wealth?
The questioner : No, no.
The Shaykh : Because your wealth, perhaps they will make it and trade with it and lose, so it is not for us to... it is only riba that they themselves place. And if that is the case, then you are not the one who is negligent, and you are not the one who assists against the Muslims, because with great ease you say, "This is not the profit of my wealth. I do not know about my wealth when they disposed of it, whether they profited or lost." So the important thing, O my brother, and the speech is for everyone, do not exercise juristic preference in anything that Allah and His Messenger have prohibited. And if you leave this, you will gain many things.
First, you make these disbelievers know that you are a true Muslim, because the disbelievers, especially their scholars, know that riba is forbidden, forbidden in the Torah and the Gospel, and in Islam as well. 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.
Second, if you leave this, especially if it is millions, it obligates the Muslims to form 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. Did you understand? As for our following the people and exercising juristic preference with our minds in what the Shari'ah has prohibited, this is wrong. This is of the same kind as what the deniers of the divine attributes, from the Asha'irah and others, exercised juristic preference in, denying of the attributes of Allah what Allah has affirmed for Himself, on the pretext that the intellect denies 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 who follow. We ask Allah to grant us and you adherence to His religion and death upon it. Indeed, He is capable of all things. And here the session ends, because the call to prayer for the midday prayer has been made, and praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon his family and all his Companions.