What is the ruling on the money that the bank takes from customers, which is a very small percentage?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : Peace be upon you.
In a question, O Shaykh, regarding... we have specific papers for twenty months and six months. When we go to the bank, they take a small percentage, three or four percent, whereas it is considered a deduction from the money. I have seen a fatwa from your eminence stating that it is considered riba or something to that effect. So this is a deduction from the owner of the money; the amount is my right, and there is no increase in it. So the bank is naturally taking riba because it took dirhams. But I sold a certificate valued at such an amount at a rate of three riyals or something similar, so my money is reduced, with no increase in it, because an amount of three riyals was deducted from it?
The Shaykh : Meaning, you are the one who gave...
The questioner : What is this called?
The Shaykh : The one who took it from you is the bank?
The questioner : The bank, yes.
The Shaykh : And you gave it to them?
The questioner : It was deducted from me...
The Shaykh : ...like that or not?
The questioner : Yes, I do.
The Shaykh : It is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that This matter, may Allah reward you, if the bank deducts dirhams, it is forbidden and riba, and there is no doubt or disagreement in this. And if it gives you cars or lands or something other than dirhams, then if you need it, there is no harm. For example, you have creditors who say: come on, it is available.
The questioner : That is the question, O Shaykh, because now...
The Shaykh : Wait, wait. If you need it and people, for example, are pressuring you, there is no harm. Take the cars at the price you agree upon with them, then sell them to others. And if you do not need it, do not take them. Let the certificate remain until its time comes, if Allah wills.
The questioner : Because I, praise be to Allah, will not do this, but there is a discussion with some people.
The Shaykh : In any case, we are clarifying the answer for you; the answer is clear.
The questioner : Is there a second question?
The Shaykh : No, there is no second question.
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : ...One question.
The questioner : No, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : By Allah, there are many people.
In a question, O Shaykh, regarding... we have specific papers for twenty months and six months. When we go to the bank, they take a small percentage, three or four percent, whereas it is considered a deduction from the money. I have seen a fatwa from your eminence stating that it is considered riba or something to that effect. So this is a deduction from the owner of the money; the amount is my right, and there is no increase in it. So the bank is naturally taking riba because it took dirhams. But I sold a certificate valued at such an amount at a rate of three riyals or something similar, so my money is reduced, with no increase in it, because an amount of three riyals was deducted from it?
The Shaykh : Meaning, you are the one who gave...
The questioner : What is this called?
The Shaykh : The one who took it from you is the bank?
The questioner : The bank, yes.
The Shaykh : And you gave it to them?
The questioner : It was deducted from me...
The Shaykh : ...like that or not?
The questioner : Yes, I do.
The Shaykh : It is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that
May Allah curse the one who eats riba, the one who gives riba, the one who writes it, and the two witnesses.
لعن الله آكل الربا وموكل الربا وكاتبيه وشاهديهThe questioner : That is the question, O Shaykh, because now...
The Shaykh : Wait, wait. If you need it and people, for example, are pressuring you, there is no harm. Take the cars at the price you agree upon with them, then sell them to others. And if you do not need it, do not take them. Let the certificate remain until its time comes, if Allah wills.
The questioner : Because I, praise be to Allah, will not do this, but there is a discussion with some people.
The Shaykh : In any case, we are clarifying the answer for you; the answer is clear.
The questioner : Is there a second question?
The Shaykh : No, there is no second question.
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : ...One question.
The questioner : No, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : By Allah, there are many people.