What is the ruling on accepting zakah from interest-based banks?
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The questioner : May Allah reward you. What is the ruling, O Shaykh, on accepting zakah from some interest-based banks? Also, in our region, some charitable associations accept zakah from some interest-based banks.
The Shaykh : Yes, there is nothing wrong with a person accepting zakah or donations from interest-based banks, because he takes it by right, and the sin is on the bank if it earned it through riba (usury or interest). The evidence for this is that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) accepted gifts from the Jews and responded to the invitations of the Jews. It is well known that the Jews consume riba and earn money through illicit gains. Likewise, he dealt with the Jews in Khaybar, meaning he gave them the date palms and crops on the condition that they would have half and the Muslims would have half. It is well known that they earn through riba. Therefore, take this useful rule: "Whoever earns something through a permissible means, there is no sin on him, even if he earned it through a forbidden means". Because it is forbidden for him to earn it, it becomes haram (forbidden) for the one who earned it without right, unless you know that this money belongs to a specific person. For example, if a thief stole a sheep from someone and brought it to you as a gift, it is not permissible for you to accept it because you know that this sheep belongs to so-and-so. But what is forbidden due to the means of earning, if a person takes it by right, it is halal (lawful) for him. Did you understand this rule? Good. Apply this rule to everything; whatever comes to you, apply it to it. "Whoever earns something forbidden, meaning through a forbidden means, and then a person takes it from him through a permissible means, there is no harm"
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good
The Shaykh : Yes
The questioner : Your Eminence... the first question
The Shaykh : Please, the most important one, because there is only one question
The questioner : I am not from the people of this region
The Shaykh : We do not allow anyone from the people of Unaizah to submit a question in the first place. Yes, give us the most important question, and also the time is up
The questioner : One question.
The Shaykh : Please, and this, if Allah wills, after the Zuhr prayer, meet me at the mosque and we will answer them for you
The Shaykh : Yes, there is nothing wrong with a person accepting zakah or donations from interest-based banks, because he takes it by right, and the sin is on the bank if it earned it through riba (usury or interest). The evidence for this is that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) accepted gifts from the Jews and responded to the invitations of the Jews. It is well known that the Jews consume riba and earn money through illicit gains. Likewise, he dealt with the Jews in Khaybar, meaning he gave them the date palms and crops on the condition that they would have half and the Muslims would have half. It is well known that they earn through riba. Therefore, take this useful rule: "Whoever earns something through a permissible means, there is no sin on him, even if he earned it through a forbidden means". Because it is forbidden for him to earn it, it becomes haram (forbidden) for the one who earned it without right, unless you know that this money belongs to a specific person. For example, if a thief stole a sheep from someone and brought it to you as a gift, it is not permissible for you to accept it because you know that this sheep belongs to so-and-so. But what is forbidden due to the means of earning, if a person takes it by right, it is halal (lawful) for him. Did you understand this rule? Good. Apply this rule to everything; whatever comes to you, apply it to it. "Whoever earns something forbidden, meaning through a forbidden means, and then a person takes it from him through a permissible means, there is no harm"
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good
The Shaykh : Yes
The questioner : Your Eminence... the first question
The Shaykh : Please, the most important one, because there is only one question
The questioner : I am not from the people of this region
The Shaykh : We do not allow anyone from the people of Unaizah to submit a question in the first place. Yes, give us the most important question, and also the time is up
The questioner : One question.
The Shaykh : Please, and this, if Allah wills, after the Zuhr prayer, meet me at the mosque and we will answer them for you