The Ruling on Depositing Money in Banks in Lands of Disbelief
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Question: We are in a land where the people are non-Muslims, and in this land, Allah has blessed us with an abundance of wealth that requires us to keep it in one of the American banks. We Muslims deposit our money in these banks without taking any usurious interest, and they are pleased with that, and they accuse us of foolishness because we leave them money that may help them spread Christianity with the money of Muslims.
And my question is: Why do we not benefit from these interests and use them to help poor Muslims, or to build mosques and Islamic schools? And does a Muslim sin if he takes these interests and spends them in the cause of Allah, such as donating to the mujahideen and the like?
Answer: It is not permissible to place money in usurious banks, whether those in charge of them are Muslims or others; because of the assistance this provides them in sin and aggression, even if it is without interest. However, if one is compelled to do so for the sake of preservation without interest, there is no blame on him, if Allah wills, due to the saying of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) : [Al-An'am: 119].
As for the condition of interest, the sin is greater; because usury is among the greatest of major sins, and Allah has forbidden it in His Noble Book and on the tongue of His Trustworthy Messenger, and He informed that it is wiped out, and that whoever engages in it has warred against Allah and His Messenger.
And it is possible for the owners of wealth to spend from it in the ways of righteousness and benevolence, and in assisting the mujahideen, and Allah rewards them for that and replaces it for them, as He the Exalted said: [Al-Baqarah: 274], and He the Exalted said: [Saba: 39], and this encompasses zakah and other things.
And it is authentic from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:Sahih Muslim 2588, and it is authentic from him (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: .
And the verses and hadiths regarding the virtue of spending in the ways of good and charity to those in need are very numerous.
But if the owner of wealth takes usurious interest out of ignorance or negligence, and then Allah guides him to the right path, he should spend it in the ways of good and righteous deeds, and not keep it in his wealth; because usury wipes out what it mixes with, as Allah the Exalted said: [Al-Baqarah: 276].
And my question is: Why do we not benefit from these interests and use them to help poor Muslims, or to build mosques and Islamic schools? And does a Muslim sin if he takes these interests and spends them in the cause of Allah, such as donating to the mujahideen and the like?
Answer: It is not permissible to place money in usurious banks, whether those in charge of them are Muslims or others; because of the assistance this provides them in sin and aggression, even if it is without interest. However, if one is compelled to do so for the sake of preservation without interest, there is no blame on him, if Allah wills, due to the saying of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) :
while He has explained in detail to you what He has forbidden you, excepting that to which you are compelled
وَقَدْ فَصَّلَ لَكُم مَّا حَرَّمَ عَلَيْكُمْ إِلاَّ مَا اضْطُرِرْتُمْ إِلَيْهِAs for the condition of interest, the sin is greater; because usury is among the greatest of major sins, and Allah has forbidden it in His Noble Book and on the tongue of His Trustworthy Messenger, and He informed that it is wiped out, and that whoever engages in it has warred against Allah and His Messenger.
And it is possible for the owners of wealth to spend from it in the ways of righteousness and benevolence, and in assisting the mujahideen, and Allah rewards them for that and replaces it for them, as He the Exalted said:
Those who spend their wealth [in Allah 's way] by night and by day, secretly and publicly - they will have their reward with their Lord. And no fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve.
الَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُم بِاللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ سِرًّا وَعَلاَنِيَةً فَلَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَلاَ خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلاَ هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَBut whatever thing you spend [in His cause] - He will compensate it; and He is the best of providers."
وَمَا أَنفَقْتُم مِّن شَيْءٍ فَهُوَ يُخْلِفُهُ وَهُوَ خَيْرُ الرَّازِقِينَAnd it is authentic from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:
Charity does not decrease wealth, no one forgives another except that Allah increases his honor, and no one humbles himself for the sake of Allah except that Allah raises his
ما نقص مال من صدقة، وما زاد الله عبدًا بعفو إلا عزًا، وما تواضع أحدٌ لله إلا رفعهThere is no day in which the people wake up but that two angels descend in it: one of them says, "O Allah, give a replacement to the one who spends," and the other says, "O Allah, bring destruction to the one who withholds."
ما من يوم يصبح فيه الناس إلا وينزل فيه ملكان: أحدهما يقول: اللهم أعط منفقًا خلفًا، والثاني يقول: اللهم أعط ممسكًا تلفًاAnd the verses and hadiths regarding the virtue of spending in the ways of good and charity to those in need are very numerous.
But if the owner of wealth takes usurious interest out of ignorance or negligence, and then Allah guides him to the right path, he should spend it in the ways of good and righteous deeds, and not keep it in his wealth; because usury wipes out what it mixes with, as Allah the Exalted said:
Allah destroys riba (usury or interest) and multiplies alms
يَمْحَقُ اللّهُ الْرِّبَا وَيُرْبِي الصَّدَقَاتِ
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.