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Indulging in Interest
(Riba) Allah has declared war against people who
deal in Riba. Allah says, "O you who believe! Be afraid of Allah and
give up what remains due to you from riba, if you are really believers.
And if you do not do it, then take a notice of war from Allah and His
Messenger." [2:277-278] This verse is sufficient to show the atrocity
of this crime in the sight of Allah. Anyone who notices what is happening
to individuals and nations, can see the extent of harm incurred by dealing
in interest. These include bankruptcy, depression, and deficit with a
failure to pay their debts, along with economic paralysis, rising
unemployment, and bankruptcy of many companies. All of this makes the
outcome of the sweat of people and their daily hardship pour directly into
the payment of the ever-increasing interest
to the rich user of riba. This in turn contributes to the creation of
distinct social classes, accumulating the monies into the hands of a small
number of people. This may indeed be one of the types of wars that Allah
warned those who deal in interest against.
All those who participate in the riba transaction, whether they are the
principal parties, the intermediaries, or the facilitators, are cursed by
Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam. Jaber said, "The Messenger
of Allah, Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam, has cursed, 'The one who takes riba,
the one who writes it and the one who witnesses it,' and he said, They are
equal (in sin)'." (Muslim) Therefore, it is not permitted to have a
job as an underwriter of interest, or in the accounting or estimation of
the interest, nor in its collection or
deposition, or in guarding it. In general it is forbidden to participate
in it in any way whatsoever.
The Prophet, Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam, was eager to show the wickedness
of this vice, saying, "Riba has seventy three gates, the least of them
is like a man who fornicates with his mother. And verily, the worst of
riba is the Muslim's honor." (al-Hakim) And he also said, "A dirham that a
man spends knowing he gained it from riba is worse than thirty six
instances of fornication." (Ahmad) The prohibition of riba is general
and is not specific to the one performed between the wealthy and the poor,
as many people believe, but is rather general in any situation and for any
person.
How many rich merchants and businessmen have lost their wealth because of
riba? The least of its evils is that it wipes out the blessings upon the
money, even if it seems abundant. For the Prophet, Sallallahu Alayhi
Wasallam, said, "The outcome of the money gained in riba, even if its
amount is big, is always paucity." (al-Hakim) The unlawfulness of riba is
not confined to what has a high interest,
but to any amount of interest, no matter
how small it is. The usurer will be resurrected in a state of insanity, as
if the Satan is hitting him. (source:
http://www.sunniforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=12694&highlight=interest)
Some Fatawa's in relation to Interest
Interest Paying Account: It is not permissible to
open interest accruing bank accounts. If due to extreme necessity, a
person opens an interest accruing bank account, then it will be necessary
to remove the interest money accrued from the bank and give it away as
charity (without intention of reward). (Fataawa Hindiya vol.5 pg.349)
Going Hajj when having debts - Interest:
The principle in Shari’ah is Jalbe Manfa’at (derive benefit) is preferred
over Daf-e-Madarrat (removing harm).
Interest is prohibited and a major sin. If one has a liability and does
not have excess funds, Hajj is not compulsory. It is, in fact, compulsory
to get rid of the debt as soon as possible. Therefore, if you have money,
pay off the debts and if you have excess money, then perform Hajj. This
will be in conformity to the above mentioned principle to avoid hard over
deriving benefit. Working in an Interest Related Job -
Bank:
It is not permissible to work in a bank in view of the fact that their
principle business is dealing in Haraam. As proof, we refer you to the
verses of the noble Qur’aan wherein Allah commands the believers not to
deal in interest and makes a declaration of war against those who refuse.
(Surah3 Aayat130). However, we advise that your brother remain an employee
of the bank until he finds an alternate sustainable employment.
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Askimam.org
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