Muhtaram

السلام عليكم و رحمة الله و بركاته

حامدا و مصليا و مسلما

In the Name of Allaah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

We have received your query with regards to purchasing a house on interest, our response is as follows: 

Allah Ta’ala mentions in the Holy Quran with regards to interest :

الَّذِينَ يَأْكُلُونَ الرِّبَا لَا يَقُومُونَ إِلَّا كَمَا يَقُومُ الَّذِي يَتَخَبَّطُهُ الشَّيْطَانُ مِنَ الْمَسِّ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَالُوا إِنَّمَا الْبَيْعُ مِثْلُ الرِّبَا ۗ وَأَحَلَّ اللَّهُ الْبَيْعَ وَحَرَّمَ الرِّبَا ۚ فَمَنْ جَاءَهُ مَوْعِظَةٌ مِنْ رَبِّهِ فَانْتَهَىٰ فَلَهُ مَا سَلَفَ وَأَمْرُهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ ۖ وَمَنْ عَادَ فَأُولَٰئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا ‏خالدون

“Those who consume interest shall not stand up (on the Day of Qiyaamah) except like him whom the Shaytaan has driven mad by his touch. This (punishment) is because they say, “Trade is just like interest!” Allaah has permitted trade and forbidden interest. (Referring to those who took interest before this verse was revealed, Allaah says) The one to whom the advice from his Rabb (to give up interest) had come and he refrained (from interest), then for him is that (amount) which has passed and his affair rests with Allaah (Allaah shall decide his affair). Those who return (to dealing in interest, regarding it to be Halaal like trade) are indeed the dwellers of the Fire where they shall live forever.)” (Surah Baqara 275)

Allah Ta’ala mentions in another place in the Holy Quran:

فَإِن لَّمْ تَفْعَلُواْ فَأْذَنُواْ بِحَرْبٍۢ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ

وَإِن تُبْتُمْ فَلَكُمْ رُءُوسُ أَمْوَٰلِكُمْ لَا تَظْلِمُونَ وَلَا تُظْلَمُونَ

“If you do not (avoid interest), then be warned of war from Allaah and His Rasool (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam). If you repent then you may have (only) your principal amount (the amount that you lent). Oppress not and you shall not be oppressed.  ” (Surah Baqarah 279)

Rasoolullah Sallalahu Alayhi Wasallam mentions –  

عَنْ جَابِرٍ رضي الله عنه قَالَ لَعَنَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم آكِلَ الرِّبَا وَمُوكِلَهُ وَكَاتِبَهُ وَشَاهِدَيْهِ وَقَالَ هُمْ سَوَاءٌ ‏.‏

Hadrat Jabir radiyallahu anhu said that Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) cursed the accepter of interest and its payer, and one who records it, and the two witnesses, and he said: they are all equal.  (Sahih Muslim- 1598)

عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ لَعَنَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم آكِلَ الرِّبَا وَمُؤْكِلَهُ‏.‏ قَالَ قُلْتُ وَكَاتِبَهُ وَشَاهِدَيْهِ قَالَ إِنَّمَا نُحَدِّثُ بِمَا سَمِعْنَا

Hadrat Abdullah bin. Mas’ud  radiyallahu anhu said that Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) cursed the one who accepted interest and the one who paid it I asked about the one who recorded it, and two witnesses to it. He (the narrator) said: We narrate what we have heard. (Sahih Muslim- 1597)

It is clear from the above Ayaat of the Holy Quran and Ahadeeth of Rasoolullah Sallalahu Alayhi wasallam that a Muslim should avoid interest at all costs , buying a house using a conventional mortgage involves interest , therefore one should abstain from doing so in order to be saved from the curse of Rasoolullah Sallalahu Alayhi wasallam. The issues of this temporary abode will come to an end, however the terrible calamities of the hereafter are never ending. Our focus should be the hereafter.

We understand that moving from house to house at times can be quite stressful , however if we exercise patience, Allah Ta’ala will definitely reward you and your family in the hereafter .

We should also keep the following in mind :

1)    Rent does not go to waste,  rather we should think of it is an investment for the hereafter .

2)    Our focus should be on the hereafter.

3)    Allah Ta’ala will open the way if we adopt Taqwa. This is a promise of Almighty Allah Ta’ala.

4)    A solution may be that if a few like-minded brothers come together and purchase some land on the outskirts of the bigger cities , in this manner each person will be able to build their own house on the land and be saved from the shackles of Riba.

5)    Lastly , we should understand that the prohibition of interest is very clear in the Quran and Hadith and there is no room for interpretation .

And Allah Ta’ala knows best

Abdushakoor Salim

Student of Darul Iftaa 

Checked and approved by:

(Mufti) Muhammad Irshad Motara

24^th Zhul Hijjah 1442

3^rd August 2021