Q: Can you explain to me the reason why Ulama’ so severely condemn the earnings of banks? In todays times, the majority wealth in banks are acquired through the deposits of people which are from Halaal. Hence if one leases out his property to a bank, the income should be halaal based on the principle that if 50% or more of one’s income is Halaal and such a person has to give you a gift, you can take it.
A: The bank takes the money purely with the intention of interest and usury. Hence, the deposits that they take is not just a loan for safekeeping, rather a pure interest transaction. The Muslim clients that may have the right intention for the deposit are just a fraction in the whole equation. More than ninety percent are kuffar who do their deposits for purely interest reasons.
And Allah Ta’ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
Answered by:
Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)