Assalamu Alaikum,
Few Months back, i came to know that my father never in his life disposed interest money of his saving accounts so as to prevent his halal earned money from getting mixed with haram interest.
He aged 72 now. He had been working since 1961. First time he opened saving bank account in 1965.
Between 1965 and 2001 he had opened 5 saving bank accounts. He doesn’t has details of these accounts now.
Since 2001 he has only one saving account which he uses till now.
He has not kept track of interest money from his accounts all these years.
1. I know allah cannot be happy with a person involved with interest. such a person has very harsh punishment in aakhirah. I want my father should be clear of liability towards interest money before he meets allah.
Please help me how do i calculate his interest money of all these years. Note: we don’t have accounts of transactions from 1965 till 2000s.
2. I know bank interest is haram but i want to know why? Can you please give me a link to a detailed article from any trusted scholar.
3. How adverse is to be indulged even a single penny of interest. What are harms of in this world of dealing with interest.
4. One thing i have observed in me, all of my brothers and sisters that we (specially me) have been disobedient to our parents all these years.
We knew that it is wrong to speak ill, loud, harsh, false, bad words etc to parents, We were not able to keep ourself within limit of “Wa la takallahuma uff”.
I think this haram interest money was one of the reason for we children not being completely obedient to our parents. Does interest money has such effect?
May allah bless you all
- You are aware that interest is Haram. You are also aware that interest incurs the wrath of Allah. It is this belief and conviction that has led you to enquire how to cleanse your father’s wealth from the interest. In point three of your query you enquire about the harms of interest.
Consider the following verses:
- الذين ياكلون الربو لا يقومون إلا كما يقوم الذي يتخبطه الشيطان من المس [i]
Those who consume interest cannot stand on the day of resurrection except as one stands who is being beaten by satan into insanity.
- و أحل الله البيع و حرم الربوا [ii]
And Allah has permitted trade and forbidden interest
- يا أيها الذين امنوا اتقوا الله وذروا ما بقي من الربوا ان كنتم مؤمنين. فان لم تفعلوا فأذنوا بحرب من الله ورسوله [iii]
O you who have Iman! Fear Allah and give up what interest is left (what is still due to you) if you are true believers. If you do not then be informed of war against you from Allah and his messenger
Also consider the following ahadith:
- درهم ربوا ياكله الرجل وهو يعلم أشد من ستة وثلاثين زنية [iv]
Indulging in a single penny of interest intentionally is worse than committing adultery 36 times.
- وعن ابن مسعود رضي الله عنه قال: لعن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم آكل الربا وموكله [v]
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) cursed the one who accepts interest and the one who pays it. Narration of muslim.
- عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم الربوا سبعون حوبا أيسرها ان ينكح الرجل أمه [vi]
It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“There are seventy degrees of usury, the least of which is equivalent to a man having intercourse with his mother.”
If details of the bank account are not available, we advise you consult with an accountant who will help you to estimate the interest accumulated according to the general bank policy and general percentage of interest earned from 1961 till 2000. It is advisable to make an overestimate of the amount and dispose of it in sadqa by giving it to the poor and needy.
The interest earned in the present banking and savings account should also be calculated of and deposited.
- Here is a link to a detailed article on why interest is haram and it does encompass some the harms of interest:
http://darulfiqh.com/the-severity-of-interest-in-the-quran-and-ahaadith/
- Your concern for cleansing your father’s wealth from interest is an indication of your love and compassion for your father. Your attitude is clear obedience to him. Your guilt for showing disrespect to your father is a stepping stone to tawba and making up for the past. Use the present situation and serve your parents to the best of your ability which would earn you their duas as well.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Aboobakr Siddeeq bin Mufti Amjad Mohammad
Student Darul Iftaa
Azaadville, South Africa
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.