Is it permissible to inherit an house that was purchased by my father on interest?
In the Name of Allaah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salaamu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullaahi wa-barakaatuh.
In principle, although purchasing a house on interest is haraam[1], it does not affect the ownership of the house[2]. If a person purchases a house on interest, he should make tawbah and istighfaar. The house however will belong to him. He does not need to give it away in charity.
Accordingly, it is permissible for the heirs to inherit a house that was purchased on interest. The issue of the sin of interest is a different issue.
And Allaah Ta’aala Knows Best.
Muajul I. Chowdhury
Student, Darul Iftaa
Astoria, New York, USA
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
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[1] سورة البقرة (آية: 278، 279)
{يَاأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَذَرُوا مَا بَقِيَ مِنَ الرِّبَا إِنْ كُنْتُمْ مُؤْمِنِينَ (278) فَإِنْ لَمْ تَفْعَلُوا فَأْذَنُوا بِحَرْبٍ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَإِنْ تُبْتُمْ فَلَكُمْ رُءُوسُ أَمْوَالِكُمْ لَا تَظْلِمُونَ وَلَا تُظْلَمُونَ (279)}
Sayyiduna ‘Abdullaah ibn Mas’ood (Radhiyallaahu ‘anh) narrates,
لعن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم آكل الربا وموكله وشاهده وكاتبه
Translation: “Rasulullaah (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) has cursed the one who consumes interest, the one who pays it, the one who witnesses it and the one who records it.” (Abu Dawood 3333, Nasaai 5105, Muslim 1598)
[2] فتاوى محمودية (24/ 406)