Assalamualykum Mufti Sahab, A husband works and lives in Canberra and a wife lives in Melbourne with her kids. The wife needs a car in Melbourne to buy groceries, medical appointments, and get to other commitments for her children thus she has a car. The husaband also needs the usage of a car to go to work (and public transport is not good in Canberra). His current car is very old and can break down anytime and needs to be replaced. The family doesn’t have the financial abilities to buy another car. In this situation can he purchase on interest term as there is no interest free finances available for cars in Australia? This car would be the only car the husband would own if he were to replace his current car. Jazak’Allah
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
Brother in Islam,
It is not permissible to purchase a car on finance if it involves interest . Shariah strictly prohibits all forms of interest. Interest incurs the displeasure of Allah Taa’la.
The prohibition of interest is explicitly mentioned in the Quraan in Surah al- Baqarah :
” الَّذِينَ يَأْكُلُونَ الرِّبَا لَا يَقُومُونَ إِلَّا كَمَا يَقُومُ الَّذِي يَتَخَبَّطُهُ الشَّيْطَانُ مِنَ الْمَسِّ ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَالُوا إِنَّمَا الْبَيْعُ مِثْلُ الرِّبَا وَأَحَلَّ اللَّهُ الْبَيْعَ وَحَرَّمَ الرِّبَا فَمَنْ جَاءَهُ مَوْعِظَةٌ مِنْ رَبِّهِ فَانْتَهَى فَلَهُ مَا سَلَفَ وَأَمْرُهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَمَنْ عَادَ فَأُولَئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ “
Translation:” Those who consume interest will not stand up except like him whom the Shaytan has driven mad by his touch. That is because they say: “Trade is like interest,” but Allah has permitted trade and forbidden interest. Those who after receiving direction from their Lord, desist, shall be pardoned for the past; their case is for Allah (to judge); but those who repeat (the offence) are companions of the fire: They will abide therein (for ever).
Prohibition of interest in the Ahadith is also clearly mentioned :
قال رسول الله – صلى الله عليه وسلم -: “أتيت ليلة أسري بي على قوم بطونهم كالبيوت، فيها الحيات ترى من خارج بطونهم، فقلت: من هؤلاء يا جبريل؟ قال: هؤلاء أكلة الربا” اخرجه ابن ماجه في سننه
Translation: The messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said “ On the night of ascension, I came upon people whose stomachs were like houses with snakes visible from the outside. I asked Jibrail who they were. He replied these are the consumers of interest.”(Sunan Ibn Majah 377/2)
Jabir (Radhiyallahu Anhu) said :
عن جابر قال :”لعن رسول الله صلي الله عليه و سلم اكل الربا , وموكله, وكاتبه,و شاهديه” اخرجه مسلم في صحيحه
Translation:” The messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) cursed the one who consumes interest, deals in interest, records interest, and the one who is witness to interest”(Sahih-Muslim,1219/3)
Australia is a first world country. According to our research, the transport in Australia in general and in Canberra specifically is good and easily available. You could use the public transport to fulfill your needs of travelling.
In the meanwhile, you may save money to purchase a car. You may also request private loans from friends and family. This will keep you away from the burden of taking out an interest bearing loan and incurring the wrath and sin of interest.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Ahmad Patel
Student Darul Iftaa
South Africa
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
وَأَحَلَّ اللَّهُ الْبَيْعَ وَحَرَّمَ الرِّبَا (1
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا تَدَايَنْتُمْ بِدَيْنٍ إِلَى أَجَلٍ مُسَمًّى فَاكْتُبُوه (2
مختصر القدوري (ص: 78) (3
لبيع: ينعقد بالإيجاب والقبول إذا كانا بلفظ الماضي
وإذا أوجب أحد المتعاقدين البيع فالآخر بالخيار: إن شاء قبل في المجلس وإن شاء رده وأيهما قام من المجلس قبل القبول بطل الإيجاب وإذا حصل الإيجاب والقبول لزم البيع ولا خيار لواحد منهما إلا من عيب أو عدم رؤية والأعواض المشار إليها لا يحتاج إلى معرفة مقدراها في جواز البيع والأثمان المطلقة لا تصح إلا أن تكون معروفة القدر والصفة
ويجوز البيع بثمن حال ومؤجل إذا كان الأجل معلوما ومن أطلق الثمن في البيع كان على غالب نقد البلد فإن كانت النقود مختلفة فالبيع فاسد إلا أن يبين أحدها
An introduction to Islamic Finance (Mufti Taqi Uthmani) (4
Contemporary Fatawa by Mufti Taqi Uthmani (5
[599-619 ] فقه البيوع (6
[184/2] ) وَالرِّبَا الَّذِي كَانَتْ الْعَرَبُ تعرفه وتفعله إنما كان قرض والدراهم وَالدَّنَانِيرِ إلَى أَجَلٍ بِزِيَادَةٍ عَلَى مِقْدَارِ مَا اُسْتُقْرِضَ عَلَى مَا يَتَرَاضَوْنَ بِهِ (أحكام القرآن للجصاص (7
http://www.canberrayourfuture.com.au/portal/living/article/transport/