Answered by: Maulana Yūsuf Badāt
Question:
A person paid interest to a certain bank and later on received interest from the same bank. Is it permissible for him to take this interest received in lieu of the interest paid earlier?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
Dealing with interest, whether by giving or taking is prohibited in Islam. Interest received from the bank is prohibited to be used by the believer. One should dispose of ḥarām earnings [the interest] by giving it in charity to the poor, with no intentions of reward. Paying interest does not entitle the believer to use interest received by the bank. Both are prohibited in Islam. – (See: Rad Al-Muḥtār, Vol 5, Page 235, Dār Al-Fikr1)
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “A time will come when one will not care how one earns money, be it from ḥalāl or ḥarām.” – (Ṣaḥīḥ Bukhārī 2059)2
The Prophet of Allāh (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “O people, Allāh is Pure and He, therefore, accepts only that which is pure. Allāh commanded the believers as He commanded the Messengers by saying, “O Messengers, eat of the pure [permissible] things, and do good deeds, verily I am aware of what you do” He also said, “O those who believe, eat of the pure [permissible] things that We gave you.”. He then made a mention of a person who travels widely, his hair dishevelled and covered with dust. He lifts his hands towards the sky [and thus supplicates], “O Lord, O Lord,” whereas his diet is unlawful, his drink is unlawful, his clothes are unlawful and his nourishment is unlawful [being from ḥarām sources]. How can then his supplication [and prayer] be accepted?” – (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1015)3
There is a report that indicates Abū Bakr (may Allāh be pleased with him) made a two-way bet, prior to the prohibition of gambling with a disbeliever. The wealth resulting from winning this bet was given to Abū Bakr (may Allāh be pleased with him) after the prohibition of gambling. Thus, he brought it in the presence of the Prophet (peace and blessings upon him) who instructed, “This is prohibited. Give it in charity [to the poor].” – (See: Iḥyā Al-‘Ulūm Al-Dīn, Vol 5, Page 131, Dār Al-Ma’arifah)4
Only Allāh knows best
Written by Maulana Yūsuf Badāt
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
1 اكْتَسَبَ حَرَامًا إلَخْ تَوْضِيحُ الْمَسْأَلَةِ مَا فِي التَّتَارْخَانِيَّة حَيْثُ قَالَ رَجُلٌ اكْتَسَبَ مَالًا مِنْ حَرَامٍ ثُمَّ اشْتَرَى فَهَذَا عَلَى خَمْسَةِ أَوْجُهٍ أَمَّا إنْ دَفَعَ تِلْكَ الدَّرَاهِمَ إلَى الْبَائِعِ أَوَّلًا ثُمَّ اشْتَرَى مِنْهُ بِهَا أَوْ اشْتَرَى قَبْلَ الدَّفْعِ بِهَا وَدَفَعَهَا أَوْ اشْتَرَى قَبْلَ الدَّفْعِ بِهَا وَدَفَعَ غَيْرَهَا أَوْ اشْتَرَى مُطْلَقًا وَدَفَعَ تِلْكَ الدَّرَاهِمَ أَوْ اشْتَرَى بِدَرَاهِمَ أُخَرَ وَدَفَعَ تِلْكَ الدَّرَاهِمَ. قَالَ أَبُو نَصْرٍ: يَطِيبُ لَهُ وَلَا يَجِبُ عَلَيْهِ أَنْ يَتَصَدَّقَ إلَّا فِي الْوَجْهِ الْأَوَّلِ، وَإِلَيْهِ ذَهَبَ الْفَقِيهُ أَبُو اللَّيْثِ، لَكِنْ هَذَا خِلَافُ ظَاهِرِ الرِّوَايَةِ فَإِنَّهُ نَصَّ فِي الْجَامِعِ الصَّغِيرِ إذَا غَصَبَ أَلْفًا فَاشْتَرَى بِهَا جَارِيَةً وَبَاعَهَا بِأَلْفَيْنِ تَصَدَّقَ بِالرِّبْحِ وَقَالَ الْكَرْخِيُّ فِي الْوَجْهِ الْأَوَّلِ وَالثَّانِي لَا يَطِيبُ وَفِي الثَّلَاثِ الْأَخِيرَةِ يَطِيبُ، وَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ لَا يَطِيبُ فِي الْكُلِّ لَكِنْ الْفَتْوَى الْآنَ عَلَى قَوْلِ الْكَرْخِيِّ دَفْعًا لِلْحَرَجِ عَنْ النَّاسِ اهـ. وَفِي الْوَلْوَالِجيَّةِ وَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ لَا يَطِيبُ فِي الْوُجُوهِ كُلِّهَا وَهُوَ الْمُخْتَارُ – كتاب الدر المختار وحاشية ابن عابدين ج٥/ ص٢٣٥ دار الفكر
2 يَأْتِي عَلَى النَّاسِ زَمَانٌ لاَ يُبَالِي الْمَرْءُ مَا أَخَذَ مِنْهُ أَمِنَ الْحَلاَلِ أَمْ مِنَ الْحَرَامِ - بخاري ٢٠٥٩
3 أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ طَيِّبٌ لاَ يَقْبَلُ إِلاَّ طَيِّبًا وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ أَمَرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ بِمَا أَمَرَ بِهِ الْمُرْسَلِينَ فَقَالَ يَا أَيُّهَا الرُّسُلُ كُلُوا مِنَ الطَّيِّبَاتِ وَاعْمَلُوا صَالِحًا إِنِّي بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ عَلِيمٌ وَقَالَ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُلُوا مِنْ طَيِّبَاتِ مَا رَزَقْنَاكُمْ . ثُمَّ ذَكَرَ الرَّجُلَ يُطِيلُ السَّفَرَ أَشْعَثَ أَغْبَرَ يَمُدُّ يَدَيْهِ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ يَا رَبِّ يَا رَبِّ وَمَطْعَمُهُ حَرَامٌ وَمَشْرَبُهُ حَرَامٌ وَمَلْبَسُهُ حَرَامٌ وَغُذِيَ بِالْحَرَامِ فَأَنَّى يُسْتَجَابُ لِذَلِكَ – مسلم ١٠١٥
4 لما نزل قوله تعالى ألم غلبت الروم في أدنى الأرض وهم من بعد غلبهم سيغلبون كذبه المشركون وقالوا للصحابة ألا ترون ما يقول صاحبكم يزعم أن الروم ستغلب فخاطرهم أبو بكر رضي الله عنه بإذن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فلما حقق الله صدقه وجاء أبو بكر رضي الله عنه بما قامرهم به قال عليه الصلاة والسلام هذا سحت فتصدق به – كتاب إحياء علوم الدين ج٢/ ص١٣١ دار المعرفة