Question:
Assalamu ‘Alaykum.
Is it better to leave interest from a non-Islamic bank (leaving it increases the bank’s profits) or to take it and give it away? Can one use interest to pay taxes in a non-Islamic country?
Answer:
Wa ‘alaykum wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh.
I pray you are well.
It is best to ask the bank to stop giving you interest, as accepting it is haram if they can’t close your account. They should set up a current account that doesn’t accrue interest.
The interest money is haram for you. You cannot benefit from it. The way to get rid of it is by giving it to the poor or to a project that will benefit the public. You can’t use it for personal benefit, which includes paying taxes.
Take these small steps to shun interest. You may find it brings a lot of good and baraka into your life. At the very least, it will keep you from being at war with Allah.
May Allah grant you the best of both worlds.
[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani