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Fatwa CenterBuying house with bank loan
Question
I bought a house here in Norway and I had no other choice, in other word I was 'muthtar and I took a loan from a bank and, of course, I should pay interest. I have a large family with 5 children and it is almost impossible to rent a house here for such large families. What does Islam say in such circumstances?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu 'alyhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
Dear brother, you know very well how much Ribaa (usury and interest) is forbidden and you know as well how big the sin of anybody who deals with Ribaa and how dangerous this matter is. Insisting on dealing in Ribaa is equal to declaring war against Allaah, the Almighty and his Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam . Allah Says (what means): {O You who believe, fear Allaah and give up what remains of Ribaa if you are really believers. And if you do not do it, then take a notice of war from Allaah and His Messenger.} [Al-Baqarah: 278,279] You should also know that taking interest-based loans is true Ribaa. Thus, it is clearly forbidden for you to undertake any Ribaa transaction except if faced with a compulsion of necessity which you could not avoid nor avoid the harms that it would cause and if at the same time you have undertaken all the lawful means and attempts to solve this but in vain, as Allaah Says (what means): {He (Allaah) has explained to you in detail what is forbidden to you except under compulsion of necessity).} [Quran 8:119]. So, taking loans of Ribaa is like eating the meat of dead animals not slaughtered in an Islamic manner, which is only lawful when there is a compulsion of necessity but forbidden if there is any lawful thing that could replace it. In such a case, the person is allowed to take the minimum necessary to overcome this real necessity. He should at the same time do as much Istighfaar (seeking Allah's forgiveness) as he can and seek refuge in Allaah, asking Him to dispel his hardship. He should also keep in mind that he is in great danger and should not feel at ease with this situation, but rather try to overcome the necessity that has led him to taking this Ribaa loan.
Dear brother, you should turn in repentance to Allaah and do as much Istighfaar and good deeds as you can. Try to get out of this Ribaa as soon as possible and never get in it again. Again, you should have tried to get a person or an institution to deal with you in a Ribaa-free transaction or even leave the whole issue and simply rent a house. These were possibilities open to you to avoid Ribaa.
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