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Fatwa CenterBorrowing money from British bank for marriage
Question
Is it permissible to borrow money from a standard British bank for the purpose of marriage knowing that there are no Islamic banks available in the UK?
I read several articles and messages posted on your website but failed to locate one that takes living in a foreign – non-Islamic - country into account.
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 
is His slave and Messenger.
Taking loans with Riba (interest and/or usury) is forbidden even for the purpose of marriage to avoid Zina (fornication or adultery). Marriage is not the only way to avoid Zina. There are many other ways to avoid Zina. Some are as follows:
1. Fasting, the Prophet said: "O young people! Whoever among you can marry, should marry, because it helps him lower his gaze and guard his modesty (i.e. his private parts from committing illegal sexual intercourse etc.), and whoever is not able to marry, should fast, as fasting diminishes his sexual power." [Al-Bukhari]
2. Lowering one’s eyes and protecting oneself from looking at non-Mahram (i.e. marriageable) women, erotic pictures and obscene matters. Allaah Says (what means): {Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts, etc.). That is purer for them. Verily, Allaah is All-Aware of what they do.} [Quran 24:30]
3. Keeping away from bad places that could lead one to commit evil. The Prophet said: "Sins are like Hima (private pasture), and whoever grazes his animals near the Hima of someone else and at any moment, it is always apprehensive that some of his animals might get into the pasture." [Al-Bukhari]
4. Fearing Allaah and keeping in mind that Allaah is watching every movement, and feeling shame from violating His limits, etc.
On the other hand, there is no difference between a Muslim country and a non-Muslim country as far as the matter of Riba and banks dealing with Riba is concerned. Also not having Islamic banks in a country does not justify dealing with Riba.
We ask Allaah to bless you, open the doors of His bounties upon you, suffice you with His lawful provisions and protects you from what is forbidden and from disobedience.
Allaah Knows best.
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