| Riba on house loans - halal? |
Question:
I have recently spoken with a brother who told me that he bought a house with the help of some interest loan. He told me that he have spoken with numerous scholars from different muslim lands such as bosnia, egypt, syria et.c. According to him, they told him that it is a opinion of Abu Hanifa that riba in a non-muslim country isn't considered to be haram and then he explained to me his situation as a working father supporting his family: He pays around 600-800 euro per month for a small flat which is too small for his family, but now as he bought the house with interest loan, he pays only 400 euro per month and he gets to keep the house after he has payed back the house. In his opinion he thinks that this is far more better and a reliance for the big muslim family. What is your opinion about this? Answer:
It is a major sin to get involved in a interest based loan. Thus , he must seek Allah taala's forgiveness for this. What he should have done is gone to a viable Islamic Bank for Islamic House Financing. As for what is mentioned about the opinion of Imam Abu Hanifa r.a, this is not a sound view for the vast majority of jurists, including the three Imams Shafi, Malik and Ahmad rahimahumullah, hold Riba to be forbidden in every situation and Imam Abu Hanifi's two erudite students Imams Abu Yusaf and Imam Muhammad say as the majority say. The reason their view must be preferred is not only because so many of them are saying it is still unlawful, but because the evidence for Riba's absolute unlawfulness is firmly established in the Holy Qur'an, whereas the basis for Imam Abu Hanifa's view is a solitary narration which could be interpreted as abrogated. The verse in the Holy Qur'an is: “Those who eat Riba will not stand (on the Day of Judgement) except like the standing of a person beaten by Shaitan leading if to insanity. That is because they say: ‘Trading is but the same as Riba,’ whereas Allah has permitted trading and forbidden Riba. So whosoever receives an admonition from his Lord and stops eating Riba, shall not be punished for the past; his case is for Allah (to judge); but whoever returns (to Riba), such are the dwellers of the Fire- they will abide therein forever….O you who believe! Be afraid of Allah and give up what remains (due to you) from Riba (from now onward), if you are (really) believers. And if you do not do it, then take a notice of war from Allah and His Messenger…” (Sura Baqara:275-280)
Mufti Mohammed Sajjad Wallahu Aalam bis-sawab Please remember us in your Duas... The answer to this question is the opinion of the scholar and does not reflect the opinion of other scholars of As-Suffa Institute and As-Suffa Institute as an organisation. |
