Fatwa ID: 08136

Written by: Alimah Aisha Qureshi

Question:

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

In our Masjid in the UK, we have 2 accounts.

The 1st account is a Treasure Account, where we use the money saved in here for the daily running costs of the Masjid, such as wages and expenses.

The 2nd account is a Business Bank Instant Account (a savings account), where the bank pays interest to the Masjid on a monthly basis on the money kept in this account. The Masjid does not use the interest for its personal use in any way whatsoever. At the end of the year, the Masjid withdraws the interest accumulated and donates it to English charities such as the Douglas McMillan Hospice and the Donna Louise Trust (both charities work to help cancer patients and their families in the last stages of their lives).

We would like to ask 2 questions:

Can the Masjid allow this account to accumulate interest?

Can this interest money then be donated to local English charities like the ones mentioned?

جزاك الله خيرا

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

وَعَلَيْكُمُ ٱلسَّلَامُ وَرَحْمَةُ ٱللَّٰهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ

Riba in Islam is completely forbidden in all its forms, and any money earned through it is impure. Therefore, it is advisable to change the account to Islamic banking to avoid accumulating riba in the account.

Spending the money earned from riba, whether it is on charity or not, is not permissible.

References:

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 275:
“Those who consume interest will not stand except as stand those who are driven to madness by a touch of Satan. That is because they say, ‘Trade is just like interest.’ But Allah has permitted trade and has forbidden interest.”

Hadith from Mukhtasar Al-Qudoori (Bushra print, pg 337):
“The one who consumes riba, the one who facilitates it, the one who records it, and the witnesses to it are all cursed on the tongue of Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) until the Day of Judgment.”

Only Allah knows best.

Written by: Alimah Aisha Qureshi
Checked and approved by: Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham