Fatwa ID: 05923
Answered by: Maulana Yūsuf Badāt
Question:
I came to Ashford, Kent to work as a consultant Physician in October 2021. I have a family of 5 including my wife and 4 kids. To avoid Interest I was ready to pay even up to 1400£ pm by renting. I am and had tried a lot to get a rented house. Unfortunately, no one would let his house to me. Hospital Accommodation is not willing to give me any further stay and my family is to come in early June IA. I tried to navigate through the Islamic finance systems but don’t have the down-payment amount ( they require 10 to 35%) of home value and are very expensive in terms of monthly rent.
Can I do a conventional mortgage in such circumstances?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
Despite the difficult situation that you presented, ribā (usury) based mortgage would not be permissible. Contact local imams and religious community leaders who will guide you towards halāl financing options or alternatively cost-effective rental properties.
“Allāh has permitted trade and has forbidden interest.” – (Qur’ān 2:275)1
“Cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and transgression. Be mindful of Allāh.” – (Qur’ān 5:2)2
“Allāh’s Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) cursed the accepter of interest and its payer, and one who records it, and the two witnesses [of the ribā transaction], and he said, “They are all equal [in sin].” – (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1598)3
Only Allāh knows best
Written by Maulana Yūsuf Badāt
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
1 وَأَحَلَّ اللَّهُ الْبَيْعَ وَحَرَّمَ الرِّبَا – البقرة ٢٧٥
2 وَتَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْبِرِّ وَالتَّقْوَىٰ ۖ وَلَا تَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْإِثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِ ۚ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ – المائدة ٢
3 عَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ لَعَنَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم آكِلَ الرِّبَا وَمُوكِلَهُ وَكَاتِبَهُ وَشَاهِدَيْهِ وَقَالَ هُمْ سَوَاءٌ – مسلم ١٥٩٨
