Fatwa ID: 06763

Answered by: Maulana Abdul Malik

Question:

My friend has some interest money. Can he give it to a charitable cause for poor people in Yemen?

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

Answer:

It is impermissible for a person to engage in a Riba (Usury/Interest) based transaction.

As such, Abdullah bin Mas’ud (May Allah be pleased with him) narrated:

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) cursed the one who consumes usury, the one who pays it, those who witness it and the one who writes it down. (Sunan Ibn Majah, hadith # 2277)[1]

However, in the scenario where a person has acquired Interest money. The correct way to dispose of that money is to give it to the poor without any hope or intention of getting rewards. (Raddul Muhtar, pg 553, vol 9)[2]

In light of the above, it will be permissible for your friend to give Interest money earned to a charitable organization for poor people in Yemen. However, it has to be done without hope of rewards.

[1] قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ لَعَنَ آكِلَ الرِّبَا وَمُوكِلَهُ وَشَاهِدَيْهِ وَكَاتِبَهُ ‏.‏

[2] قال بعض مشايخنا: كسب المغنية كالمغصوب لم يحل أخذه، وعلى هذا قالوا: لو مات الرجل و كسبه من بيع الباذق أو الظلم أو أخذ الرشوة يتورع الورثة ولا يأخذون منه شيئا، وهو أولى بهم ويردونها على أربابها إن عرفوهم، وإلا تصدقوا بها لأن سبيل الكسب الخبيث التصدق إذا تعذر الرد على صاحبه.

Only Allah (عز و جل) knows best.

Written by Maulana Abdul Malik

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham