Fatwa ID: 04489

Answered by: Maulana Mubarak Patel

Question:

My question, is the following type of government saving allowed? 

Help to Save is a type of savings account. It allows certain people entitled to Working Tax Credit or receiving Universal Credit to get a bonus of 50p for every £1 they to save over 4 years.

Help to Save is backed by the government so all savings in the scheme are secure.

How payments work. You can save between £1 and£50 each calendar month. You do not have to pay money every month. You can pay money into your Help to Save account by debit card, standing order, or bank transfer. You can pay in as many times as you like, but the most you can pay in each calendar month is £50. For example, if you have saved £50 by 8 January you will not be able to pay in again until 1 February. You can only withdraw money from your Help to Save account to your bank account.

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم

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

Answer:

As you have described, the Help to Save scheme is a way in which the government gives people a certain amount of money based on how much they save.

The above scheme is allowed as there is no interest involved and it is merely a gift from the government.

Only Allah knows best

Written by Maulana Mubarak Patel

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham