Fatwa ID: 04561

Answered by: Mufti Javed ibn Nazir Kachhalia

Question

Salaam Maulana.

Hope you are In the best of health and Imaan.

I recently came from abroad to the UK for a couple of weeks. When I came to the UK I was financially struggling. My brother older than me gave me his bank card to use during my stay in the UK. When I would go out I would use my own bank card. With the intention that I would put the money back in with my brother's card. My stay is coming to an end. And I have spent nearly £2000 on my card I lied to my brother and told him my friend needs to borrow £2000. I took the money out of his account and put it into my account. Although my brother wouldn't mind even I were to spend from his card. I wanted to avoid questions from him.  Eg where did you spend the money etc?

I wanted to ask even though I lied about my friend borrowing the money. Has that money become haram? The only reason why I did it is so I can avoid confrontation. Not because he hasn't given me permission

Jazak Allah khair for your time.

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

Answer

Lying is a major sin and regardless of the reason lying still be a sin. Lying is also one of the characteristics of hypocrites.

The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “I enjoin you to be truthful, for truthfulness leads to righteousness and righteousness leads to Paradise. A man may continue to tell the truth and endeavor to be truthful until he is recorded with Allah as a speaker of truth. And beware of lying, for lying leads to wickedness and wickedness leads to Hell. A man may continue to tell lies and endeavor to tell lies until he is recorded with Allah as a liar.”(Bukhari & Muslim)

Indeed the way you have taken this money was by deceiving and lying, which is a sin, but the money is Halaal. You will need to ask Allah for forgiveness and repent. Also, would strongly advise you to mention this to your Brother and ask him to forgive you, Insha’Allah Allah and your Brother will forgive you for it.

We can analyze the above ruling similar to the person who has taken a loan from a bank with interest. The loan is permissible even though taken the interest is Haraam. (Fatawa Usmani, Vol 3, Pg 201, Maktabah Ma’ariful Qura’an).

So in your case, the money is Halaal, but the way you went about it, it's impermissible.

Only Allah knows best.

Written by Mufti Javed ibn Nazir Kachhalia

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham