Fatwa ID: 09443
Answered by Mufti Abdurrahman Mohammad
Question:
I am writing to kindly request a fatwa regarding mortgage (riba) based on my situation.
I am from Sri Lanka and currently living in London with my wife and young daughter. I work as an Uber driver. My wife is educated but not working, as she is caring for our child, who has started school here. We are renting a house, but rent is very high and saving is difficult. We own no property in the UK. We only have a piece of land in Sri Lanka.
We are concerned about riba and seek guidance between two options:
1. Staying in the UK, where our livelihood is, and considering buying a house through a mortgage due to hardship.
2. Returning to Sri Lanka to completely avoid riba, even if it means financial and job difficulties.
Please advise us on what is Islamically correct in our situation.
JazakAllahu Khairan.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
May Allah (ﷻ) reward you for your sincerity and concern about keeping your income and family life Halal. Your situation of living abroad with limited income, high rent, and family responsibilities is a real hardship, and Islam has a way out for every difficulty. At the same time, Allah (ﷻ) has placed clear boundaries regarding Ribā (interest), and a Muslim is required to respect those boundaries and seek Halal solutions. Islam strictly prohibits engaging in transactions involving Ribā. Allah (ﷻ) prohibits Ribā and emphasizes its severity throughout the Quran.
O believers! Do not consume interest, multiplying it many times over. And be mindful of Allah, so you may prosper. (Ali ‘Imrān 3:130)
O believers! Fear Allah, and give up outstanding interest if you are ˹true˺ believers. If you do not, then beware of a war with Allah and His Messenger! (Surah al-Baqarah 2:278-279)
Those who consume interest will stand ˹on Judgment Day˺ like those driven to madness by Satan’s touch. That is because they say, “Trade is no different than interest.” But Allah has permitted trading and forbidden interest. (Surah al-Baqarah 2:275)
The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
Jabir said that Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) cursed the accepter of interest and its payer, and one who records it, and the two witnesses, and he said: They are all equal. (Sahih Muslim 1598)
Given your situation in the UK, it is important to note that the UK is Islamically developed in terms of financial services, and there are multiple options for Shariah-compliant home financing. These Islamic mortgages are structured to avoid Ribā and are approved by recognized Shariah boards. It is your responsibility to research these options and consult your local Imams and Muftis on which options are allowed.
Therefore, it is not permissible to take a conventional mortgage involving interest when Shariah-compliant alternatives are available. The principle in Islamic law is that necessity (Darūrah) may allow prohibited things only when there is no lawful alternative, but when a Halal option exists, it must be chosen.
Therefore, you may remain in the UK and are not required to return to Sri Lanka as long as you avoid Ribā and Haram options. You should first exhaust all permissible options and consult your local scholars and Muftis for Halal financing options in your community. Continue renting while you explore Islamic home-financing providers. Seek guidance and advice from the community and scholars. Choose an approved Shariah-compliant financing option from a reliable provider instead of a conventional mortgage, even if it costs a little more.
Only Allah ﷻ knows best.
Written by Mufti Abdurrahman Mohammad
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
References:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَذَرُوا مَا بَقِيَ مِنَ الرِّبَا إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ
فَإِن لَّمْ تَفْعَلُوا فَأْذَنُوا بِحَرْبٍ مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ ۖ وَإِن تُبْتُمْ فَلَكُمْ رُءُوسُ أَمْوَالِكُمْ لَا تَظْلِمُونَ وَلَا تُظْلَمُونَ
Qur’an (2:278-9)
كُلُّ قَرْضٍ جَرَّ نَفْعًا حَرَامٌ فَكُرِهَ لِلْمُرْتَهِنِ سُكْنَى الْمَرْهُونَةِ بِإِذْنِ الرَّاهِنِ
Raddul Muhtār (Vol.5, pg.166, Dār Al-Fiqr)
وَالْفِضَّةُ بِالْفِضَّةِ مِثْلًا بِمِثْلٍ يَدًا بِيَدٍ، وَالْفَضْلُ رِبًا، وَالذَّهَبُ بِالذَّهَبِ مِثْلًا بِمِثْلٍ يَدًا بِيَدٍ، وَالْفَضْلُ رِبًا» أَيْ: بِيعُوا الْحِنْطَةَ بِالْحِنْطَةِ مِثْلًا بِمِثْلٍ يَدًا بِيَدٍ
Badā’i’ Al-Ṣanā’i’ (Vol.5, pg.183, Dār Al-Kutub Al-’Ilmiyyah)
فَيَكُونُ رِبًا كَمَنْ كَانَ لَهُ عَلَى آخَرَ أَلْفُ دِرْهَمٍ فَصَالَحَهُ عَلَى أَلْفٍ وَخَمْسِمِائَةٍ، أَنَّ الصُّلْحَ يَكُونُ بَاطِلًا كَذَا هَذَا، وَهَذَا عَلَى أَصْلِهِمَا مُطَّرِدٌ؛ لِأَنَّ عِنْدَهُمَا أَنَّ مَنْ أَتْلَفَ عَلَى آخَرَ مَا لَا مِثْلَ لَهُ، أَوْ غَصَبَ مِنْهُ مَا لَا مِثْلَ لَهُ فَهَلَكَ فِي يَدِهِ
Badā’i’ Al-Ṣanā’i’ (Vol.4, pg.90, Dār Al-Kutub Al-’Ilmiyyah)