Title

When does riba became nessicity because people are saying "oh if i don't have a lot of money to pay for my school i can take loan with riba". they say its nessicity or must. what is the ruling on this?

Question

When does riba became nessicity because people are saying "oh if i don't have a lot of money to pay for  my school i can take loan with riba". they say its nessicity or must. what is the ruling on this?

Answer

In the name of Allāh, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Assalāmu ῾alaykum wa Rahmatullāhi Wabarakātuh

In various places in the Qur’ān, Allāh Ta’ālā has commanded the believers to engage in certain acts and to refrain from others.  As an encouragement to the believers, Allāh Ta’ālā has promised great rewards for carrying out those good deeds.  On the other hand, Allāh Ta’ālā has issued grave admonitions to the believers in order for them to refrain from the evil deeds.  Amongst these admonitions, one hardly finds a warning move severe than that of ribā’.  Allāh Ta’ālā says,

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَذَرُوا مَا بَقِيَ مِنَ الرِّبَا إِنْ كُنْتُمْ مُؤْمِنِينَ * فَإِنْ لَمْ تَفْعَلُوا فَأْذَنُوا بِحَرْبٍ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَإِنْ تُبْتُمْ فَلَكُمْ رُءُوسُ أَمْوَالِكُمْ لَا تَظْلِمُونَ وَلَا تُظْلَمُونَ (البقرة: 278-279)

O you who believe, fear Allāh and give up what remains (due to you) from interest if you are believers.  And if you do not do it, then take a notice of war from Allāh and His Messenger… (Qur’ān 2:278-279)

It is essential for one’s success in this world and the Hereafter to avoid any involvement in ribā’.  This does not refer to taking interest, but rather giving, witnessing, and recording it, as well.

حدثنا قتيبة حدثنا أبو عوانة عن سماك بن حرب عن عبد الرحمن بن عبد الله بن مسعود عن ابن مسعود قال : لعن رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم آكل الربا وموكله وشاهده وكاتبه (سنن الترمذي، كتاب البيوع، باب أكل الربا: 3/512؛ إحياء التراث)

The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم  cursed the one who takes, gives, witnesses, or records interest (Tirmidhī)

Only under severe conditions will this accursed transaction become permissible, just as the eating of swine becomes permissible only under the most severe conditions. 

A person should not succumb to the evils of his desires and the ploys of Shaytān by considering if his situation allows him to deal in any interest-bearing transactions.  Even if an interest-bearing transaction might seem a better option financially, such a transaction will ultimately prove otherwise.  The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم stated,

أبو جعفر بن دحيم ثنا أحمد بن حازم أنا أبو نعيم و أخبرنا علي بن أحمد بن عبدان ثنا أحمد بن عبيد ثنا تمتام ثنا أبو نعيم ثنا شريك عن الركين بن الربيع عن أبيه عن عبد الله رفعه قال الربا و إن كثر فإن عاقبته يصير إلى قل (شعب الإيمان، الحديث 5511؛ العلمية)

Interest, even if it increases, its result is towards scarcity (Shu’ab al-Īmān)

One should always fear the punishments, such as the ones mentioned above, for engaging in interest and not let Shaytān misguide him into committing this sin, which the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم counted as one of the seven destructive sins. 

حدثنى هارون بن سعيد الأيلى حدثنا ابن وهب قال حدثنى سليمان بن بلال عن ثور بن زيد عن أبى الغيث عن أبى هريرة أن رسول الله -صلى الله عليه وسلم- قال « اجتنبوا السبع الموبقات ». قيل يا رسول الله وما هن قال « الشرك بالله والسحر وقتل النفس التى حرم الله إلا بالحق وأكل مال اليتيم وأكل الربا والتولى يوم الزحف وقذف المحصنات الغافلات المؤمنات (صحيح مسلم، كتاب الإيمان، باب بيان الكبائر وأكبرها: 1/64؛ دار الجيل)

The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, “Beware of the seven destructive sins.”  It was said, “O Prophet of Allāh, what are they?”  He صلى الله عليه وسلم said, “Associating partners with Allāh, sorcery, killing an innocent person, consuming an orphan’s wealth, consuming interest, fleeing from the battlefield, and accusing chaste women of adultery” (Muslim)

Furthermore, he should rest assured that Allāḥ Ta’ālā will put barakah in his money if he makes an effort to avoid interest. 

Yet, if one truly feels that he is in absolute necessity of interest-bearing transactions, then one must close the door for his desires and for Shaytān to misguide him by presenting his situation to a pious scholar, seeking his advice, and submitting to his decision. 

It is necessary for one to try his best to avoid ribā’ to the best of his ability, even if that means enduring some level of difficulty, in order to not risk waging a self-destructive war against Allāh Ta’ālā and His beloved Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم. 

And Allāh Ta῾āla Knows Best

Wassalāmu ῾alaykum

Mufti  Abrar Mirza, (Chicago, US)
Checked and Approved by:

Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Dārul Iftā