Sunday 5 February 2017

WAR WITH ALLAH (SWT)


WAR WITH ALLAH (SWT)

Assembled by Mallam Abba Abana, Kubwa, Abuja, Nigeria

http://variousislamicdawadocuments.blogspot.com

Emails:gonidamgamiri@yahoo.com; abba.abana@gmail.com

 

Bismillah Walhamdulillah Was Salaatu Was Salaam 'ala Rasulillah. As-Salaam Alaikum Wa-Rahmatullahi Wa-Barakatuhu

Praise be to Allaah; we seek His help and His forgiveness. We seek refuge with Allaah from the evil of our own souls and from our bad deeds. Whomsoever Allaah guides will never be led astray, and whomsoever Allaah leaves astray, no one can guide. I bear witness that there is no god but Allaah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

1.0 BORROWING FROM A RIBA-BASED BANK IN ORDER TO BUY A HOUSE


Dealing with riba (usury, interest) is a major sin against which Allaah has issued a stern warning. He says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“O you who believe! Fear Allaah and give up what remains (due to you) from Ribaa (from now onward) if you are (really) believers. 279. And if you do not do it, then take a notice of war from Allaah and His Messenger but if you repent, you shall have your capital sums. Deal not unjustly (by asking more than your capital sums), and you shall not be dealt with unjustly (by receiving less than your capital sums)” [Holy Quran Chapter al-Baqarah 2:278] 

“Those who eat Ribaa will not stand (on the Day of Resurrection) except like the standing of a person beaten by Shaytaan (Satan) leading him to insanity. That is because they say: “Trading is only like Riba,” whereas Allaah has permitted trading and forbidden Riba. So whosoever receives an admonition from his Lord and stops eating Riba, shall not be punished for the past; his case is for Allaah (to judge); but whoever returns (to Riba), such are the dwellers of the Fire — they will abide therein” [Holy Quran Chapter al-Baqarah 2:275] 

And it was proven that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) cursed the one who consumes riba and the one who pays it. Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 5962. In the transaction asked about here, both the individual and the bank are giving and taking riba. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “A dirham which a man consumes as riba knowingly is worse before Allaah than thirty-six acts of zina.” Narrated by Ahmad and al-Tabaraani; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’, no. 3375. And he said: “There are seventy-two types of riba, the least of which is like a man committing incest with his mother.” Narrated by al-Tabaraani in al-Awsat; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’, no. 3537. 

The scholars are unanimously agreed that every loan involving interest or any kind of benefit is haraam. Ibn Qudaamah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: Every loan in which it is stipulated that an additional payment be made is haraam, with no scholarly dispute. Ibn al-Mundhir said: They are unanimously agreed that if the lender stipulates that the borrower must pay extra or give a gift, and he gives the loan on this basis, this is riba. It was narrated from Ubayy ibn Ka’b, Ibn ‘Abbaas and Ibn Mas’ood that they forbade loans that lead to any kind of benefit (extra payment, gifts, etc).  Al-Mughni, 6/436. 

With regard to the idea of you renting the house until the loan is paid off, after which it will be yours, this is also haraam.

To sum up, this transaction is haraam and it is darkness upon darkness. It is not permissible for a Muslim to take the matter of riba transactions lightly after the stern warning about such transactions has been proven and it has been definitively established that they are haraam. Rather what he must do is to seek that which is halaal, for everybody that is nourished by haraam, the Fire is more suited for it. But whoever gives up something for the sake of Allaah, Allaah will compensate him with something better than it. 

The Standing Committee was asked about the Islamic ruling on taking a loan from a riba-based bank in order to build a modest house. They replied: 

It is haraam to take a loan from banks or elsewhere with riba, whether that is to build something or to spend it on food, clothing or medical expenses or to start a business and earn more money, or any other purpose, because of the general meaning of the verses that forbid riba, and the general meaning of the ahaadeeth which indicate that it is haraam. Similarly it is not permissible to deposit money in banks etc that pay interest.

 And Allaah is the Source of strength. May Allaah send blessing and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions.  Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah (13/385). 

2.0 BANK CREDIT CARDS 

Nowadays almost every one of us availing facility of CREDIT CARDS and consumer financing (Leasing of Cars, Easy Loans etc.) from banks. 

Did we ever think that by doing this we are directly involved in INTEREST (Riba) which according to holy Quran is just like involving ourselves in “War with Allah and His Messenger”.  Allah (swt) says in holy Quran: 

[Holy Quran Chapter 2:278] O ye who believe! Fear Allah, and give up what remains of your demand for usury, if ye are indeed believers.
[Holy Quran Chapter 2:279] If ye do it not, Take notice of war from Allah and His Messenger: But if ye turn back, ye shall have your capital sums: Deal not unjustly, and ye shall not be dealt with unjustly.

[Holy Quran Chapter 3:130] O ye who believe! Devour not usury, doubled and multiplied; but fear Allah; that ye may (really) prosper. 

On the other hand after availing such facilities and having Credit Cards in the wallet we are also performing SALAT (Prayers) and try to become true Muslim.   

We should think about the fate of our good deeds (Aamal-e-Saleh) especially when we are directly involved in war with Allah (Swt) and his Messenger. 

We should avoid dealing in INTEREST as much as it is in our control if we want our prayers to be accepted by ALLAH (Swt).  One might say that he/she tries to return the amount before the interest is charged but there are very much chances that the cheque is misplaced or some sort of dispute of wrong entries arise at later stage.  

A large number of people using Credit Cards are involved in disputes and have complaints against banks.   It’s a sort of temptation that whether you have money or not in the pocket you will spend through Card as nothing is going from you at that time (Human psychology). This is also a reason of living beyond the limit. So its better to have Debit Card instead of Credit Card, have Current Account instead of saving and avoid taking loans from banks on interest.

  People say that one can’t do business without it and whole country is on Interest/Usury, BUT something which is in our control/choice could be avoided.  Doing business on interest is not must.  There are people who sacrifice the worldly benefits due to not involving in interest.  We can’t remove SIN from the society but at least can struggle against it by not involving in it.  

REMEMBER! The order of Allah (swt) is final as the holy Quran is final till the last day. People who argue that in present time it’s not possible to avoid INTEREST, Do they want to say that while ordering in Quran, Allah (swt) didn't know the future that people will face such & such problems?  Actually this life is test for us as Allah (swt) says:  

[Holy Quran Chapter 29:2] Do men think that they will be left alone on saying, "We believe", and that they will not be tested?
[Holy Quran Chapter 29:3] We did test those before them, and Allah will certainly know those who are true from those who are false.  

3.0 IS IT PERMISSIBLE FOR ONE WHO HAS TAKEN OUT A RIBA-BASED LOAN TO RECEIVE ZAKAAH IN ORDER TO PAY OFF HIS DEBT?


We ask Allah, may He be exalted, to forgive you and pardon you for what you have done, for riba is a major sin, concerning which there are warnings such as have not been issued with regard to other sins. Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning): “O you who believe! Fear Allah and give up what remains (due to you) from Ribaa (from now onward) if you are (really) believers. 279. And if you do not do it, then take a notice of war from Allah and His Messenger”[ Holy Quran Chapter al-Baqarah 2:278-279]

It was narrated that Jaabir (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) cursed the one who consumes riba and the one who pays it, the one who writes it down and the two who witness it, and he said: they are all the same. Narrated by Muslim (1598). 

If you have repented from this riba-based transaction and have resolved not to do it again, and you regret having done it, but it is not possible to avoid paying this interest because the system obliges you to repay loans with interest, then there is no reason why your relative should not help you to pay off this debt, and there is no sin on him in doing so, because that comes under the heading of relieving your distress.

The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever relieves a Muslim of distress, Allah will relieve him of distress on the Day of Resurrection.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (2442) and Muslim (2580).

Moreover, the longer your repayment of the debt is delayed, the more the interest that you owe will accumulate. As for helping one who has repented to pay off debt, there is nothing wrong with that, and it does not come under the heading of helping in committing evil in any way whatsoever, so the one who wants to help may give some of his zakaah to the debtor, if the latter does not have wealth surplus to his needs with which to pay off his debt. 

The scholars have stated that if one who got into debt for a haraam purpose has repented to Allah, there is nothing wrong with giving him zakaah funds with which to pay off his debt. 

 Shaykh Muhammad ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) said: 

Question: if a person gets into debt for a haraam purpose, can we give him zakaah?

Answer: if he has repented, we may give him (zakaah funds), otherwise we may not, because in that case it is helping in something haraam. In that case, if we give him he will go into debt again. End quote from ash-Sharh al-Mumti‘ (6/235) 

Dr. ‘Umar Sulaymaan al-Ashqar said: If a person takes out a riba-based loan, it is not permissible to pay off his debt from zakaah funds aimed at helping debtors, unless he repents from having dealt in riba. End quote from Abhaath an-Nadwah al-Khaamisah li Qadaayaa az-Zakaah al-Mu‘aasirah (p. 210) 

4.0 REPENTING FROM TAKING AN INTEREST-BASED LOAN

It is not permissible to take out riba/interest-based loans, from the bank or elsewhere, even if that is to prepare a house for marriage, because of the definite prohibition on riba (interest) and the stern warning against it. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“O you who believe! Be afraid of Allah and give up what remains (due to you) from riba (from now onwards) if you are (really) believers. And if you do not do it, then take a notice of war from Allah and His Messenger but if you repent, you shall have your capital sums. Deal not unjustly (by asking more than your capital sums), and you shall not be dealt with unjustly (by receiving less than your capital sums).”[Holy Quran Chapter 2:278-279] 

Muslim narrated that Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) cursed the one who consumes riba, the one who pays it, the one who writes it down and the two who witness it, and he said: “They are all the same.” 

Ibn Qudamah (may Allah have mercy on him) said: Every loan in which it is stipulated that something extra be paid is haram (impermissible), and there is no difference of opinion on this point. Ibn al-Mundhir said: They were unanimously agreed that if the lender stipulates that the borrower must pay extra or give him a gift, and he gives the loan on the basis that he will take an additional payment for that, it is riba.  End quote from al-Mughni. 

What the one who has taken out a riba-based loan has to do is repent to Allah and regret what he has done, and he has to resolve firmly not to go back to this great sin and serious crime, concerning which there is narrated a warning such as has not been narrated concerning any other sin. We ask Allah to keep us safe and sound. 

Moreover, according to Islam you are not obliged to pay back any more than the capital; as for the haram interest, you are not obliged to pay it and it is not permissible for the lender to take it from you, because Allah says: “... but if you repent, you shall have your capital sums. Deal not unjustly (by asking more than your capital sums), and you shall not be dealt with unjustly (by receiving less than your capital sums)”. 

But if you fear harm and problems if you do not pay the interest, then pay it, and repent to Allah and feel dislike towards this great evil. 

Shaykh Salih al-Fawzan (may Allah preserve him) was asked: I borrowed one hundred pounds from one of my friends on the basis that I would pay him back one hundred and fifty. When the time to pay it back came, I tried to give him one hundred only, but he insisted on taking the extra amount of fifty pounds in return for the loan. What is the ruling on this extra amount? If this comes under the heading of riba, is there any sin on me, and how can I rid myself of it, knowing that the money that I borrowed from him has become mixed with my own money. What do I have to do? 

He replied: Allah has forbidden riba and has issued a stern warning against it. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): “Those who eat riba will not stand (on the Day of Resurrection) except like the standing of a person beaten by Shaytan (Satan) leading him to insanity…O you who believe! Be afraid of Allah and give up what remains (due to you) from riba (from now onwards) if you are (really) believers. And if you do not do it, then take a notice of war from Allah and His Messenger.” [Holy Quran Chapter 2:275, 278-279] 

There are many forms and types of riba. What you mention in the question is a loan with interest. The kind of loan that is allowed in Islam is al-qard al-hasan (a goodly loan) in which you lend something to your brother so that he may benefit from the loan, then he pays you back without any additional payment being stipulated and without paying less. This is the goodly loan. As for the loan which brings a benefit or the loan which is intended to bring a payment of interest, this is haram (unlawful) according to the consensus of the Muslims. It is haram according to the Quran and Sunnah (prophetic teachings) and the consensus of the Muslims, and a stern warning is issued to the one who does this. What should be done is to repay the amount that was borrowed; as for the additional payment which has been stipulated and taken from you, this is haram and is riba.

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) cursed the one who consumes riba, the one who pays it, the two who witness it and the one who writes it down. He (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) also cursed the one who consumes riba and the one who helps him to consume it. So what you have done is haram and is a major sin, and you have to repent to Allah. He has to give this interest that he took back to you, because it is not permissible for him. You committed a haram action by giving him the interest. What you should have done is to refrain from paying interest. 

What you have done is blatant riba, so you both have to repent to Allah and not do any such transaction again. The other person has to return the interest that he took. And Allah knows best. End quote from al-Muntaqa min Fatawa al-Shaykh al-Fawzan. 

Remember that the more quickly you get rid of this loan, the better it will be, so that you may rid yourself of riba and its effects. 

So it is better for you to hasten to pay it off and to use the money that you were going to use for ‘Umrah to rid yourself of this debt. 

We ask Allah to heal your son and to relieve your distress, and make you independent of means from halal (lawful) sources so that you will have no need of anything haram. 

And Allaah knows best.

Sources




https://islamqa.info/en/60185

https://islamqa.info/en/141948. 

https://islamqa.info/en/14304

No comments:

Post a Comment