Question
A family member is well to do and to a certain extent very religious as well. However he habitually involves himself in riba dealings with the banks. He justifies his actions by saying that to deal with the Riba banks is better than dealing with Al Barakah. He also says that he is giving interest, not taking interest. Is it permissible for this person to contribute Lillah and Zakaat to charity when he owes millions to the bank?
Answer
His arguments are spurious and baseless. His justification of riba is satanically inspired. Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said that the taker and the giver of interest are equal in the sin. Dealing with the kuffaar riba banks does not justify paying them interest. Dealing with them is permissible for operating accounts to facilitate business transactions, not for taking loans and paying interest.
As for Zakaat, minus his debt of millions, if he has the Nisaab value, then he has to pay Zakaat thereon. Example: Debts R5 million. Zakaat assets (gold, cash and stock-intrade) R6 million. He has to pay Zakaat on R1 million. It should also be understood that long term debts such as bond payments over a decade, should not be considered to be 'debt' for the purposes of calculating Zakaat Nisaab.
As for Lillah, we understand that this person is 'well to do'. He leads a life of opulence and basks in luxury. Just as he spends and wastes for unnecessary luxuries, he should spend in the Path of Allah Ta'ala also.
- Source
- themajlis.co.za
- Published in
- The Majlis Vol 25 No 02
- PDF page
- 2
Verbatim verified against the source PDF
Appears under ‘GREETING A FAASIQ. This heading is the nearest headline at or before the page and is approximate. Do not cite it alone.