Using interest money to pay for bank charges or to help someone in overdraft

Q:

1. Can I use interest earned on a savings pocket linked to my main account to offset bank charges on the main account?

2. Can I give the interest earned on the savings pocket to a family member who is in an overdraft?

A:

1. If the bank charges are in lieu of valid services, then you cannot use interest money to pay for it.

2. Yes. However, you should advise him to come out of this curse of interest. 

And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.

Answered by:

Mufti Zakaria Makada

Checked & Approved:

Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)