Helping someone take out an interest bearing loan

Q: I wanted to ask that a family member of mine took a personal loan of 3 lac from the bank using my details. The agreement made at that point was that my account will only be used to apply for the loan whereas the loan amount and all the installments along with interest will be paid by her. At that time I had no idea that interest taking and giving is haram in Islam. I agreed to that and the amount was taken by her and it has been four months. She is not paying the installments and every month she gives a reason of not having cash to pay installments.

Since the bank has my details therefore I have to pay the installments as a compulsion or out of helplessness, as the family member is not agreeing to pay the installments and comes up with a new excuse every time. I am very worried and want to ask that since I had no idea of the loan being haram and now that I have come to know it, but now I am bound to pay that... please tell me what should I do as I am afraid of Allah for being punished as being a facilitator in applying for a loan and now also paying the installments. What should I do??

A: You may cancel the loan.

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

 

Answered by:

Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)