Taking out a mortgage to purchase a home
Q: The question is: do we qualify to take up a new mortgage for a new home under the fatwa issued on mortgage for ONE house from the European council for fatwa and research?
The background is that we live in Norway and we own a house (apartment/ flat) of about 76 square meter equivalent to 820 square feet. Two thirds of the mortgage of the current house is paid of.
We have 3 children and we think that the house is too small for us. We are thus thinking of selling this one and taking up a new mortgage to buy a bigger (separate) new house.
As per the fatwa, it is allowed to buy/own ONE house with a bank mortgage. At the same time we don't wish to wage a war against Allah Ta'ala, as it is stated in the Holy Quran, about ribaa.
So do we qualify under this fatwa to do this? Shall we go ahead with our plan?
A: A mortgage is an agreement of interest. Interest is haraam, whether you do it for the first time or the second time. It comes with its curse and it comes with its consequences.
And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
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