Friend taking an interest-bearing loan from a bank on one's behalf

Q: I want to take an interest-bearing loan from a bank through a friend since the bank will only be willing to lend it to my friend and not myself due to my poor credit history. Is this permissible? What is the punishment, and is the sin on both of us or only me? Am I also involving my friend in a sin?

A: Severe warnings have been sounded in the Quraan Majeed and Mubaarak Ahaadith for the one who gets involved in the grave sin of interest.

In the Quraan Majeed, Allah Ta`ala warns all those who deal in the grave sin of interest. Allah Ta`ala says: “If you do not do so (desist from dealing in interest) then be prepared to wage war against Allah and His Rasul (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam).”

Hazrat Jaabir (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) cursed the one who consumes riba (interest), the one who feeds it to others, the one who records it (i.e. the transaction) and those who are witness to it (i.e. the transaction). Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) also said, “All of them are equal (in sin).”

Can one ever imagine being on a warpath with Allah Ta'ala and His Rasul (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)? Can a person ever enjoy any success and happiness in life if he is at war with Allah Ta'ala, the Creator of the universe?

If you ask your friend to take out an interest-bearing loan from the bank and he agrees and takes out the loan, then both of you will be sinful.

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

وَأَحَلَّ اللّٰهُ الْبَيْعَ وَحَرَّمَ الرِّبَوٰا (سورة البقرة: ٢٧٥)

اَلَّذِينَ يَأْكُلُونَ الرِّبٰوا لَا يَقُومُونَ إِلَّا كَمَا يَقُومُ الَّذِى يَتَخَبَّطُهُ الشَّيْطٰنُ مِنَ الْمَسِّ (سورة البقرة: ٢٧٥)

فَاِنْ لَّمْ تَفْعَلُوا فَاْذَنُوْا بِحَرْبٍ مِّنَ  اللّٰهِ وَرَسُولِهِ (سورة البقرة: 279)

یٰۤاَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ اٰمَنُوْا لَا تَأْكُلُوا الرِّبٰوا اَضْعَافًا مُّضٰعَفَةً ، وَاتَّقُوا اللّٰهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ (سورة آل عمران: ١٣٠)

عن جابر رضي الله عنه قال لعن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم آكل الربا وموكله وكاتبه وشاهديه وقال هم سواء ( صحيح مسلم، الرقم: 1598)

عن عبد الله بن حنظلة غسيل الملائكة رضي الله عنه قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم درهم ربا يأكله الرجل وهو يعلم أشد من ستة وثلاثين زنية ( مسند أحمد، الرقم: 21957)

عن ابن مسعود رضي الله عنه أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال الربا وإن كثر فإن عاقبته تصير إلى قل (مسند أحمد، الرقم: 3754)

Answered by:

Mufti Zakaria Makada

Checked & Approved:

Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)