Assisting A Parent With Interest Money

QUESTION:

My mother has a debt exceeding R10 000 from a business which she started. She owns no jewellery and whatever income she earns, is used to pay for her household expenses and maintenance. She is paying the debt off very slowly. Can I use interest money to assist in paying off her debt?

ANSWER:

In the queried scenario, if your mother’s debts and liabilities are more than her savings and liabilities, then it will be permissible to assist her with interest money. Furthermore, although it is technically permissible to give any poor person interest money without the Niyyah of Sawaab, it is advisable to give Halaal and pure money to one’s mother if it is available.

Moreover, it should be borne in mind that you cannot assist her with Zakaah as the Fuqaha have written that, Zakaah may not be given to one’s descendants, ascendants, or to one’s spouse.

قَالَ عُلَمَاؤُنَا إِنَّ سَبِيلَ التَّوْبَةِ مِمَّا بِيَدِهِ مِنَ الْأَمْوَالِ الْحَرَامِ إِنْ كَانَتْ مِنْ رِبًا فليردها على من أربى عليه، ومطلبه إِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ حَاضِرًا، فَإِنْ أَيِسَ مِنْ وُجُودِهِ فَلْيَتَصَدَّقْ بِذَلِكَ عَنْهُ (الجامع لأحكام القرآن الكريم للقرطبي 3/366)

ويردونها على أربابها إن عرفوهم، وإلا تصدقوا بها لأن سبيل الكسب الخبيث التصدق إذا تعذر الرد على صاحبه (الدر المختار و حاشية ابن عابدين 6/385(

و لا يدفع المزكي زكوة ماله الي ابيه وجده ولا الي ولده وولد ولده وان سفل (الهداية1 /223)

ولا يدفع المزكي زكاته إلى أبيه وجده وإن علا ولا إلى ولده وولد ولده وإن سفل، لأن منافع الأملاك بينهم متصلة فلا يتحقق التمليك على الكمال ولا إلى امرأته للاشتراك في المنافع عادة (البناية 3/467)

ALLAH TA’ALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!

ANSWERED BY:

Mufti Abdul Kader Fazlani

Date: 14 Jumaadal-Ulaa 1447 / 04 November 2025

CHECKED AND APPROVED BY:

Mufti Yacoob Vally Saheb