QUESTION:
A family member has bought a house in South Africa, while she is residing in Canada. She bought the house through the bank, and is renting it out for a year until she returns. Would this fall under Riba, or is the transaction in order?
ANSWER:
If your cousin has taken an interest-bearing loan from the bank to purchase the house, then she will be sinful for getting involved in a Haraam transaction. Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam has cursed the one who pays interest, consumes interest, the one who records the transaction and the one who witnesses the transaction. Hence, she should try to settle the debt as soon as possible and repent for her actions. However, the rental accrued from the property will be permissible to utilize.
يأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لا تَأْكُلُوا الرِّبَوا أَضْعافاً مُضاعَفَةً وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ (سورة آل عمران – اية 130)
فَإِن لَّمْ تَفْعَلُوا۟ فَأْذَنُوا۟ بِحَرْبٍۢ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ (البقرة آ:279)
وَقَالَ ابْنُ مَسْعُودٍ آكِلُ الرِّبَا وَمُوكِلُهُ وَكَاتِبُهُ وَشَاهِدُهُ إذَا عَلِمُوا بِهِ مَلْعُونُونَ عَلَى لِسَانِ مُحَمَّدٍ – صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ – إلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ – كَذَا فِي النِّهَايَةِ (الجوهرة النيرة 1/212)
روي عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أنه نهى عن قرض جر نفعا ؛ ولأن الزيادة المشروطة تشبه الربا؛ لأنها فضل لا يقابله عوض، والتحرز عن حقيقة الربا، وعن شبهة الربا واجب هذا إذا كانت الزيادة مشروطة في القرض (بدائع الصنائع 7/395)
ALLAH TA’ALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:
Mufti Mohammed Desai Saheb
Date: 07 Dhul Qa’dah 1445 / 16 May 2024
