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What should someone do who has been living in Sweden for five years, pays a monthly installment of interest (riba) to Swedish companies, and cannot stop paying it, knowing that he is unemployed and receives government aid, and wishes to emigrate to his home country to avoid loss in this world and the hereafter? And is it obligatory to emigrate from these countries, or to wait to pay the amount of interest which he knows he cannot repay?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

It is obligatory to repent to Allah Almighty from dealing in usury, and to return only the principal without the interest, unless you are compelled to pay it. As for residing in non-Muslim lands, it is not permissible except for one who can observe the rituals of his religion and is safe from temptation. It should be avoided due to the dangers that result from it. So, if you have returned the principal, then hasten to return to your country. If you have not returned the principal, then you must complete it to the best of your ability.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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