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Is it permissible for me to convert my bank account into an interest-bearing account and then donate this interest to the poor and needy, with the intention that the bank does not benefit from it and that I do not consider it part of zakat or charity, especially since I always pay zakat on my wealth? And does this contradict the Almighty's saying: {And do not aim for what is bad from it to spend} [Quran 2:267], especially given the severe poverty in my country?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

It is not permissible to deposit money in an interest-based account, even if the intention is to take the interest and spend it on the poor. Good intentions do not justify unlawful means, and Allah is pure and accepts only what is pure. Furthermore, depositing money in an interest-based bank, even without interest, is considered assisting it in its unlawful transactions, unless there is a necessity such as fear of loss.

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

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