Is it permissible for a Muslim to take a loan without interest from a company that stipulates charging interest if a manipulation in the borrower's debt is discovered?
What the company does by lending interest-free loans () to Muslims is a good deed. However, lending to non-Muslims with usurious interest is absolutely forbidden.
What the lending entities require from the borrower falls into two categories: 1. Eligibility criteria: If the required conditions are characteristics of those who are eligible for the loan (such as religion, nationality, and age), then there is no harm in applying if you meet these criteria, and it is not permissible to circumvent them. 2. Conditions for the continuation of the interest-free loan (qard ): If the conditions obligate the borrower to fulfill specific matters (such as repayment within a specified period) such that the loan becomes usurious upon their breach, then this contract is religiously invalid and it is not permissible to enter into it, except in cases of necessity and urgent need, with a strong presumption of the ability to adhere to the conditions.
In summary: If you meet the required criteria, there is no harm in obtaining an interest-free loan (qard hasan). However, if the contract includes future conditions, the breach of which leads to the payment of usurious interest, then it is not permissible to enter into it unless you are compelled and able to fulfill the condition.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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Where this answer came from
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- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 191068
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy