Is it permissible to take an interest-bearing loan, available to all, from the British government for the purpose of financing children's university studies, with the intention of not repaying it after graduation by traveling outside the country, given that repayment is waived in such a case?
Borrowing with interest (riba) is forbidden and is considered a major sin, based on Allah's saying: (O you who have believed, fear Allah and give up what remains [due to you] of interest...) (2:278), and in the hadith: "The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) cursed the one who consumes riba, the one who feeds it, its scribe, and its two witnesses."
If the loan system dictates that whoever takes it and then does not work after graduation, or travels, the loan is waived without any conditions, then there is no harm in taking it with the intention of traveling and not repaying it, because it is a donation and a favor from the state.
However, if the state waives the debt for someone who travels because he is considered to be beyond reach, and it considers such an act as fleeing from the debt, then it is not permissible to take the loan, because evading its repayment is forbidden, and repaying it means falling into riba, which is also forbidden.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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