What is the ruling on borrowing from banks out of dire necessity, and upon whom does the sin fall if a person is forced into it by family members?
Usury (riba) is one of the gravest major sins. Allah has threatened those who consume it with destruction and the removal of blessing, and has declared them to be at war with Allah and His Messenger. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, cursed the one who consumes it, the one who feeds it, its scribe, and its two witnesses. Therefore, it is not permissible to borrow with usurious interest except in a case of extreme necessity that permits the eating of carrion. In such a situation, there is no blame, as Allah Almighty says: "And He has already explained to you what He has forbidden to you, except for that to which you are compelled." So, if a person is in a state of extreme poverty, it is permissible for him to do so; otherwise, it is not permissible, even if his father orders him, for there is no obedience to a creature in disobedience to the Creator.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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