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What is the difference between a real estate loan and a commercial loan, and is dealing with them permissible or forbidden?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

A subsidized real estate loan with interest is not permissible except in cases of urgent necessity where a person cannot find shelter after searching for alternatives such as renting or a benevolent loan, provided that it does not exceed the extent of that necessity. As for a commercial loan with interest, it is absolutely forbidden usury, based on the words of Allah Almighty: (O you who have believed, fear Allah and give up what remains [due to you] of interest, if you should be believers. And if you do not, then be informed of a war [against you] from Allah and His Messenger. But if you repent, you may have your principal – [thus] you do no wrong, nor are you wronged.) Loans free of interest are permissible, whether they are commercial or real estate.

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

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