What is the ruling of Islamic law on a man mortgaging his apartment to pay off a usurious loan from a usurious bank as a final settlement with the intention of repentance?
The repentance of a borrower of a usurious loan is to return the borrowed money. If he is able not to return the interest, he should not return it. If expediting the repayment of the loan leads to the waiver of usurious interest, then one must hasten to do so. However, if this benefit does not exist, there is no reason to expedite the repayment. After being received, the loan enters into the possession of the borrower and becomes a debt upon him, and he incurs sin for engaging in usury. Therefore, if mortgaging the apartment leads to getting rid of the usurious loan, and the mortgage is conducted according to Islamic legal principles, then there is no objection. However, if it is not conducted according to Islamic legal principles, then it is not permissible, and repentance and repaying the loan to the best of one's ability are sufficient for him.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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