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Is it permissible to take out a usurious loan for someone who is in dire straits, burdened with debts, and unable to find housing or employment?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

Allah Almighty has forbidden usury and has threatened those who deal in it with war. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, counted it among the seven destructive sins. The prohibition of usury is a matter known by necessity in religion, and it is not permissible except for one who has reached the point of necessity, which is the مكلف (accountable person) reaching the point of perishing or being close to it, or experiencing great unbearable hardship that can only be alleviated by committing what is forbidden. It does not appear that the questioner has reached this point. He should strive in permissible ways to earn his needs and increase in supplication, especially the supplication: "O Allah, I seek refuge in You from anxiety and sorrow..." It is advised to seek a scholar for direct clarification.

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

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