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Is it permissible to purchase a residential apartment through a real estate bank with interest, knowing there is an urgent need for housing and no alternative?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

It is not permissible to purchase an apartment under a condition that stipulates usury in case of inability to pay the installments, because the contract is invalid due to its violation of Sharia. If one cannot find any other way to acquire a dwelling, then it is not permissible for him to own it in this manner as long as he can rent without hardship. However, if he cannot afford to rent due to low income, and purchasing is easier, but he cannot do so through a lawful method, then this falls under the category of necessity that permits the forbidden, as Allah Almighty says: "But whoever is forced [by necessity], neither desiring [it] nor transgressing [its limit], there is no sin upon him," and "And He has detailed for you what He has forbidden you, except what you are compelled to [eat or use]."

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

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