Assalaamu alaykum. I live in a non-Muslim country, and we do not have fatwa centers here. Therefore, please help me by anwsering the following question in spite of your busy schedule. My wife insists on buying a home by taking a loan from a bank, and I told her that the loan is based on interest and that we cannot take it. I told her that I would discuss it with the bank and try to find a way to get the loan according to Islamic principles. Sometimes, however, she loses patience accuses me of doing nothing at all. Last night, a similar argument took place, so I told her that I do not have enough funds to buy a new house and that I do not want to take a loan. She told me that I cannot do anything. Later on, I told her that she should take a Khul‘ (divorce at the instance of the wife in return for a compensation payable by her) and find someone who can give her a home. On this, she said nothing and kept quiet. When I said this, my intention was to make it clear that with me it is not possible to take a loan from a bank. I had no intention for a Khul‘ nor for a divorce. I just wanted to emphasize my strong intention of not taking a loan from the bank. Please let me know if this affects our marriage. Furthermore, in the future, if I do take a loan from the bank, would that maybe affect our marriage? Thank you for your cooperation. Regards.

All perfect praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

May Allah reward you for your keenness on seeking what is lawful and your fear of consuming unlawful wealth. What you said to your wife, that she should take a Khul’ if she wants to does not affect the validity of your marriage. If you had to take an interest-based loan from the bank for a necessity or valid need, this does not affect your marriage bond and has nothing to do with it. Hence, you should ignore your doubts, fear Allah, and retain your marriage. You should address such matters wisely through calm dialogue in order to clarify the right thing to do and the religious ruling in this regard to her, especially such matters that are related to the lawful and unlawful.

We have previously underlined the prohibition of taking interest-based loans unless there is a valid need or necessity for it in fatwa 83738.

Allah knows best.