Wants to repay loan attached to Riba Fatwa No: 86747
- Fatwa Date:25-1-2004
I am in debt for about 4000 lbs and I always feel very bad and guilty about it. I tried in many ways to get a loan or help free of Riba from our brothers, but they all said, "Sorry!" So I am working hard to repay this loan as soon as possible. Also, I do not want to stay in Dhar al-Kufr (land of disbelief) for long. What do you advice me to do?
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.
First and foremost you must repent sincerely from dealing with interest, and regret what had happened, and decide not to return to dealing with interest in the future.
With regard to this loan, you have to strive to convince the creditors that you are going to return the amount of money you have borrowed from them only without interest; if they agree that’s fine. Otherwise you have to pay them the interest by obligation.
You have to seek the help of Allah, and if you are sincere in your repentance, He will make things easy for you and you will be able to pay your loan. Allah Says (interpretation of meaning): {…And whosoever fears Allâh and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine. }[65:2-3].
As with regard to the migration from non-Muslim countries to Muslim countries, it is mandatory if it is not necessary to stay in non-Muslim countries. As long as you are in your situation, you must strive to return to Muslim countries to be safe religiously speaking. Seek the help of Allah, and ask Him with humiliation and insistence so that He will make this matter easy for you.
Allah knows best.