I am a revert sister. I am a single parent due to my ex-husband leaving me when I was 6 months pregnant. I work full-time to support me and my son. I originally came from Leicester. I moved to London when I got married. My mother died 27 years ago and my father is a Hindu and does not accept me as a Muslim. I do not have many contacts in London but have a few sisters in Islam in Leicester that I love to visit and need as I have very, very little interaction with my family but see my half brother a few times. The above information is slight background to my situation. My question is that I rely very much on my car to help me with going around London and trying to visit sisters in Leicester and surrounding places. My salary, Alhamdulillah, is quite low. The current car I have is quite old. I have had to pay a lot of money to maintain it and, InshaAllah can see it getting worse. If I had to wait to save enough money to get another used slightly newer model it may take a few years. There is also a problem with the clutch which I have asked two mechanics whether it could be made easier to use but they have said it is part of the make of the car. The clutch causes pain in my left leg. I found the only way to finance a newer car would be to take out a loan with my bank. I would need to take out £5000 and pay back the loan within 3 years and incur an interest of £825 but I would try to pay the loan back before this time to avoid paying that amount of interest. I have tried to investigate any way of trying to finance myself but I cannot find any other means. I need a car to help with my mental and physical support. I know that interest is Haram, and my intention, InshaAllah is to pay the least amount of interest back but I cannot find any other way or help to fund a newer car. A newer car would mean I did not have to spend a lot of money repairing my current car. I pray you will be able to give me informed assistance on this matter. I would never turn to this kind of matter if I did not really have to. May Allah (SWA) reward you for all your efforts.

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

First of all, we ask Allaah to make us and you firm on the truth and make a way out to our sorrow and difficulties.

It is known that Riba (interest and usury) is a major sin, and whoever deals with it is at war with Allaah, as Allaah says (what means): {O you who have believed, fear Allaah and give up what remains [due to you] of interest, if you should be believers.} [Quran 2:278]

Whoever gets a loan with interest is helping in consuming it.

It is confirmed that the prophet cursed the one who consumes Riba, the one who gives it to others, the one who writes it down, the one who witnesses it. And he said: "All of them are equal in sin"[Muslim]

Therefore, it is not permissible to get a loan with Riba except in case of necessity. The scholars defined necessity as being the condition in which one predominantly thinks that it can cause his destruction, or a hardship that cannot be borne.

What is apparent from your situation is that it did not reach the level of necessity that allows you to get a loan with Riba. A new car is not a necessity, but a need.

The benefit of keeping contact and relationship with your friends could be achieved by other means of transport, like public transport, telephone and the like.

So, we advise you to be patient, and Allaah will make a way out for you if you fear Him. Allaah says (what means): {And whoever fears Allaah—He will make for him a way out. And will provide for him from where he does not expect.} [Quran 65:2-3]

Allaah Knows best.