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Fatwa CenterTaking Bank Loan to Buy Household Items to Marry
Question
This is urgent. I am getting married in 5 weeks, Insha Allah. I have to buy essential furniture, e.g. bedroom set, sofa, etc. The problem is that I do not have enough cash to buy it and do not have a credit card. The only way I can buy this furniture is through getting a personal loan from my bank which charges interest. I know deep in my heart and strongly believe that Riba is forbidden but in the position where I am, I have no other choice. I asked family members, friends to lend me some money but they can't due to their financial difficulties. So in such circumstances, is it okay to take a bank loan? This is urgent since my marriage is very soon Insha Allah. Please advise.
Answer
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 
is His slave and Messenger.
We ask Allah, The Great and Almighty, to complete your marriage well. We thank you for your adherence to Islam and wish to observe its teachings. Know that if you fear Allah, The Exalted, and have a firm intention to avoid doing what is prohibited, Allah will make a way out for you to get out from every difficulty.
Allah Says (what means): {And whoever fears Allah - He will make for him a way out.} [Quran 65: 2]
Know that Riba (interest and/or usury) is one of the greatest prohibitions that Allah forbade, and He threatened to wage war against those who deal in it, the one who takes it, and the one who gives it, unless there is some dire necessity that may force a Muslim to commit such a major sin.
Here, we say 'necessity makes permissible the prohibited things'.
Allah Says (what means): {…while He has explained to you in detail what is forbidden to you, except under compulsion of necessity.} [Quran 6: 119]
Marriage does not constitute a dire necessity that allows one to take a usurious loan. One can delay marriage and resort to fasting and avoiding places of excitement.
The Prophet said: "O young men, whoever is able to marry should marry as it helps him lower his gaze and protect his private parts (from committing illegal sexual intercourse), and whoever is not able to marry, he should fast, as fasting diminishes his sexual desires." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
In fact, there is no other solution except the treatment mentioned above in the Prophetic Hadeeth.
So, we advise the dear inquirer to be patient, to do his best to control himself, since what is prepared for the Muslim in the Hereafter is better than all the pleasures of this Life.
But, the pleasures of this Life gained through prohibited means are worthless and little.
Thus, it is better to start your marital life with obedience.
Allah knows best.
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