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Fatwa CenterRepentance and firm resolution to give Riba up are the solution
Question
I took a car by taking a loan from the bank as we were in need of it very much, my company will pay all the interest over for four years, as I understand that the interest is Riba and is Haram. If I pay each and every penny I am receiving as interest to help the poor and the needy; is my salary/income still Haram and am I still committing a sin. How should I solve this problem and stay away from Haram earning.
Answer
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.
Taking Riba (interest and/or usury) loans is forbidden according to all Muslim scholars regardless of who is going to pay the interests (the debtor or someone else). It is compulsory on anyone who takes some Riba loan to pay it back to its creditor without interest, if possible. Otherwise, he should pay it with its interest. But he should repent from this dreadful sin and have firm resolution not to take any Riba loan in the future. In addition, he should regret indulging in such a forbidden transaction. Having done the above, the money he already took with Riba and had paid back or compensated becomes lawful and he does not have to give it or the equivalent of its interests to poor or needy people. But if the person feels happy to give such money as alms to boost his repentance, then this is good. Some of the good predecessors used to give alms with their repentance because alms extinguish sins as water extinguishes fire. Finally, we remind our dear brother, that it is unlawful for the person to commit a sin having in mind that he will repent from it later or give alms, as premeditated sins are obnoxious and very dangerous.
Allaah Knows best.
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