Taking a loan to buy a house to make hijrah to a Muslim land
9-6-2004 | IslamWeb
Question:
We live in a kafir country. We want to make hijra to the Islamic country, of my husband as soon as possible. We are afraid our kids will grow up in a kafir country and for all of us it is haram if we stay here.
Previously I was married to another man and I had 3 kids. I am a Dutch Muslimah. Now my ex-husband is trying hard to take my kids away from me in court, and he wants my kids to leave Islam. We want to make hijra to an Islamic country and we have to take credit from the bank to buy a house in the Islamic country. Is this haram for us or not?
Answer:
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.
Getting a loan from the bank with usury and interest is Haram, and it is not permissible to do so except in the case of dire necessity which could not be fulfilled otherwise. Allah says: "He has explained to you in detail what is forbidden to you, except under compulsion of necessity. (Al-An'am 6:119)
But if there is no necessity in principle or there is a necessity but that could be fulfilled without resorting to Haram means, then it is not permissible to borrow money with usury and interest to buy houses. As long as a person is able to rent a house and finds a house for rent then it is not permissible for him to get a loan with usury and interest to buy a house. And whoever takes a loan with usury and interest he has indeed opened a door of a great evil on him.
Allah says: "Allâh will destroy Ribâ (usury) and will give increase for Sadaqât (deeds of charity, alms, etc.) And Allâh likes not the disbelievers, sinners. (Al-Baqarah 2:276)
Allah also says: "O you who believe! Be afraid of Allâh and give up what remains (due to you) from Ribâ (usury) (from now onward), if you are (really) believers. And if you do not do it, then take a notice of war from Allâh and His Messenger but if you repent, you shall have your capital sums. Deal not unjustly (by asking more than your capital sums), and you shall not be dealt with unjustly (by receiving less than your capital sums)." (Al-Baqarah 2: 278,279)
We advise you to travel to a Muslim country as soon as possible where you can bring up your children according to Islamic teachings, and do not take a loan with interest and usury except incase of an absolute necessity that could not be fulfilled otherwise. There is no doubt that if a person is able to rent a house then it is not permissible for him to resort to what is already mentioned.
Allah will surely give you a way out to your difficulties if you fear Him, as Allah promised: "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. And whosoever puts his trust in Allâh, and then He will suffice him. Verily, Allâh will accomplish his purpose. Indeed Allâh has set a measure for all things." (At-Talaq 65:2, 3)
Allah knows best.