Bought a computer with a Riba-based loan
Fatwa No: 128220

Question

Assalamu Alaikum, I live in a non muslim county , I had purchased a computer system on my credit card a 5 years ago, which was from an usury bank. After purchasing it I didn’t repay the debts in time and also avoided to pay it. After a long period my debts became doubled by an applied interest. The bank had blocked my card and continued reminding me to repay the debts till 3 years, later they have stopped contacting me and forgot the loan. Now, I have realized and repenting to Allah from all my deeds which I have committed till now. My question is I want to get rid of this computer, so can I give it to any projects which are beneficial for muslims or can I sell it and give its amount in charity to any miskeen expecting no reward or any other solution. Please answer me as quick as possible so that I may sleep properly. 2. One more question. We have a business current account in a usury Bank. Once we had withdrawn money from bank. So, the teller had given INR 50,000.00/- extra from the actual amount. We have collected that money and didn’t returned the excess amount to the bank. Later, we had purchased a copier device from that amount and still we are using in the office. So, please tell me the solution for this matter as well. May Allah forgive our sins. Jazakallah

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.

 

It is not sufficient to get rid of the computer; rather, you are obliged to give back the loan that is due to the bank without any Riba (interest and/or usury) if you are able to do so even by tricking and evasion as we previously discussed in Fatwa 88360.

Thus, it is an obligation to give back the original amount of the loan to the bank in any manner whether or not the bank knows it because it deserves only that amount of money.

As regards the amount that the bank had paid you by mistake, then you are obliged to return it to the bank.

Finally, it should be noted that it is not permissible for a Muslim to open an amount in a bank that deals with Riba as this is helping in sin; for more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 84007.

Allaah Knows best.

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