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Getting rid of interest

Question

I am student studying in UK. How can I clean my money of the interest that has become mixed with my money? Lately I discovered that some money has increased in my account.

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  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

To get rid of Riba (interest and/or usury), one has to spend it in charitable activities with the intention of getting rid of the ill-gotten money and not with the intention of giving charity.

If you do not know exactly the amount of interest, then you should estimate the amount which you would think it would acquit you from sin, whether the interest is a small or a large amount.

We would like to draw your attention that it is forbidden to deal with Riba or to help in handling it.

Also, it is forbidden to save money in banks that deal with Riba without a necessity.

If a person cannot find an Islamic bank to deposit his money, then it is permissible for him to put his money in a bank which deals with Riba in a current (checking) account but not in a saving account (which draws interest).

Allaah Knows best.

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