Would the Sin of Interest Fall on the Mother If She Gets Credit Cards to Support Her Family?
Answered by Shaykh Irshaad Sedick
Question
If a mother acquires credit cards to care for her family due to the father’s refusal to provide adequately, would the sin of interest fall on her or the father?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.
Both the mother and father bear responsibility for their respective actions. The father is culpable for failing to fulfill his Islamic duty to provide for his family, and the mother bears accountability for resorting to impermissible means if her credit card transactions involve interest. However, circumstances mitigate the mother’s accountability if her actions stem from necessity. If the credit card is used without involving interest, this is permissible. The mother should strive to find permissible alternatives while trusting in Allah’s provision.
The Father Is Responsible for His Actions
In Islam, it is the father’s obligation to provide for his family. The Quran states, (“The father of the child will provide the mother’s sustenance and clothing equitably”) [Quran, 2:233]. By neglecting this duty, the father not only sins but also places undue hardship on his family, causing them to seek alternative means of provision. This neglect is a violation of the trust Allah (Most High) has placed upon him.
The Mother Is Responsible for Her Actions
While the father’s failure to provide is blameworthy, the mother is accountable for how she addresses the situation. Using credit cards in itself is not impermissible, provided the transactions do not involve interest. If she uses a credit card in a manner that incurs interest, she would bear responsibility for that choice. However, her accountability is mitigated if she acted out of genuine necessity with no alternative. Necessity in Islamic law can allow impermissible actions to a limited extent, provided there is no other option.
What Should the Mother Have Done?
The mother should have explored permissible alternatives before resorting to interest-based transactions. This includes seeking support from family, local charities, or community organizations. If none of these options were viable, she should use the credit card strictly without letting any transaction incur interest. In cases of unavoidable necessity, consulting a trusted scholar for guidance is highly recommended.
Note: Using a credit card without involving interest—by paying off balances before interest accrues—is permissible in Islamic law. Care must be taken to avoid any delay in payments that would result in interest being charged.
Guidance
Allah’s Law is perfect, but human application of it often falls short. When people fail to live by His law—such as a father neglecting his duty to provide—it leads to hardship and societal breakdown. The mother should seek the help of Allah (Most High), explore permissible solutions, and encourage the father to fulfill his obligations. This situation underscores the importance of adhering to Islamic principles, which ensure justice, mercy, and harmony within families and communities.
Allah knows best
[Shaykh] Irshaad Sedick
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Mohammad Abu Bakr Badhib
Shaykh Irshaad Sedick was raised in South Africa in a traditional Muslim family. He graduated from Dar al-Ulum al-Arabiyyah al-Islamiyyah in Strand, Western Cape, under the guidance of the late world-renowned scholar Shaykh Taha Karaan.
Shaykh Irshaad received Ijaza from many luminaries of the Islamic world, including Shaykh Taha Karaan, Mawlana Yusuf Karaan, and Mawlana Abdul Hafeez Makki, among others.
He is the author of the text “The Musnad of Ahmad ibn Hanbal: A Hujjah or not?” He has served as the Director of the Discover Islam Centre and Al Jeem Foundation. For the last five years till present, he has served as the Khatib of Masjid Ar-Rashideen, Mowbray, Cape Town.
Shaykh Irshaad has thirteen years of teaching experience at some of the leading Islamic institutes in Cape Town). He is currently building an Islamic online learning and media platform called ‘Isnad Academy’ and has completed his Master’s degree in the study of Islam at the University of Johannesburg. He has a keen interest in healthy living and fitness.
