Do Student Loans Remain a Debt?
Hanafi Fiqh
Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel
Question
Do Student Loans Remain a Debt?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful and Compassionate
In the UK, there is no legal obligation to repay the loan if one’s income exceeds the threshold amount. In this case, it will be permissible for one to delay the repayment. However, if one starts earning above the threshold, one will have to repay it. Some scholars say taking the necessary means to repay the loans is recommended.
Is a Student loan still considered a Debt?
Yes, the student loan will still be considered a debt Islamically.
It will not be considered a debt after 25 years for those on the Plan 1 loan and after 30 years for those with a Plan 2, and when a person turns 65, it will get written off, as per the student loan company guidelines.
As Muslims, we have to fulfill our commitments in three categories: commitments towards Allah, commitments towards oneself and commitments towards the rest of humanity.
Allah (Most High) says in the Quran: “And honour your pledges, for you will surely be accountable for them.” [Quran, 17:34]
Our Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Muslims must abide by their conditions (which they have made), except for a condition that makes unlawful something that is lawful, or makes lawful something that is unlawful.” [Tirmidhi]
I hope this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
Mawlana Ilyas Patel is a traditionally trained scholar who has studied in the UK, India, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan, and Turkey.
He started his early education in the UK. He went on to complete hifz of the Quran in India, then enrolled into an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied the secular and Alimiyyah sciences. He then travelled to Karachi, Pakistan.
He has been an Imam in Rep of Ireland for a number of years. He has taught hifz of the Qur’an, Tajwid, Fiqh, and many other Islamic sciences to both children and adults onsite and online extensively in UK and Ireland. He taught at a local Islamic seminary for 12 years in the UK, where he was a librarian and a teacher of Islamic sciences.
He currently resides in the UK with his wife. His personal interest is the love of books and gardening.
