How to Get Rid of Interest Money Accumulated on an Account?
Hanafi Fiqh
Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Question
I have to give away interest accumulated on an account ( there isn’t an alternative of non-interest). Please tell me how I can get rid of this money.
Answer
The obligation with such money is to get it out of your possession. You can give it to the poor. Anyone who would be eligible to receive zakat can take it, and you do not have to tell where it is from. The money would be halal for them. You can also give it to a community project or the like. [Usmani, Fiqh al-Buyu’]
Flee From Interest
I strongly advise you to look for another account, even if it means moving banks. It should be possible to find such a bank in the West. The problem with interest is that even being involved in it by being in a contract that includes it is impermissible.
The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) cursed the one who gives interest, the one who takes it, the one who writes [the contract], and the one who witnesses it. [Muslim] A good practice would be to ask Allah’s forgiveness for having been in this situation. Allah loves those who keep repenting. [Quran, 2:222]
May Allah grant you the best of both worlds.
[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History he moved to Damascus in 2007 where, for 18 months, he studied with many erudite scholars. In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years in Sacred Law (fiqh), legal theory (Usul al-fiqh), theology, hadith methodology, hadith commentary, and Logic. He was also given licenses of mastery in the science of Quranic recital and he was able to study an extensive curriculum of Quranic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.
