Is There Expiation for Paying Interest on a Bank Loan That We’ve Paid Off?
Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Question:
We had taken a bank loan a few years ago, which is currently fully settled, and have had credit cards for which we are paying interest.
Insha Allah, with the intention of leaving credit cards and other interest-based banking solutions completely, what is the kaffara or compensation for interest already paid?
Answer:
In the Name of Allah, the Merciful and Compassionate
Walaikum assalam,
I hope you’re doing well, insha’Allah. May Allah bless you for your religious concern.
There is no expiation for having paid interest (riba).
However, this requires sincere repentance—through (a) leaving the sin, (b) remorse, and (c) the resolve to strive not to return to it for the sake of Allah Most High. [Nawawi, al-Adhkar; Birgivi, Tariqa Muhammadiyya]
With this, it is recommended to give some charity, as an expression of one’s remorse. [ibid.] This also falls under the Divine encouragement that,
“Truly, good deeds wipe away bad deeds.” [Quran, 11.114]
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) advised, “Be mindful of Allah wherever you may be. Follow any bad deed with a good deed, and it will wipe it out. And deal with people through good character.” [Related by Tirmidhi]
This can never justify sinning and then simply doing good deeds—as this is both sinful and disrespectful to Allah. Rather, if one does fall into sin, then committing to extra good deeds is a sure way to clean one’s slate, by the Grace of Allah Most High.
And Allah is the giver of success and facilitation.
[Shaykh] Faraz Rabbani
Shaykh Faraz Rabbani spent ten years studying with some of the leading scholars of recent times, first in Damascus and then in Amman, Jordan. His teachers include the foremost theologian of recent times in Damascus, the late Shaykh Adib al-Kallas (may Allah have mercy on him), as well as his student Shaykh Hassan al-Hindi, one of the leading Hanafi fuqaha of the present age. He returned to Canada in 2007, where he founded SeekersGuidance in order to meet the urgent need to spread Islamic knowledge–both online and on the ground–in a reliable, relevant, inspiring, and accessible manner. He is the author of Absolute Essentials of Islam: Faith, Prayer, and the Path of Salvation According to the Hanafi School (White Thread Press, 2004.) Since 2011, Shaykh Faraz has been named one of the 500 most influential Muslims by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center
