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Fatwa CenterMade repentance but has to pay lots of interests
Question
I've been praying since the beginning of this year and I'm trying my best to be a good Muslim Insha Allah. My question is: when I came to Austria I was blind totally unaware of what's Halal and what's Haram and I took a lot of credits from an Austrian bank and now I have to pay bank with lots of interests. First I thought Riba is only when you put your money in banks they dealing with Riba, surely I was wrong. I have to pay for the next 5 years back and I'm scared that I would die and I'm still having this Credit.
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 
is His slave and Messenger.
First of all, we congratulate you on the blessings of Allaah on you as He enabled you to start performing the prayer regularly. We emphasize that you should perfom it in congregation as it is the most important pillar of the religion.
Many Ahadeeth prove that abandoning prayers is an act that takes a person out of the fold of Islam, so you should be very careful in not neglecting it.
As regards loans with Riba (interest and/or usury), then you are obliged to repent for dealing with it and you are only obliged to pay back the capital money without any interests if this is possible, but if you are forced to do so, then you are not sinful provided you repent from dealing with Riba. Allaah Says (what means): {O you who have believed, fear Allaah and give up what remains [due to you] of interest, if you should be believers. And if you do not, then be informed of a war [against you] from Allaah and His Messenger. But if you repent, you may have your principal-[thus] you do no wrong, nor are you wronged.} [Quran 2:278-279]
You should sincerely repent from all sins immediately, and regret what you had done and be determined not to to that again.
Finally, we advise you to settle your loans as soon as possible before the snatch of death even if this requires that you give up some luxurious things.
You should also supplicate with authentic supplications that are said at times of hardship and debts.
For more benefit, please refer to Fataawa 173775 and 142905.
Allaah Knows best.
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