Renting One's Property to a Riba Bank

29-6-2002 | IslamWeb

Question:

Is it expedient for one to let out his building to a bank operating the usury system of banking, or to own shares in such banks?

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

 

It is unlawful (according to the Sharee’ah) to rent your building to a Riba (interest and/or usury) bank as this is a form of helping those who own the bank in sin.

Allah Says (what means): {…but do not help one another in sin and transgression.} [Quran 5:2]

Besides, Jaabir narrated that the Prophet   said “Allah has cursed the one who consumes Riba (i.e. usury or interest), the one who gives it to others, the one who records it and the one who witnesses it (its transaction).” He added: “All of them are equal in sin.” [Muslim]

Since the Prophet   had cursed the one who consumes Riba, or makes others consume it, or writes it, or is a witness to it, then anybody who helps in the establishment of Riba or its continuation is cursed as well.

No doubt, providing the Riba dealing people with an appropriate place to put their money, their equipment, their documents, …etc. has a greater impact in the continuation of Riba and its persistence than merely writing it.

Every Muslim should know that persisting in Riba dealings is synonymous to declaring a war against Allah. In fact, no sin after disbelief is threatened in such a way as Riba. Allah Says (what means): {O you who have believed, fear Allah 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 Allah and His Messenger…} [Quran 2: 278-279]

Allah knows best.