📘 Lending and Borrowing Animals as a Loan in Islam
✍️ Written by: Imran Ayyub Lahori
❖ Introduction
The practice of lending animals as a loan (قرض) is a matter that has been discussed among scholars. According to authentic narrations, such a transaction is permissible, and it was practiced by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ himself.
◈ Prophetic Practice: Lending an Animal
A ḥadīth in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī affirms:
“The Prophet ﷺ had taken a camel as a loan from a man.”
📚 [Bukhārī: 2390]
✔ This narration serves as clear evidence that lending animals is permissible in Islam.
◈ Juristic Opinions
➤ Majority of Scholars (Jumhūr)
🟢 Permissibility affirmed.
They base their view on the explicit Prophetic precedent found in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī.
📚 [Al-Umm: 3/140 | Al-Ḥāwī: 5/353 | Al-Mughnī: 6/388 | Bidāyat al-Mujtahid: 2/165]
➤ Ḥanafī School
🔴 Consider it impermissible.
Despite the authentic narration, the Ḥanafīs argue that animals are not fixed in value or return, leading to potential uncertainty (jahālah) in repayment.
📚 [Al-Mabsūṭ: 12/131 | Al-Hidāyah: 3/71]
✅ Summary of Key Points:
| Aspect | Ruling |
|---|---|
| Lending animals as a loan | Permissible according to the majority |
| Prophetic example | Prophet ﷺ borrowed a camel |
| Ḥanafī position | Consider it impermissible due to concerns of uncertainty |
| Preferred view (راجح) | Based on authentic narration, the practice is allowed |
