from the Book Ahkām wa Masā’il Kitāb o Sunnat ki Roshni Mein by Shaykh Mubashar Ahmad Rabbānī
Is it permissible to eat food from the house of someone engaged in interest-based (ribā) business?
If it is known with certainty that a person's income is based on interest (ribā),
then it is not permissible to eat or drink anything purchased with that money,
because ribā is explicitly ḥarām and equated with waging war against Allah and His Messenger ﷺ.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
«لَعَنَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ آكِلَ الرِّبَا، وَمُوكِلَهُ، وَكَاتِبَهُ، وَشَاهِدَيْهِ، وَقَالَ: هُمْ سَوَاءٌ»
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ cursed the one who consumes interest,
the one who gives it, the one who writes it down,
and the two who witness it — and he said: They are all equal (in sin).”
In another ḥadīth, the Prophet ﷺ said:
«الرِّبَا سَبْعُونَ حُوبًا، أَيْسَرُهَا أَنْ يَنْكِحَ الرَّجُلُ أُمَّهُ»
“Ribā has seventy levels (of sin), the least of which is like a man committing incest with his mother.”
This illustrates the extreme severity of engaging in ribā.
❖ Any food or drink known to be purchased with interest-based income is not permissible to consume.
❖ Ribā is among the gravest sins, and participation in its proceeds (through eating, accepting gifts, etc.) must be avoided completely.
❖ Accepting food from such a person is considered a form of tacit approval or cooperation in sin, which Islam strictly prohibits.
❖ Eating from the house of a person whose business is based on interest is not allowed in Islam.
❖ Ribā is a severe major sin that brings the curse of the Prophet ﷺ.
❖ A believer must avoid all forms of involvement with interest-based transactions to safeguard his faith and Hereafter.
❖ Question:
Is it permissible to eat food from the house of someone engaged in interest-based (ribā) business?
✿ Answer:
If it is known with certainty that a person's income is based on interest (ribā),
then it is not permissible to eat or drink anything purchased with that money,
because ribā is explicitly ḥarām and equated with waging war against Allah and His Messenger ﷺ.
Hadith Evidence:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
«لَعَنَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ آكِلَ الرِّبَا، وَمُوكِلَهُ، وَكَاتِبَهُ، وَشَاهِدَيْهِ، وَقَالَ: هُمْ سَوَاءٌ»
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ cursed the one who consumes interest,
the one who gives it, the one who writes it down,
and the two who witness it — and he said: They are all equal (in sin).”
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Musāqāt, Bāb Laʿn Ākil al-Ribā wa Mūkilahu, Ḥadīth: 1598
In another ḥadīth, the Prophet ﷺ said:
«الرِّبَا سَبْعُونَ حُوبًا، أَيْسَرُهَا أَنْ يَنْكِحَ الرَّجُلُ أُمَّهُ»
“Ribā has seventy levels (of sin), the least of which is like a man committing incest with his mother.”
Reference: Sunan Ibn Mājah, Kitāb al-Tijārāt, Bāb al-Taghlīẓ fī al-Ribā, Ḥadīth: 2274
This illustrates the extreme severity of engaging in ribā.
❖ Ruling on Consuming from a Ribā-based Income:
❖ Any food or drink known to be purchased with interest-based income is not permissible to consume.
❖ Ribā is among the gravest sins, and participation in its proceeds (through eating, accepting gifts, etc.) must be avoided completely.
❖ Accepting food from such a person is considered a form of tacit approval or cooperation in sin, which Islam strictly prohibits.
✔ Conclusion:
❖ Eating from the house of a person whose business is based on interest is not allowed in Islam.
❖ Ribā is a severe major sin that brings the curse of the Prophet ﷺ.
❖ A believer must avoid all forms of involvement with interest-based transactions to safeguard his faith and Hereafter.
