from the Book Ahkām wa Masā’il Kitāb o Sunnat ki Roshni Mein by Shaykh Mubashar Ahmad Rabbānī
Is the prayer (ṣalāh) of a person who consumes interest (ribā) valid? And how should one maintain relations with such a person in terms of Islamic teachings?
The prohibition of interest (ribā) is explicitly established from the Qur’an and Sunnah.
Consuming ḥarām (unlawful) wealth negatively affects the acceptance of worship and supplications.
Sayyidunā Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"O people! Verily, Allah is pure and only accepts that which is pure.
And indeed Allah has commanded the believers with the same command He gave to the messengers. He said:
﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الرُّسُلُ كُلُوا مِنَ الطَّيِّبَاتِ وَاعْمَلُوا صَالِحًا﴾
“O Messengers! Eat from the good things and do righteous deeds.”
[al-Mu’minūn: 51]
And He said:
﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُلُوا مِنْ طَيِّبَاتِ مَا رَزَقْنَاكُمْ﴾
“O you who believe! Eat from the good things We have provided for you.”
[al-Baqarah: 172]
Then the Prophet ﷺ mentioned a man on a long journey — dusty and disheveled — raising his hands to the sky saying,
“O my Lord! O my Lord!”
Yet his food is ḥarām, his drink is ḥarām, his clothing is ḥarām, and he is nourished with ḥarām,
so how can his supplication be accepted?"
ʿAllāmah Sharf al-Dīn al-Ṭayyibī رحمه الله wrote:
“The man in the hadith refers to a ḥājī (pilgrim) bearing all signs of hardship — disheveled, dusty, and exhausted.
This is a state where duʿā’ is generally accepted.
But his supplication is rejected, and his hardships are disregarded,
because he is one who mingles with ḥarām and spends from ḥarām sources.
If this is the case with someone on the path of Allah, how severe would the condition be for others not on such a path?”
This authentic hadith proves that ḥarām wealth is a barrier to the acceptance of worship and supplications.
Therefore, those involved in ribā (interest) should reflect deeply on their actions and repent immediately,
lest their acts of worship are rejected.
A narration from ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما states:
“Whoever buys a garment worth ten dirhams, and even one of them is from ḥarām sources, Allah does not accept his prayer as long as that garment remains on him.”
However, this narration is not reliable due to issues in its chain:
Hence, it cannot be used as proof.
As for social dealings, one must avoid eating from wealth gained through ribā.
It is not appropriate to accept invitations or eat from the food of those whose income is ḥarām.
Sayyidunā Abū Saʿīd al-Khudrī رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
«لَا تُصَاحِبْ إِلَّا مُؤْمِنًا وَلَا يَأْكُلْ طَعَامَكَ إِلَّا تَقِيٌّ»
“Do not befriend anyone except a believer, and let none eat your food except one who is God-fearing.”
This shows that:
❖ One should befriend only those of true faith,
❖ And invite to meals only the God-conscious (muttaqīn).
Hence, a believer should not participate in meals or gatherings where the food is from ḥarām sources.
However, it is permissible and encouraged to advise and guide such individuals towards repentance and reform.
❖ A person involved in ribā must repent immediately,
as ḥarām wealth hinders the acceptance of prayers and worship.
❖ One should avoid social eating with such individuals
until they abandon their ḥarām earnings.
❖ Maintain spiritual concern and continue to advise them with wisdom.
❖ Question:
Is the prayer (ṣalāh) of a person who consumes interest (ribā) valid? And how should one maintain relations with such a person in terms of Islamic teachings?
✿ Answer:
The prohibition of interest (ribā) is explicitly established from the Qur’an and Sunnah.
Consuming ḥarām (unlawful) wealth negatively affects the acceptance of worship and supplications.
❖ Hadith on the Impact of Ḥarām Consumption:
Sayyidunā Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"O people! Verily, Allah is pure and only accepts that which is pure.
And indeed Allah has commanded the believers with the same command He gave to the messengers. He said:
﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الرُّسُلُ كُلُوا مِنَ الطَّيِّبَاتِ وَاعْمَلُوا صَالِحًا﴾
“O Messengers! Eat from the good things and do righteous deeds.”
[al-Mu’minūn: 51]And He said:
﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُلُوا مِنْ طَيِّبَاتِ مَا رَزَقْنَاكُمْ﴾
“O you who believe! Eat from the good things We have provided for you.”
[al-Baqarah: 172]Then the Prophet ﷺ mentioned a man on a long journey — dusty and disheveled — raising his hands to the sky saying,
“O my Lord! O my Lord!”
Yet his food is ḥarām, his drink is ḥarām, his clothing is ḥarām, and he is nourished with ḥarām,
so how can his supplication be accepted?"
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Zakāh, Bāb Qabūl al-Ṣadaqah min al-Kasb al-Ṭayyib, Ḥadīth: 1015
❖ Scholarly Commentary:
ʿAllāmah Sharf al-Dīn al-Ṭayyibī رحمه الله wrote:
“The man in the hadith refers to a ḥājī (pilgrim) bearing all signs of hardship — disheveled, dusty, and exhausted.
This is a state where duʿā’ is generally accepted.
But his supplication is rejected, and his hardships are disregarded,
because he is one who mingles with ḥarām and spends from ḥarām sources.
If this is the case with someone on the path of Allah, how severe would the condition be for others not on such a path?”
Reference: Sharḥ al-Ṭayyibī, 7/2096–2097
This authentic hadith proves that ḥarām wealth is a barrier to the acceptance of worship and supplications.
Therefore, those involved in ribā (interest) should reflect deeply on their actions and repent immediately,
lest their acts of worship are rejected.
❖ Weak Hadith – Clarification:
A narration from ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما states:
“Whoever buys a garment worth ten dirhams, and even one of them is from ḥarām sources, Allah does not accept his prayer as long as that garment remains on him.”
Reference: Musnad Aḥmad, 2/98, Ḥadīth: 5732
However, this narration is not reliable due to issues in its chain:
- Baqiyyah ibn al-Walīd — known for tadlīs (concealment)
- ʿUthmān ibn Zafar — unknown (majhūl)
- Hāshim — also unidentified
Hence, it cannot be used as proof.
❖ Social Relations with Those Who Consume Interest:
As for social dealings, one must avoid eating from wealth gained through ribā.
It is not appropriate to accept invitations or eat from the food of those whose income is ḥarām.
Sayyidunā Abū Saʿīd al-Khudrī رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
«لَا تُصَاحِبْ إِلَّا مُؤْمِنًا وَلَا يَأْكُلْ طَعَامَكَ إِلَّا تَقِيٌّ»
“Do not befriend anyone except a believer, and let none eat your food except one who is God-fearing.”
Reference: Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī, Kitāb al-Zuhd, Bāb Mā Jāʾa fī Ṣuḥbat al-Mu’min, Ḥadīth: 2395
This shows that:
❖ One should befriend only those of true faith,
❖ And invite to meals only the God-conscious (muttaqīn).
Hence, a believer should not participate in meals or gatherings where the food is from ḥarām sources.
However, it is permissible and encouraged to advise and guide such individuals towards repentance and reform.
✔ Conclusion:
❖ A person involved in ribā must repent immediately,
as ḥarām wealth hinders the acceptance of prayers and worship.
❖ One should avoid social eating with such individuals
until they abandon their ḥarām earnings.
❖ Maintain spiritual concern and continue to advise them with wisdom.
