Written by: Imrān Ayyūb Lāhorī
If money obtained through interest (ribā) remains in a person’s possession and he continued to earn it while knowing it to be ḥarām, then he is considered a usurper (ghāṣib), and such wealth cannot become his lawful property.
However, if he continued to earn and consume it while believing it to be permissible due to taʾwīl (misinterpretation) or taqlīd (following a scholar’s view), then it will be regarded as his property.
﴿وَذَرُوا مَا بَقِيَ مِنَ الرِّبَا إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ﴾
[al-Baqarah: 278]
“Leave whatever remains of ribā, if you are believers.”
In this verse, Allāh has commanded to abandon the remaining interest, but has not commanded to return what had already been taken.
References:
Fatwa of Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله
If money obtained through interest (ribā) remains in a person’s possession and he continued to earn it while knowing it to be ḥarām, then he is considered a usurper (ghāṣib), and such wealth cannot become his lawful property.
However, if he continued to earn and consume it while believing it to be permissible due to taʾwīl (misinterpretation) or taqlīd (following a scholar’s view), then it will be regarded as his property.
Qur’ānic Evidence:
﴿وَذَرُوا مَا بَقِيَ مِنَ الرِّبَا إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ﴾
[al-Baqarah: 278]
“Leave whatever remains of ribā, if you are believers.”
In this verse, Allāh has commanded to abandon the remaining interest, but has not commanded to return what had already been taken.
References:
- Majmūʿ al-Fatāwā of Ibn Taymiyyah: 29/211–212
- Tafsīr al-Manār: 3/97–98
