Written by: Imrān Ayyūb Lāhorī
After repenting from dealing in interest (ribā), if a person still has to collect money from people which includes interest, then he should only take back his principal amount — not the interest portion.
﴿وَإِن تُبْتُمْ فَلَكُمْ رُءُوسُ أَمْوَالِكُمْ لَا تَظْلِمُونَ وَلَا تُظْلَمُونَ﴾
[al-Baqarah: 279]
“But if you repent, you may have your principal amount — you will neither wrong nor be wronged.”
The Prophet ﷺ said:
ألا إن كل ربا الجاهلية موضوع، وَإِن تُبْتُمْ فَلَكُمْ رُءُوسُ أَمْوَالِكُمْ لَا تَظْلِمُونَ وَلَا تُظْلَمُونَ
“Be aware! All interest from the period of Jāhiliyyah has been abolished. If you repent, you are entitled to your principal amount; you will neither wrong nor be wronged.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ: Ṣaḥīḥ Abī Dāwūd: 2852, Kitāb al-Buyūʿ: Bāb fī Waḍʿ al-Ribā, Abū Dāwūd: 3334)
After repenting from dealing in interest (ribā), if a person still has to collect money from people which includes interest, then he should only take back his principal amount — not the interest portion.
Evidence from the Qur’ān:
﴿وَإِن تُبْتُمْ فَلَكُمْ رُءُوسُ أَمْوَالِكُمْ لَا تَظْلِمُونَ وَلَا تُظْلَمُونَ﴾
[al-Baqarah: 279]
“But if you repent, you may have your principal amount — you will neither wrong nor be wronged.”
Evidence from the Sunnah:
The Prophet ﷺ said:
ألا إن كل ربا الجاهلية موضوع، وَإِن تُبْتُمْ فَلَكُمْ رُءُوسُ أَمْوَالِكُمْ لَا تَظْلِمُونَ وَلَا تُظْلَمُونَ
“Be aware! All interest from the period of Jāhiliyyah has been abolished. If you repent, you are entitled to your principal amount; you will neither wrong nor be wronged.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ: Ṣaḥīḥ Abī Dāwūd: 2852, Kitāb al-Buyūʿ: Bāb fī Waḍʿ al-Ribā, Abū Dāwūd: 3334)
