Helping a muslim to clear interest based loan


Question :

A brother took a loan for studies.The loan is due,he has left studying for which he took a loan for due to the affair of Ikhtilaat (free mixing of men and women).This loan was interest based,the brother asks :is it permissible for salafi brothers to aid him and to pay off this loan (to the bank)?

Answer :

The shaykh hafidhahullah responded,

“Firstly,it’s not permissible for the muslim to enter into free mixing,nor is it allowed for him to take loans from those banks which have with them interest rates. However, (since) he has fallen into the affair then he is to be aided for indeed he may even reach much harms and he may even be in prison if he does not pay off his loan. So, he is to be aided due to the saying of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala :

وَتَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْبِرِّ وَالتَّقْوَىٰ ۖ
وَلَا تَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْإِثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِ

‘ Help you one another in Al-Birr and At-Taqwa ; but do not help one another in sin and transgression.’ (Surah Maida 2) ”

Answered by : Shaykh Abu Ishaaq Al Qaysee hafidhahullah