Renting a Building to a Riba Bank

31-1-2002 | IslamWeb

Question:

Is it allowed to rent out a building to a non-Islamic bank which collects interest?

---

Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

 

It is prohibited to rent a building to a Riba (usury and/or interest) bank. This, in fact, is a form of cooperation in sin and aggression.

Allah Says (what means): {…but do not help one another in sin and transgression…} [Quran 5:2]

Besides, Jaabir narrated that the Prophet said “Allah has cursed the one who consumes Riba (i.e. usury or interest), the one who gives it to others, the one who records it and the one who witnesses it (its transaction).” He added: “All of them are equal in sin.” [Muslim]

See! All the above-named people receive the same penalty, i.e. the Divine curse, due to continuous dealing with Riba.

Thus, providing those who deal in Riba with buildings, equipment and so on, helps them continue in their forbidden business, and it is worse than writing Riba or witnessing such a contract.

Every Muslim has to know that dealing with Riba continuously constitutes a declaration of war against Allah.

Moreover, dealing with Riba is the second major sin after disbelief and Allah threatened the one who deals with it. Allah Says (what means): {O you who have believed, fear Allah and give up what remains [due to you] of interest, if you should be believers. And if you do not, then be informed of a war [against you] from Allah and His Messenger.} [Quran 2:279]

Allah knows best.