Question:

Usually, whenever I get the interest amount from the bank, I give it away to the poor people. Today, I think we received interest amount from one of our relatives. They gave it to us. They said it is a gift but didn’t say that it is an interest amount. I am not 100% sure about it. Let us assume it is an interest amount. In this case, what do we have to do?

Answer:

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

Before addressing the assumed hypothetical scenario that your family relatives have given you monies from interest, it must be pointed out that our husn al-dhan demands that such notion, albeit in doubtful stature, must be warded off. As long as one does not have a dominant conviction otherwise, there is no reason to assume that they have given you monies from interest.

Keeping that in mind, such an incentive of gift from relative should be taken with enthusiasm and love, reciprocated with additional love and ties should be strengthened.

However, if there is a substantial reason to doubt that this money is indeed from interest, and they have deemed you as the suitable venue for its disposal, then if you are indeed poor and suitable recipient of this money, you may accept it and use it to cover your expenses. If your ghīrah (possessiveness) demands that you do not use this money, then by all means, you should give it to another poor or needy individual for their benefit.

On the other hand, if you do not deem yourself to be poor and suitable for such an avenue, then you should strategically hold on the money, and at a later stage give it back to its owner (i.e. your relatives) as a gift. If that is not possible, then in hopes of not corrupting your relationship with your relatives, take charge to dispense the money in correct avenue as a favor to your relatives.

This way there would be no bad feelings and relationships will be maintained. You may at another time, inform these relatives that you, by grace of Allah, are well to do in your means so they do not dispense any further interest monies towards you. [i]

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Mufti Faisal bin Abdul Hameed al-Mahmudi
www.fatwa.ca

[i]
البحر الرائق شرح كنز الدقائق ومنحة الخالق وتكملة الطوري – دار الكتاب الإسلامي (8/ 229)
لو مات رجل وكسبه من ثمن الباذق والظلم أو أخذ الرشوة تعود الورثة ولا يأخذون منه شيئا وهو الأولى لهم ويردونه على أربابه إن عرفوهم، وإلا يتصدقوا به؛ لأن سبيل الكسب الخبيث التصدق إذا تعذر الرد