Interest-bearing Loan on Wife’s Name

Question: If a husband takes debts on the wife’s bank account, will she be the one who is in debt in front of Allah? He did not even tell her about it first. How should a wife deal with such behavior? The husband cannot pay back the money as quickly as he thinks and there are letters coming in that she has to make payments. This situation is very stressful for her because of usury.

Answer:

Assalamu alaykum,

Thank you for your question. I am sorry that you have to go through this situation and I understand your frustration at your husband’s actions. It is wrong, and unmanly to treat a woman like this and to be comfortable with going at war with Allah over usury.

Are you responsible?

I don’t understand how your husband was able to take a loan out in your name without your signature? Perhaps this is possible in a shared account, but in light of his actions, I would recommend that you keep your money in a separate account under your name alone.

As for your responsibility, if he did this without your knowledge, how could you be responsible? However, now that you are both involved, as the bank could come after you, too, I would do my utmost to put everything towards your debt and live frugally until you are able to pay it off. Remove the sin as quickly as you can because it will affect your family life and you may be devoid of blessings in your day to day life. See this expert’s advice for getting out of debt.
https://funcheaporfree.com/how-to-get-out-of-debt-in-3-simple-steps/

Stress

As it is, you are stuck in a situation and I don’t want you to get stressed about it. You can do your best to help your husband, and budget well, but you are not responsible to pay this debt yourself. Remember to see every problem that you have, as sent to you by Allah as a test. You must try to have the right reaction and trust in Him. Ask him to guide you to the best way to get out of this and strive to fulfill your other obligations to Him. Spend time learning your religion, involve your husband as well, and take time to de-stress. Spend time in nature, take your supplements, exercise, and push away thoughts that won’t help you. Make a plan and follow it step-by-step.

Resources

Please learn this du’a about debt and say it daily:
https://seekers.flywheelstaging.com/podcast-feeds/prophetic-character/prophetic-cure-worry-debt/

Please listen to this series on debt and try to have your husband listen to it with you:
https://dev.seekers.flywheelstaging.com/articles/general-artices/debt-destroys-lives-rizqwise/

The absolute best advice that I can give you to deal with your husband’s bold behavior is here in this article about usury:
https://seekers.flywheelstaging.com/answers/hanafi-fiqh/am-i-sinful-to-live-with-a-husband-who-is-not-concerned-with-avoiding-usury/

May Allah give you the best in this world and the next and facilitate your getting out of this situation, soon.

[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria for two years where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, tafseer, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she completed her Masters in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She recently moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.