Is It Permissible to Borrow Money for Non-Essential Items?
Answered by Dr. Muhammad Fayez Awad
Question
What is the ruling on borrowing money to buy non-essential items?
Answer
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds. Blessings and peace be upon the Master of the Messengers, his Family, and all his Companions.
Permissibility of Borrowing
One of the virtues of Sacred Law is its consideration for the well-being of individuals, facilitating ease and removing hardship. Allah permitted trade and prohibited usury (riba), and borrowing is allowed to meet a person’s worldly needs, stemming from mutual compassion and assistance. Allah says:
“O believers! When you contract a loan for a fixed period of time, commit it to writing.” [Quran, 2:282]
Muslims have unanimously agreed on the permissibility of loans, which have been practiced since the time of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) without objection.
Reward for Lending
It is noteworthy that the reward for lending surpasses that of giving charity. Anas Ibn Malik reported that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:
“On the night I was taken on the Night Journey, I saw at the gate of Paradise it was written: ‘Charity is rewarded tenfold, and a loan is rewarded eighteenfold.’ I said, ‘O Jibril, why is the loan more meritorious than charity?’ He said, ‘Because the one who asks for charity might still have something, whereas the borrower only asks due to genuine need.’” [Ibn Maja; Tabarani]
Scholars agree that borrowing is generally permissible, provided the borrower believes they can repay it. [Tahtawi, Hashiyat al-Tahtawi; Ibn ‘Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar; Hattab, Mawahib al-Jalil; ‘Ulaysh, Minah al-Jalil; Shirbini, Mughni al-Muhtaj and Others]
However, borrowing can become prohibited, disliked, or even obligatory under certain circumstances. [al-Fiqh al-Manhaji ‘ala Madhhab al-Imam al-Shafi‘i]
The Seriousness of Debt
Despite the permissibility of borrowing, the seriousness of debt is emphasized in Islamic teachings. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:
“If I were to be killed in the way of Allah with patience and hope for reward, facing the enemy without retreating, Allah would forgive my sins, except for debt, for Jibril told me so.” [Muslim; Malik; Ibn Hibban]
He also said:
“The soul of a believer remains suspended by their debt until it is paid off.” [Ibn Hibban; Hakim; Tirmidhi]
‘Abdullah Ibn Abi Qatada narrated from his father:
“A funeral was brought to the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) for him to offer the funeral prayer. He asked, ‘Does he have any debts?’ They said, ‘Yes, two dinars.’ He asked, ‘Has he left anything to pay them off?’ They said, ‘No.’ He said, ‘Then pray over your companion.’ Abu Qatada said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, I will take responsibility for them.’ The Prophet then offered the prayer.” [Ibn Hibban; Tirmidhi; Darimi; Ibn Maja; Ahmad]
In another narration, the Prophet refused to pray over the deceased, highlighting the gravity of debt and the importance of settling it promptly.
Summary
A Muslim should not resort to borrowing except in cases of necessity. If one does borrow, one should strive to repay the debt swiftly, as this is more righteous and pleasing to Allah.
[Shaykh] Dr. Muhammad Fayez Awad
Shaykh Dr. Muhammad Fayez Awad, born in Damascus, Syria, in 1965, pursued his Islamic studies in the mosques and institutes of Damascus. A graduate of the Islamic University of Medina in 1985, he holds a Ph.D. in Islamic Studies from Bahauddin Zakariya University in Pakistan.
He has extensive experience developing curricula and enhancing the teaching of various academic courses, including conducting intensive courses. Shaykh Awad has taught Fiqh, Usul al-Fiqh, Quranic sciences, the history of legislation, inheritance laws, and more at several institutes and universities such as Al-Furqan Institute for Islamic Sciences and Majma‘ al-Fath al-Islami in Damascus.
He is a lecturer at the Sultan Muhammad al-Fatih Waqf University in Istanbul, teaching various Arabic and Islamic subjects, and teaches at numerous Islamic institutes in Istanbul. Shaykh Awad is a member of the Association of Syrian Scholars, a founding member of the Zayd bin Thabit Foundation, a member of the Syrian Scholars Association, and a member of the Academic Council at the Iman Center for Teaching the Sunna and Quran.
Among his teachers from whom he received Ijazat are his father, Shaykh Muhammad Muhiyiddin Awad, Shaykh Muhiyiddin al-Kurdi, Shaykh Muhammad Karim Rajih, Shaykh Usama al-Rifai, Shaykh Ayman Suwaid, Shaykh Ahmad al-Qalash, Shaykh Muhammad Awwama, and Shaykh Mamduh Junayd.
