Date : 23-12-2009

Question :

What is the ruling of Sharia on renting building to be the headquarters of a usurious bank?


The Answer :

All perfect praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds. May His peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.


 


Every Muslim knows that Riba/usury is prohibited, so it is prohibited to help in this sin. The evidence on this is that Allah The Almighty Says {What means}: "O ye who believe! Profane not Allah’s monuments nor the Sacred Month nor the offerings nor the garlands, nor those repairing to the Sacred House, seeking the grace and pleasure of their Lord. But when ye have left the sacred territory, then go hunting (if ye will). And let not your hatred of a folk who (once) stopped your going to the inviolable place of worship seduce you to transgress; but help ye one another unto righteousness and pious duty. Help not one another unto sin and transgression, but keep your duty to Allah. Lo! Allah is severe in punishment." {Al-Ma`idah, 2}. Undoubtedly, renting building to be the headquarters of a usurious bank is helping in sin (usury), so it isn`t permissible. And Allah The Almighty Knows Best.