Husband Supporting Family with Haram Money?

September 4, 2010

1.2K

Question

If a husband says his only way of supporting the family is by dealing with interest-based work, what should the wife do? Is it ok for her to accept this money as her dowry? The husband is actually helping people LOWER their interest rate on their houses, is this acceptable? What should the wife do?

Answered by: Mufti Abdurrahman ibn Yusuf

Assalamu alaykum

In the name of Allah most Gracious Most Merciful.

For the time being the wife can avail of this money and use it. However, the husband must be encouraged to find a more lawful work.

If the work is directly interest related for instance working for a finance house or a bank and dealing with interest based transactions full time, which is unlawful. He should actively look for another job, but until then they can avail of the income for their daily needs.

On the other hand if it not directly related, but he only sometimes deals with interest based accounts or transactions, for instance in an accounting job, then his primary income is lawful. However, the percentage earned through interest based or other unlawful transactions will be unlawful. Hence in this case he should only avail of the halal portion and dispose of the rest by giving it to the needy without intention of reward.

In terms of the dowry, it should not be taken from unlawful income. One can wait for it to be paid later through lawful income.

And Allah knows best.

Wassalam
Mufti Abdurrahman ibn Yusuf

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Dr. Mufti Abdur-Rahman ibn Yusuf

Dr. Shaykh Abdur-Rahman ibn Yusuf Mangera is a British Muslim scholar educated in both the Islamic and Western traditions. He memorised the Qur’an by heart and graduated from the Darul Uloom seminary Bury, UK, and later earned a specialised licence to issue fatwa (legal responses) at Mazahir ‘Ulum Saharanpur, India. He earned his BA from the University of Johannesburg and completed his MA and PhD in Islamic Studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies in London. He holds an honorary fellowship at The Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought, Amman, Jordan. Shaykh Abdur-Rahman has the unique experience of serving as an imam in Muslim communities on both sides of the Atlantic, eight years in Southern California and over five in the great city of London—and his continued work as an international speaker and lecturer enables him to address and offer pertinent advice on current challenges that face Muslims in the West. He is the founder of Whitethread Institute, a post-graduate insititute for Islamic scholars. He is an avid traveller and continues to teach hadith and work on scholarly publications through White Thread Press (www.whitethreadpress.com). Many of his lectures are available on www.zamzamacademy.com and his courses through Rayyan Institute (www.rayyaninstitute.com).