Fatwa #2775315 December 2013United Kingdom
Houses on interest mortgage
Question
My father has three houses on interest mortgage, he now realises that it is harm thanks to guidance from ALLAH SWT, he wanted to ask if it is permissible to sell 2 houses and stay living in one of them, on a mortgage ( not halal mortgage), or does he have to sell all of them and either start halal mortgage or rent a house, we would appreciate your answer and time spent in your reply.
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
Alhamdulillah, it is encouraging to note your fathers realisation of interest being haram. This is tawfeeq from Allah.
Paying interest is haram even if it is on the third house used for living. In the circumstances, your father may consider selling the two houses and if he earned a profit through the soul of both houses, he may use the profits to pay off the third house as soon as possible.
Also make tawbah and istighfar.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Zakariya Memon
Student Darul Iftaa
Chatham, Canada
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
Daruliftaa.net