Fatwa #468681 December 2021South Africa
Selling to a Muslim purchaser buying with an interest bond
Question
On the sale of a property, the Muslim purchaser has obtained an interest bond from Standard Bank. I don't feel that it would be right to go through with the sale. I have spoken to the buyer and requested that he obtain the funds from a different source, but he doesn't want to.
Can I, as the seller accept this payment?
I have submitted this question to Mufti Siraj Desai last week Friday, but haven't received an answer as yet, perhaps Mufti Siraj is preoccupied at the moment.
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu 'alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
If the purchaser is a Muslim, you should advise him that it is prohibited to take out an interest-bearing loan. If he did not heed your advice and purchases the house with the interest-bearing loan, you will not be responsible for his sin of taking an interest-bearing loan.
The payment towards the purchase of the house will be Halal for you.[1] The interest loan has no bearing on you.
And Allah Ta'āla Knows Best
Bilal Yusuf Pandor
Student Darul Iftaa
Lusaka, Zambia
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
(2021-01-02)