Thursday 18 Ramadan 1445 - 28 March 2024
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Repaying an interest-based loan on behalf of one who has passed away

Question

MY FATHER PASSED AWAY LAST YEAR, AND BEFORE HE DIED HE BORROWED A LOT OF MONEY BECAUSE HE NEEDED THIS MONEY FOR URGENT THINGS AND HE BORROWED WITH RIBA, BUT HE COULDN'T GIVE ALL PEOPLE THIS MONY BACK SO, WHAT CAN WE DO IF WE -HIS SONS- we don't have this amount of mony at moment, please reply me as soon as possible because I worry about this matter. thanks.

Answer

Praise be to Allah.

You should try to pay off your fathers loan as an act of respect and kindness (birr) to him. Try also to repay only the original amount that your father borrowed, without paying any extra interest, and advise the creditors to take only the original amount. There is nothing wrong with negotiating with them about this, so long as they receive their original loan and they neither treat others unjustly nor are themselves treated unjustly.

Pray for forgiveness and mercy for your deceased father.

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Source: Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid