Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Can one eat from food that is purchased from an interest income? Can one wear clothing purchased from interest income? Specifically can one eat or use anything purchased from interest income that are given to you from your parents? Since my father works in a Bank he gives use food, money, gifts etc. Can I accept these? I know that if your food is haram, clothing is haram then your prayers do not get accepted. Also can you give me the hadith where Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) advised one on how to take care of your disbelieving parents? Can you eat with them, etc?

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Parents earning from Interest

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 274-276:

But those who devour ‘riba’ become like the one whom Shaitaan has bewitched and maddened by his touch. They have been condemned to this condition because they say, “Trade is just like ‘riba”, whereas Allah has made trade halaal and ‘riba’ haraam. Henceforth, if one abstains from taking ‘riba’ after receiving this admonition from his Lord, no legal action shall be taken against him regarding the ‘riba’ he had devoured before: his case shall ultimately go to Allah. But if one repeats the same crime even after this, he shall go to Hell, where he shall abide for ever! Allah deprives ‘riba’ of all blessing and develops charity, and Allah does not like an ungrateful, sinful person.

Allah says further in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 278:

O Believers!, fear Allah and give up that ‘riba’ which is still due to you, if you are true believers. But if you do not do so, then you are warned of the declaration of war against you by Allah and His Messenger!

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 4 Surah Nisa verse 161:

That they took ‘riba’, although they were forbidden. And that they devoured men’s substance wrongfully. We have prepared for those among them who reject faith a grievous punishment (of Hell Fire)!

Allah and His Messenger (saws) have declared the consuming of ‘riba’ and interest absolutely ‘haraam’ and forbidden for the believers.

But there is a difference between one directly consuming ‘riba’ or interest, and one earning his livelihood by working in a interest-based bank. There is absolutely no doubt that the conventional system of banking is based on the system of ‘riba’, and even though one might not be involved himself directly in consuming ‘riba’, their working in such an institution would make them an accomplice in what has clearly been declared forbidden by Allah and His Messenger (saws).

Your Question: Specifically can one eat or use anything purchased from interest income that are given to you from your parents? Since my father works in a Bank he gives use food, money, gifts etc. Can I accept these?

Allah Subhanah has laid the full financial responsibility for the upkeep of the family on the shoulders of the man (father and/or husband); and it is the head-man of the family alone who will be held responsible in the Just and Supreme Court of Allah Subhanah on the Day of Judgment regarding the legality of his earnings. It is the father’s responsibility and duty to provide for the family, and the father alone will be responsible in the Hereafter whether or not what he provided for his family was from lawful or unlawful earnings.

Regardless of whether the father earned his livelihood in a lawful or unlawful manner, whatever is consumed and used by the family from the earnings of the father will be considered absolutely lawful for them, and the family will not be held accountable or responsible in the least for the deeds or source of earnings of their father.

Your Question: Can I accept these?

If one is a minor and under the care and guardianship of his father, there is absolutely no harm in accepting the gifts from their father, even if they were from his unlawful earnings. Regardless of the source of income of their father, because the upkeep of the family is the responsibility of the father, the gifts given by the father will be absolutely lawful for them.

But if one has reached the age of adulthood and understands and comprehends the Laws and Boundaries of Allah, and knows with absolute certainty that every single cent of the wealth of the father is derived from absolutely unlawful means; then it would be righteousness to humbly and politely refuse to accept these gifts. But if one knows that some income of the father is from lawful means and some from unlawful means, then one should accept the gifts from their father assuming that they were purchased from his portion of lawful earnings.

Your Question: Also can you give me the hadith where Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) advised one on how to take care of your disbelieving parents?

Dear and Beloved brother in Islam, we wish to clarify that just because any person who claims to be a muslim commits a major sin or is involved in anything unlawful, the committing of the sin by itself, does not make the believer a disbeliever!

Even if one’s parents are actually disbelieves, Islam guides that their believing children should not obey them only when their disbelieving parents command them to worship other deities besides Allah….but in all other matters of the world, the believing children are commanded to deal with their disbelieving parents with absolute kindness, politeness, generosity, and justice.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 31 Surah Luqman verses 14-15:

14 And We have enjoined on man (to be good) to his parents: in travail upon travail did his mother bear him and in years twain was his weaning: (hear the command) "Show gratitude to Me and to thy parents: to Me is (thy final) goal.

15 But if they strive to make thee join in worship with Me things of which thou hast no knowledge, obey them not; Yet bear them company in this life with justice (and consideration) and follow the way of those who turn to Me (in love): in the End the return of you all is to Me, and I will tell you the Truth of all that ye did."

Your Question: Can you eat with them, etc? 

There is absolutely no harm in believing children sharing meals with their disbelieving parents, provided the meal being shared is halaal in its essence (halaal meat, sea-food, vegetables, fruits, etc.)

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan