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:

Salam mala kum

Brother

I have one query i knew in islam it is forbidden to take the interest on money but one of my friends family ventured into the money lending for more than 10 yrs of life because of family problems , now they have stopped and now they are doing business , but my friends wants to know how on behalf of his father(live ) how he can reduce the sin of his father and brohthers . is there are means to do voluntary contribution for that sin or please suggest

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Answer:

Sin of interest in past

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 none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Beloved brother in Islam, if it was the father and the brothers of your friend who were involved in dealing in ‘riba’ in the past, it is they who committed the sin in the Sight of Allah Subhanah, and it is they who should fear the Tribunal of their Lord and seek His Forgiveness, and take steps to atone for their manifest transgression.

Your Question: but my friends wants to know how on behalf of his father(live ) how he can reduce the sin of his father and brohthers .

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 35 Surah Fatir verse 18:

18 Nor can a bearer of burdens bear another's burden. If one heavily laden should call another to (bear) his load not the least portion of it can be carried (by the other), even though he be nearly related. Thou canst but admonish such as fear their Lord unseen and establish regular Prayer; and whoever purifies himself does so for the benefit of his own soul; and the destination (of all) is to Allah.

Beloved brother, the principle or ‘usool’ in Islam is that every soul is responsible for his own deeds in the Scales of Justice of the Lord All-Just; neither can one reap the rewards of the deeds done by another, nor can one pay or atone for the sins except one’s own!

If it was the father and the brothers of your friend who were involved in the unlawful, your friend is neither responsible for their transgression, nor will he be held accountable for their deeds in the Court of the Lord Most Just.

The only thing your friend can and should do, is to remain constant in his supplications to the Lord Most Gracious to have Mercy on his father and his brothers, and sincerely beseech and implore His Lord to soften the hearts of his father and his brothers and guide them towards taking steps to atone for their transgression of indulging in an activity which has been clearly forbidden by the Lord Most High.

Your Question: is there are means to do voluntary contribution for that sin or please suggest 

If your friend gives voluntary contribution to charity, it is he who will receive its rewards in the Presence of his Lord; but his contributions to charity will not atone for the transgression committed by his father and his brothers.

The act that will forgive the grave sin of the father and the brothers of your friend, is that his father and his brothers themselves seek sincere forgiveness for their manifest transgression before their death, and take steps to atone for their manifest transgression themselves.

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