Sunni · Compare this tradition with another

Giving Interest Funds to a Poor Muslim

no name given · Jamiatul Ulama KZN – Council of Muslim Theologians (Suedafrika) · 2026-10-16 · Durban · Source

Interest money may be passed on to those in need, including poor Muslims, but entering into interest-bearing transactions remains prohibited under Shariah.

Yes, if a Muslim receives such funds, it is permissible and better to give the interest money to a poor Muslim who is entitled to receive Zakat, without the intention of a reward.

The text addresses the question of whether interest money (Riba) may be passed on to a poor Muslim or only to non-Muslims. It cites a Hadith that describes interest as outwardly abundant but ultimately leading to loss and humiliation. The fatwa permits giving interest money to a poor Muslim who is entitled to receive Zakat, provided there is no intention of a reward. The transfer to a poor non-Muslim is also described as permissible. The text simultaneously emphasizes that entering into interest-bearing transactions is considered Haraam and a major sin. The ruling is attributed to Hanafi Fiqh and was issued by the Fatwa Department of the Jamiatul Ulama (KZN) in Durban, South Africa. It concerns a concrete ethical-legal classification in everyday conduct.

What, according to this text, is the root of the evil?

Sin, personal failure, guilt before God

Where does the evil reside?

in the heart, the will, or the soul of the individual

What helps against it?

keeping the commandments, maintaining order, fulfiling one's duties; practical action towards the neighbour, good works

What is human being according to this text?

willed by God, with a task and a responsibility

Where is history heading?

the message stands outside of history

What does the text base its claim on?

on the founder or prophet of the tradition; on a present head, teacher, or office

To whom does the text's call for devotion apply?

to every human being, regardless of faith

Where is the text's criticism directed?

at one's own community and at oneself

• Zinsgeld an einen armen Muslim oder Nicht-Muslim geben (interpersonal)
• Sich nicht in zinsbehaftete Geschäfte verwickeln (social)

Musnad Ahmad

Basic stance

0 from -2 to 2

Insistence

1 of 3

Reach

3 of 5

Concreteness

3 of 3

Boundary

1 of 3, named: Nicht-Muslime (als mögliche Empfänger von Zinsgeld, ohne Abwertung)

Time

past 2, present 3, future 1

Analysed with qwen3.8-27b, version v3. The same standards apply to every tradition, see Values.