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Q.)
I have been accepted in a beneficial program for a Masters in
Education. The problem is that I received only a small
scholarship and the rest of my financial aid package consisted
of loans (interest based). My parents are strongly
encouraging me to attend the program. They say that in this
society (America), it is impossible to finance one's education
without such loans. Unfortunately, there are few Muslim
scholarships (but I am trying to apply for them).
To not accept
the loan would mean not attending the program, and not
achieving a noble end, i.e. to help the Muslim ummah. However,
the ends do not justify the means. We went to an imam, and he
cited the fatwa that in dar al-harb it is permissible. I went
through some of your previous fiqh questions, and I noted that
some of what the Imam said was misconstrued; that this is a
minority opinion and that most ulama of the Hanafi madhab do
not follow this opinion. I am confused now, because I know
not to attend the program (because of the loans) would greatly
upset my parents, which upsets me. However, to do so, to me
seems tantamount to displeasing Allah azza wa jaal, which is
more upsetting. Please advise me in this urgent matter as
soon as possible. Jazakum Allahu Khair
A.)
Your first and foremost duty lies in the pleasure of Allah. If
pleasing your parents is tantamount to the displeasure of
Allah, you will be sinful. Allah has decreed interest to be
haram.
No matter what
we are deceptively led to believe as far as the 'compulsion of
taking such loans', etc. interest is haram and we are
required to abstain. You can apply for a non-interest bearing
loan or a scholarship from a charitable foundation.
And Allah Ta'ala Knows Best |
