Repaying Debt: The Prohibition of Using Interest-Based Funds
Question: Can a debtor use interest money to pay off their debt if the debt is very large and there seems to be no other way to repay it?
Answer: A debtor cannot use interest money to pay off their debt. Interest (riba) is haram (forbidden) and is not permissible for anyone, including a debtor. Often, people take on more debt than they can handle, which is why it is said that one should live within their means.
However, while a debtor cannot use interest money to repay their debt, they can seek Zakat (charitable donations) to pay off their debt, which is permissible.
Sheikh Maqbool Ahmed Salafi
Jeddah Dawah Center – Al-Salamah – Kingdom of Saudi Arabia