________________________________________________________________________ | w w w |\ | || || | || |\ | o_,_7 _|| . _o_7 _|| 4_|_|| o_w_, |\ | ( : / (_) / ( . |\ | |\ | || || | || |T | | || | |\ | . _, _8 |_D_|| . _,_,_,_D_|| 4_|| q ]_o_7_o _|_c 4_|_|| _|,_p q |\ | (_): / (_): . : / (_S (_S / |\ | |\ | In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the All-Merciful |\ | Greeting of Allah be upon Muhammad and the pure members of his House |\ |_______________________________________________________________________|\ The following question was kindly answered by Brother Hamid Mavani. Regards Abbas Jaffer Moderator - ABDG-A. ................................................................. Question: I follow Ayatollah Khamanei as my Maraja. I would like to know what is his ruling on paying interest on credit card debts, student loans, house mortgage, and interest when paying bills late. I know it is ok to take interest from banks on savings and cd accounts but how about paying it since especially in the case of student loans no education would be possible. ................................................................... Answer: Bismihi Ta'ala Ayatullay Khamena'i is very explicit in his ruling (fatwa) that paying interest (riba), whether to Muslims or non-Muslims, is prohibited. He adds that such a transaction can not be made lawful even with the permission of the al-hakim as-shar'i. Thus, under normal circumstances paying interest is prohibited unless one can substantiate that he/she is compelled (mudtarr). However, the contract for the principal amount remains valid and has to be honored. With respect to receiving interest (riba), Ayat. Khamena'i allows it so long as it is from the non-Muslims. Source: "Durar-ul-Fawa'id...," p. 108, 111, 113, 115. wa bi-l-laahi-t-tawfiq, Hamid Mavani