Should she take a riba-based loan in order to complete her studies?

Question: 110159

A female doctor who migrated to Canada wants to complete her studies, but she does not have the money. The Canadian government provides interest-based loans to cover the cost of studying, which is to be paid in instalments after one finds a job. What is the ruling on that?.

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah and his family.

It is not permissible to
take loans that involve paying interest, because this is riba which is
haraam, and there is a stern warning concerning riba, as is well known.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“O you who believe! Fear
Allaah and give up what remains (due to you) from Ribaa (from now onward) if
you are (really) believers.

279. And if you do not
do it, then take a notice of war from Allaah and His Messenger but if you
repent, you shall have your capital sums. Deal not unjustly (by asking more
than your capital sums), and you shall not be dealt with unjustly (by
receiving less than your capital sums)”

[al-Baqarah 2:278-279]

And Muslim (1598) narrated
that Jaabir (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) cursed the one who consumes
riba and the one who pays it, the one who writes it down and the two who
witness it, and he said: they are all the same.

It makes no difference
whether the loan is to buy a house, or to pay for studies, or anything else.
No exception is made except cases of necessity, which is when there is
danger to life or limb, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“while He has explained
to you in detail what is forbidden to you, except under compulsion of
necessity”

[al-An’aam 6:119].

Al-Zarkashi (may Allaah
have mercy on him) said: Necessity means when he reaches a state where if he
does not consume what is forbidden he will die, or almost die, such as one
who is in desperate need of food or clothing, in a case where if he remained
hungry or naked he would perish, or lose a limb or physical faculty. In that
case it becomes permissible to consume what is haraam. End quote.

Al-Manthoor
fi’l-Qawaa’id (2/319).

See also the answer to
question no. 94823 and
85197.

And Allaah knows best.

Source:

Islam Q&A

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