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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Your Questions Answered (volume 4) Q.100: Borrowing From Bank Most people who have accepted Islam in America are Afro-Americans. I myself am one. The majority of us are marginal people, i.e., we are employees who live from pay-cheque to pay-cheque, earning barely enough to care for our needs. We are mechanics, firemen, window-glazers, and other such professions. We would like to advance ourselves to make a better income.

We also know that money to be made is in business and in such professions as medicine, law and engineering. But all these occupations require capital, either to buy goods to sell or to acquire the necessary training. what do we do in a situation like this? Can we borrow the money from some banks, when we know that they would demand and take interest on that loan? A. The money given by the Muslim banks comes under the item "Mal Majhul-ulMalik"- a thing whose exact owner is not known.

In Shi'a Shari' at, such things belong to the Imam. And in these days when our Imam is in occultation, the Mujtahid has authority about them. The Mujtahids have allowed the Shi'a Ithna-'asharis to take possession of such money from the banks - with the intention that one is rescuing the money of Imam (as.) from such banks. If you take money with this intention it will be Halal (lawful) to you.

So far as the banks belonging to non-Muslims are concerned (whether private or of the Govt.) there is no obstacle in receiving money from them without need of permission of the Mujtahid. You may take it with the intention of Istunqadh (rescuing the money) but not with the intention of borrowing. But the banks whether Muslim or non-Muslim, will demand the money back together with interest, and they have legal protection for its recovery.

You should pay them what they demand if and when you have no alternative. Q .101: UNFORGIVABLE SIN Is there any sin which God never forgives? If so, what is it? A. Yes, first that of ascribing any partner or colleague to Allah. Allah says:- "Verily Allah forgives not that anything be associated with Him." (Qur'an 4:48) Also, He will never forgive a sin, however small or minor, when the sinner does not leave that sin and goes on committing it.