Fatwa No. 41 — p. 70

Question:

I am in the process of proposing to a young woman whose father used to work at the National Bank of Egypt (al-Bank al-Ahlī al-Miṣrī) and is now retired. I have several questions regarding this matter:

1. Is it permissible for me to propose to her, given that her father worked in a ribā-based (ribawī) bank?
2. If this is permissible — what is the ruling if he prepares her for marriage using funds from his retirement pension, which he receives as a result of his work at this bank?
3. If there is no problem with the marriage preparation — what is the ruling on the gifts he will bring to my home after the marriage during family visits?

I ask for guidance, as the entire matter hinges on this question. May Allah reward you with goodness on our behalf.

Answer:

Al-ḥamdu lillāhi rabb al-ʿālamīn. To proceed:

This young woman has no connection to her father’s profession, and she ought not to be held accountable for his wrongdoing — for no bearer of burdens shall bear the burden of another. This is a universal principle across all divine laws, as Allah Most High said: “Or has he not been informed of what was in the scriptures of Mūsā, and of Ibrāhīm who fulfilled his obligations — that no bearer of burdens shall bear the burden of another, and that there is not for man except that for which he strives, and that his striving will soon be seen, then he will be recompensed for it with the fullest recompense.”(1)

As for what he prepares her with  — this transfers to you through a lawful means by way of gift (hibah). There is therefore no objection to your benefiting from it — the sin rests upon the one who earned it. For what is forbidden does not extend beyond the primary liability (dhimmah) of the one who earned it through a forbidden means — so long as it transfers to you through a lawful channel and with the consent of its owner.

Your Prophet (ﷺ) transacted with the Jews of Madinah — buying and selling, giving and receiving — while knowing that they deemed ribā and bribery permissible and consumed people’s wealth unlawfully.(2)

And Allah Most High knows best.

Footnotes (Takhrīj):

(1) Sūrat al-Najm (53:36–41)

(2) Muttafaq ʿalayh — al-Bukhārī in Kitāb al-Buyūʿ, chapter “The Prophet’s Purchase on Deferred Payment,” ḥadīth no. 2068; and Muslim in Kitāb al-Musāqāh, chapter “Pledging as Security and Its Permissibility Whether in Travel or Residence,” ḥadīth no. 1603 — on the authority of ʿĀʾishah (may Allah be pleased with her): “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) purchased food from a Jew on deferred payment and pledged to him a coat of armour made of iron.”