Imâm Sâlih bin Fawzân al-Fawzân
Question: A man borrows a lot from people as he takes explicit usurious loans, then when the term comes he demands his children to repay out of fear of imprisonment. Knowing that this money that he takes is spent on luxury things, the question is: What is the ruling on giving this man from Zakâh to pay off his usurious debt, and what is the position of his children on it?
Answer: They should not aid him in the forbidden, as Allâh جَلَّ وَ عَلَ says:
وَتَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْبِرِّ وَالتَّقْوَى وَلَا تَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْإِثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِ
»Help you one another in virtue, righteousness and piety; but do not help one another in sin and transgression.« (5:2)
Usury is one of the most severe transgressions, and Allâh’s refuge is sought. It is one of the worst sins, so they should not aid him in that until he repents to Allâh عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ and gives up this great sin. Being imprisoned is better, so that he may repent to Allâh and be deterred.