Questioner

Is it permissible for a person who wants to study at university in the West to take out a loan for this purpose?

Shaykh Muḥammad Bāzamūl:

Yes, a Muslim may take out an interest-free loan in order to study in the West, with the aforementioned conditions, namely, that he is able to openly declare and practise his religion and that neither he nor his reputation is at risk. Otherwise, if he is unable to openly declare and practise his religion and he and his reputation are at risk, it is not permissible for him to stay in the West to begin with as long as he is able to leave.

Questioner:

The loans here are interest-based.

Shaykh Muḥammad Bāzamūl:

No, it is not permissible to take a loan with interest in order to study, which is why my initial answer had the constraint “interest-free loan”. Loans with interest on the other hand are illegitimate. This loan is not permissible for the purpose of study or anything else because it is a transaction involving interest, and the Messenger ﷺ cursed the one who deals in interest. Allāh cursed the one who consumes interest and the one who enters into transactions involving interest. We ask Allāh wellbeing for ourselves as well as for you.