Most-asked question

Is a student loan permissible?

33 fatawa in the archive answer questions on this, from 3 South African Darul Iftas (AskImam, Mufti Online, Jamiat KZN). Below, each Darul Ifta’s answer is quoted word for word from the opening of one of its fatawa.

Based on the fatawa linked below. Please read the sources and double-check with a Darul Ifta for your situation.

Consult a mufti for your situation. Fatawa SA is a read-only archive and issues no rulings of its own.

What the Darul Iftas say

“Alhamdulillah, it is pleasing to note that you understand that the student loan is based on interest and it is Haram. The actual cause of the prohibition is, entering into an interest-bearing contract. That is irrespective of you paying interest or not.”

AskImam — Student loan - Will this be permissible? · 29 Feb 2020

“Fatwa 39618 states “if a person is poor, and does not have sufficient funds to pay his debt and is eligible to accept Zakaat, then it will be permissible to pay his debt with interest money. Accordingly, you may use the interest money to pay your debt.””

Jamiat KZN — Can I use interest money to pay off my student loan? · 19 Jul 2018

“If it is an interest bearing loan, then it is haraam.”

Mufti Online — Student loans · 11 Nov 2015

Quotes are the opening words of each answer as published; the full answer, its conditions and references are on the fatwa page. Answers depend on the exact details of each question.

Read the fatawa

  1. Referring students to acquire student loans AskImam · 23 Aug 2022
  2. Can I use interest money to pay off my student loan? Jamiat KZN · 19 Jul 2018
  3. Student loans Mufti Online · 14 Oct 2015
  4. Student loan query AskImam · 24 Aug 2020
  5. Interest bearing student loan Mufti Online · 1 Feb 2020
  6. Student loan - Will this be permissible? AskImam · 29 Feb 2020
  7. Taking out a student loan Mufti Online · 11 Mar 2019
  8. Giving zakaah to one who has student loan AskImam · 9 Mar 2019
  9. Taking out interest bearing student loans Mufti Online · 21 Mar 2017
  10. Paying zakaah while having a long-term student debt payable after a while AskImam · 18 Jan 2019
  11. Student loans Mufti Online · 11 Nov 2015
  12. Can I use interest money to pay off my student loan? AskImam · 14 Jul 2018
  13. Accepting payment from student loans Mufti Online · 2 May 2018
  14. Interest bearing student loan AskImam · 6 Feb 2018
  15. Student loans Mufti Online · 29 Dec 2015

Search more fatawa on this Business & Finance topic Compare Darul Iftas