Buying and eating food using money from the bank.
Q. I have read in several books that it is very important to eat halaal food but I am a 23 year old female and my parents live in India and they put money in the bank with interest. I cannot work so what could I do?
Also, is it permissible to attend functions and gatherings and eat food at the house of friends and relatives who have money in the bank on interest?
I also have an account in which my parents put money which is also on interest. What is the ruling on me, what should I do?
A. The money which has been placed in the bank is not haram. It is the interest which is haram. You can therefore continue to use the halal money of your parents which they have put in the bank, but do not use the added amount of interest that comes on the account.
Many Muslims keep their monies at the bank. This has become a need in many countries since there is no other way of securing and protecting the funds. Hence, the placing of one’s money in the bank (on account of need) is not haram. Taking the interest and using it is haram. As such, you can continue to attend functions and gatherings and eat the food of the friends/relatives as long as they are not using interest money to prepare their dishes.
Regarding your account, if there is a need, then you should keep the account, but refrain from using the interest. If you get it, then give it to the poor and needy.
And Allah knows best.
Mufti Waseem Khan