Riba in Islam Donate Your Interest Now
Bank interest sitting in your account can feel uncomfortable when you know it is not halal to keep.
Islam teaches us to remove riba from our wealth, not to benefit from it, and to use it in a way that
does not go to waste. Through the Children of Adam Riba Fund, you can dispose of this money in a
responsible way that supports people in need, while you strive to keep your own income clean.
This is not a normal charity donation. You do not give it as sadaqah or zakat. Instead, you are
getting rid of money that you cannot keep, hoping for the pleasure and mercy of Allah for trying
to purify your earnings.
The Riba Fund is a dedicated pot where we collect bank interest and other forms of riba that
Muslims wish to remove from their wealth. Many people receive interest automatically from:
Instead of letting that money sit in your account or spending it on yourself, the safer option is
to remove it and pass it to a trusted charity that will use it for beneficial, non-worship purposes
under Islamic guidance.
Riba is prohibited in the Qur’an and Sunnah because it leads to injustice, exploitation and inequality.
It allows wealth to grow without work or risk, often at the expense of those who are already struggling.
Allah warns believers to leave what remains of riba and to deal only with their original capital,
without taking extra from others.
In Islam, money should not “grow” by simply being lent out at interest. Instead, trade, partnership,
profit-sharing and real economic activity are encouraged. These methods share risk and reward more fairly
between people and protect the vulnerable from abuse.
When you donate your interest to Children of Adam, it is placed into a separate Riba Fund.
This fund is used carefully and does not replace your zakat or voluntary charity.
We do not treat it as a normal reward-earning donation. Instead, it is:
Examples of ways this type of money can help include supporting essential services, public benefit
projects or covering costs that relieve hardship, without using it for acts of direct worship such as
building mosques or printing Qur’ans. The intention is not to “earn reward” with riba itself, but to
ensure it does not remain with you or go to waste.
Interest money itself is not halal, so it is not given as a rewarded charity in the same way as sadaqah
or zakat. However, scholars mention that a believer may hope for reward from Allah for:
The safest approach is:
Many people are affected by riba without intending to be. Some common examples include:
If you discover that you have earned interest from any of these sources, note the amount, remove it
from your personal use and dispose of it through the Riba Fund so it can at least be directed to benefit others.
Donating your accumulated interest to the Riba Fund is simple:
If you are unsure how to calculate the exact figure, you can contact your bank for a breakdown of
interest paid over a particular period or speak to a scholar for further guidance.
No. Interest is not halal wealth, so it is not sadaqah and not zakat. You are not “donating” it to earn
reward in the same way. You are disposing of something you cannot keep. You can still hope for Allah’s mercy
because you are trying to purify your income, but you should not rely on riba as a source of reward.
You should not use riba for your personal benefit, whether that is food, bills, clothing or luxuries.
The safer practice is to remove it from your possession and give it away in a permitted manner, without
expecting reward from the money itself.
Many scholars allow interest money to be used for general public benefit and for people in need,
Muslim or non-Muslim, since the goal is disposal rather than earning reward. If you wish to follow
a specific opinion, you should consult a local scholar you trust. Children of Adam uses interest
funds in line with recognised guidance and for beneficial purposes.
No. Zakat must be paid from halal wealth. Interest cannot be used to fulfil your zakat obligation.
Zakat is a separate duty and should be calculated and paid from your own lawful earnings and assets.
Once you have removed existing interest, take practical steps to protect yourself going forward:
If you cannot switch immediately, continue to remove any interest that appears, while you work
towards a fully compliant setup.
Interest may reach you whether you like it or not, but you still have a choice in what you do with it.
By removing riba from your accounts and directing it into the Riba Fund, you are taking a clear step
towards cleaner earnings and a more conscious Islamic financial life.
Dispose of your bank interest today with Children of Adam and ask Allah to accept your efforts,
protect your wealth and keep you away from anything that displeases Him.
Use the donation form above to transfer your interest to the Riba Fund now.
Riba is when someone lends money and expects to receive more in return just for lending it — not for taking any risk or adding any real value. In Islam, wealth should be earned through effort, trade, or risk-sharing, not simply by charging people extra because they’re in need. It’s about fairness and compassion — helping others without taking advantage of their circumstances.
Qur’an Prohibition: Riba is condemned in multiple verses, including Surah Al-Baqarah (2:275–279).
Two Types:
Riba al-Nasiah – interest on loans.
Riba al-Fadl – unfair exchanges in trade (e.g., unequal barter).
Ethical Reason: It promotes greed and deepens inequality.
Understanding the Difference Between Riba and Murabaha
Murabaha is a Sharia-compliant financial method often described as “cost-plus” financing. In this arrangement, the seller discloses the original cost of an asset and adds an agreed profit margin, which the buyer consents to pay. This agreed-upon markup replaces conventional interest.
Unlike interest-based loans (riba), Murabaha is structured as a sale transaction, not a loan. It is considered permissible in Islamic finance because the profit is tied to the sale of a real asset rather than money lending. Ownership of the asset typically transfers to the buyer only after the full amount is paid—similar to rent-to-own models.
On the other hand, Riba, commonly translated as interest or usury, is strictly prohibited in Islam. While making a profit on a sale is allowed, earning profit through lending money with interest is not.
Riba—commonly understood as interest—is prohibited in Islam because it leads to injustice, exploitation, and social imbalance. In a system where money grows simply by lending it, the wealthy continue to get richer without doing any real work, while those in need are often trapped in cycles of debt and hardship.
Islam encourages fairness and shared risk. When people invest or trade, they do so with effort, transparency, and mutual benefit. But riba removes that balance—one side benefits regardless of the outcome, and the other bears all the risk.
The Qur’an strongly warns against riba, not just as an economic issue, but as a moral one. It’s seen as harmful to society because it prioritizes profit over people and turns compassion into opportunity for gain. That’s why Islamic finance promotes ethical alternatives—like profit-sharing, trade, and partnerships—that build communities instead of burdening them.
In today’s financial landscape, Riba—often translated as interest—can be found in several widely used services and products:
a. Interest-Based Loans
Many traditional loans offered by banks, whether for personal use, education, or buying a home, involve paying back more than was borrowed. This additional payment, based on a fixed or variable rate, is considered Riba under Islamic law.
b. Credit Card Debt
Most standard credit cards apply interest charges on outstanding balances after a grace period. These charges are another example of Riba. In response, Islamic financial institutions have introduced Shariah-compliant credit cards that use fixed service fees instead of interest.
c. Interest-Bearing Accounts and Bonds
Standard savings accounts often come with fixed interest earnings, and many bonds—issued by governments or companies—offer returns in the form of interest payments. Both fall under the category of Riba. In contrast, Islamic finance provides ethical alternatives such as Mudarabah-based savings (profit-sharing) and Sukuk, which are structured to generate profit without violating Islamic principles.
The Qur’an strongly condemns riba (interest or usury), urging believers to completely avoid it. Allah says:
“O you who believe! Be mindful of Allah and give up whatever remains of interest, if you are true believers.”
(Surah Al-Baqarah 2:278)
“And if you do not, then be informed of a war from Allah and His Messenger. But if you repent, you may have your principal—neither inflicting nor suffering harm.”
(Surah Al-Baqarah 2:279)
These verses make clear that engaging in riba is a serious offense in Islam, and repentance involves returning only the original amount lent—without excess.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ also issued stern warnings against riba. In a hadith recorded in Sahih Muslim:
“The Messenger of Allah cursed the one who consumes riba, the one who pays it, the one who records it, and the two witnesses to it, and he said: ‘They are all the same (in sin).’”
(Sahih Muslim)
Another narration highlights the pervasiveness of riba:
“A time will certainly come upon mankind when everyone will consume riba, and if he does not do so, its dust will still reach him.”
(Musnad Ahmad)
Is There a Difference Between Interest and Usury in Islam?
In many modern financial systems, usury refers to charging extremely high rates of interest—such as what’s commonly seen with payday loan providers. However, in Islam, there is no separation between “interest” and “usury.” Both fall under the umbrella of riba and are strictly forbidden.
Some modern thinkers suggest that small or low-interest rates should be acceptable, arguing that such charges don’t amount to exploitation. But this view doesn’t align with what the Qur’an explicitly states. The Qur’anic prohibition of riba is absolute; it does not differentiate between amounts or circumstances. There’s no exemption based on whether someone can afford to repay or not.
Furthermore, historical evidence from both the pre-Islamic and early Islamic periods shows that the concept of riba was not limited to excessive interest. Loans at that time were often tied to business deals and commercial gain, indicating that even moderate interest was considered problematic.
In today’s banking system, even though interest might seem modest or regulated, the broader structure still leads to economic exploitation—though in a more systemic and less obvious way compared to high-interest lenders.
As Imam al-Qarafi once noted, Islamic rulings intended to protect society remain in effect regardless of whether people currently perceive the harm. Just as alcohol remains haram despite someone claiming it doesn’t affect them, and zina is still prohibited even if someone is willing, whilst riba remains forbidden, no matter how normalized or “harmless” it may appear.
If you’ve accumulated interest earnings, it’s essential to remove them from your wealth in a way that aligns with Islamic principles. One way to do this is by donating that amount to Children Of Adam. This not only helps free your income from impermissible sources, but also allows those funds to be used for supporting vital humanitarian efforts.
While giving interest money doesn’t carry the reward of traditional charity (sadaqah), it is hoped that Allah (SWT) will bless you for making the sincere effort to purify your wealth and uphold the values of halal income.
