An Introduction to Financial Sacrifice — Page 128
128 Ish a ‘at-e-Isl a m Instead of investing their money in businesses, some people invest it in institutions like banks, post offices or other investment institutions which pay interest. Similarly, some people are forced to deposit their money in the banks because of the nature or requirements of their businesses. The amount of interest they earn in view of that deposit is not allowed to be spend personally nor is it allowed to be given away as some sort of Chanda on ones’ behalf. The following instruction by Hadrat Khalifatul Masih IV rh should be remembered in this regard: "No one can be permitted to use individually the amount received from the bank as interest. If this were allowed, people could find excuses and could end up using this money in a forbidden manner. Such amounts should be submitted to Markaz , which will spend it on Ish a ‘at-e-Isl a m. If someone doesn’t wish to submit this amount to Markaz for Isha‘at-e-Isl a m , he is free not to do so, but he can never be allowed to use this money on his own. " 147 Regarding interest, Allah Almighty says in the Holy Qur’an: "Those who devour interest do not rise except as rises one whom Satan has smitten with insanity. That is because they say: ‘Trade also is like interest;’ whereas Allah has made trade lawful and made interest unlawful. So he to whom an admonition comes from his Lord and 147 Letter dated March 20, 1994.