Are you allowed to give money to pay off someone’s debt while knowing that part of that is likely to go towards paying off interest?

Q: Are you allowed to give money to pay off someone’s debt while knowing that part of that is likely to go towards paying off of interest? The recipient of the financial help is a non-Muslim.

 

الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومنه الصدق والصواب


A:
In principle, if you gift or lend someone some money that person is free to utilise that money in whichever way he/she feels even if you have given it  for a stated purpose.  The other person is not required to use the money for the stated purpose only and the usage of that money is the sole responsibility of the person to whom you have given it.  However, if you are aware that the use of the money will be for predominantly impermissible purposes you should not gift or lend to that person so that you are not assisting in sin.  If the usage of the money is for predominantly for permissible purposes then you may gift or lend to that person.

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