The Federal government has been called upon to ensure that all loans are interest free, so that Muslims as responsible citizens of this country can also benefit.
National Chairman of the Jama’atu Izalatil bid’a wa’iqatis Sunnah, JIBWIS, Sheikh Dr. Abdullahi Bala Lau made the call in an exclusive interview in Yola, Adamawa State.
Sheikh Abdullahi Bala Lau said Islam classifies interest on loans as the greatest of the greater sins, and, its punishment is the severest of all punishments.
To give a loan on interest according to Islam, not only destroys the economic balance in the society, it also inflames the feelings of hatred, enmity and selfishness.
According to the glorious Qur’an, taking interest ( Riba ) is a sin that incurs severe divine punishment.
In Islam, according to Dr. Abdullahi Bala Lau, anyone who takes interest on loan is deprived of the rewards that are prescribed for a decent loan ( interest free loan ).
If there are ten merits in giving sadaqah, the interest free loan has eighteen merits. An interest free loan is therefore more rewarding than sadaqah in the way of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala.
Those that accepts interest on loans has been described by Allah the Almighty as the inmates of the Hell fire in Surat AlBaqarah 2:275 of the glorious Qur’an.
JIBWIS National Chairman also reveals that the prophet Muhammad S.A.W. says in one of his Hadiths ” worship consists of seventy parts. The most important is lawful earnings. ”
With the various provisions in the glorious Qur’an and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad S.A.W, prohibiting interest on loans, Muslim Ummah find itvl very difficult to take any loan with interest.
Nigerian Muslim community find it rather very difficult to take Agric loans introduced by the government because of the interest on the loan, since Islam prohibits interest on loans.
Muslims as responsible citizens of Nigeria are not benefitting from this programme of the government.
It is very necessary to now call on the Federal government, the Central Bank of Nigeria and other financial institutions that give out loans to please remove the interest on all loans so that Nigerian Muslims can as well benefit from all the government programs.
Sheikh Bala Lau however urged the National Assembly to as a matter of urgency and public importance, kick start the process of making laws that will benefit all Nigerians irrespective of religious differences, especially laws that will make loans interest free, so that Muslims as responsible citizens of this country can as well access it without any fear of disrespecting Allah the Almighty.
He also urged the Federal government to always come up with the programmes that will be beneficial to all Nigerians irrespective of religious difference.
Sheikh Abdullahi Bala Lau uses the occasion to call on all Muslims to always be law abiding Nigerians.
