Salam Alaykum,

I applied to graduate school and need a certain amount of money. The only way to pay for school is to either take a loan (interest) or not go to school. What do you recommend for a student in my situation to do?

JazakAllah Khayr

Time sent: Thursday July 9, 2009

Answer:

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• Your first option would be to seek a non-interest loan
• Second option would be to ask trustable people to assist you, and you would pay them back with agreed upon conditions
• Gain part-time employment in a field of interest, aiding you to gain greater insight to your field and simultaneously helping you pay for your education. This should be done with keeping every type of modesty in mind
• Only when alternative methods to seeking a loan have failed and going to school is your only option, then take the loan whilst seeking better alternatives for its payback throughout the process of this education. Never become complacent of your situation
• Always realize, interest dealing transactions deprive a person of the full barakat of a given deed. In Islam, dealing in interest transactions (more so when you pay it out to someone else or receive it) falls within the category of destructive deeds. If you have no other option, then only you may take this loan. It is essential that you realize your error, continually make istigfaar and ask Allah to make matters easy for you.
• You are undergoing a test, Insha-Allah, Allah (SWT) would assist you.

Allah Certainly Knows Best.

p.s. if other students can share their insight on how people can avoid interest transaction, it would be appreciated. Also, if alternative to a loan can be shared, it would be appreciated. To help others is also rewarding.

(our Islamic society did offer scholarships (for locals) . Kindly look into it in the future.)