The ruling on interest in India

Question

Question: In our area there is a scholar (ʿalim) who studied at Deoband and says that he is a student of ʿAllama Anwar Shah Kashmiri ﵀. He says that India is dar al-harb, and therefore here a Muslim may engage in interest-based dealings with Hindus, that is, may take interest. Is this correct?

Answer

What I know is this: Hazrat Mawlana Anwar Shah ﵀ was present at a gathering; this issue came up for discussion there; other people of knowledge were discussing it; the respected Hazrat Shah ﵀ was asked, “Please give your view,” and he gave this answer: “Whoever wants to go to Jahannam — the road is straight; but do not go by making our necks a bridge.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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