A government loan

Question

Question: The central and provincial governments give money and other things as loans at a small interest for the development and promotion of trade, factories and other industries. You are well aware that the money the government has is all obtained from the public, or else it is sums that our government obtains from other governments in the form of loans or aid. (a) May a loan on interest be taken from the government for a private business or factories? (b)

Answer

The money that the government has borrowed from other governments has become its property, and it bears the responsibility of repayment. The money it has taken from the public within legal limits or by coercive force has also come into its ownership by virtue of seizure (istilaʾ). (a)

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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