An interest-bearing government loan

Question

Question: (1) Zayd is a cultivator and has his land tilled with his own plough and oxen. Suddenly his oxen die, and he does not find himself able to buy oxen from his own means. So how is it for him to take an interest-bearing loan for oxen? (2) Because of drought, the produce of Zayd the cultivator has been very low for several years, so much so that it has come to the point where he must borrow for household expenses.

Answer

(1, 2) In the first two cases there is no room for taking an interest-bearing loan. However, if a person has nothing left to eat and drink, is in extreme distress, and an interest-free loan cannot be found, then there is room to take an interest-bearing loan to the extent of necessity.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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