A scholar in a state of starvation taking interest-bearing money and living on it

Question

Question: Zayd is a religious scholar, a very poor man; with him are his parents, wife and children; he has no means of livelihood, hunger upon hunger, great necessity. Hence he also fell into debt for interest-bearing money and interest-bearing grain. In such delicate circumstances Bakr said to the Mawlana: “Mawlana, take these five rupees, get with them so-and-so’s certificate of ‘alim or fazil (an advanced theological degree)

Answer

Giving interest, giving a bribe, and deceiving by buying someone else’s certificate and presenting it as one’s own — all of these are impermissible and haram. By adopting a haram way one generally does not obtain lawful income; although outwardly a way to income may open, there is no good and no baraka in it.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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