A Mosque Committee Borrowing Money on Interest to Construct a Building

Question

The previous mosque committee, out of sheer necessity, took a sum of money on interest from a moneylender for the construction of a building, after making a “reservation” (?) and completing the proper legal paperwork in writing. It had not managed to repay either that sum or the interest when a new election took place and the committee changed: other people came into the committee now in office. Now the moneylender is demanding his money together with the interest from the present committee.

Answer

The responsibility for this lies with the previous committee, which took the money for the mosque on interest. If it is somehow possible for the present committee to pay the principal on behalf of the mosque, while the previous committee pays the interest from its own pocket or gets it waived, then you will be entirely safe.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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