بُرْهَان
Every answer, with its proof.
Questions about faith, money, the mind, the universe and the unseen, answered from the Quran and authentic hadith only.
The short answer
Is bank interest haram?
Yes. Interest charged or paid on a loan is riba, which the Quran forbids in the strongest terms, and the Prophet ﷺ cursed everyone who takes part in it. 1
سَلَفَ وَأَمۡرُهُۥٓ إِلَى ٱللَّهِۖ وَمَنۡ عَادَ فَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلنَّارِۖ هُمۡ فِيهَا خَٰلِدُونَ
…"Trade is [just] like interest." But Allah has permitted trade and has forbidden interest.
Explore by topic
All topics- The Unseen & Belief Allah, the angels, destiny, death, the grave, the Last Day, Paradise and Hell. 24 questions · 176 references
- Shaitan & Jinn The unseen enemy, his tactics, and how revelation teaches us to be protected. 21 questions · 146 references
- Fitnah & End Times The signs of the Hour, the Dajjal, the return of Isa, and surviving trials. 23 questions · 196 references
- The Universe The creation of the heavens, the stars, the sun and moon, and the purpose behind it all. 23 questions · 132 references
- The Earth & Nature The earth, mountains, seas, rain, animals, plants, and the creation of man. 21 questions · 146 references
- Science & Creation Verses and hadith grouped by scientific field, to reflect on the signs of Allah. 18 questions · 202 references
- Money & Finance Halal earning, riba, trade, debt, zakat and modern financial products. 27 questions · 164 references
- Economy & Society Wealth and poverty, justice, work, charity and the rights of others. 26 questions · 149 references
- Lifestyle Food, health, dress, social media, friendship and making the most of your time. 29 questions · 173 references
- Family & Relationships Parents, marriage, children, relatives and interaction between men and women. 26 questions · 147 references
- Mind & Decision Making Istikhara, consultation, anxiety, anger, gratitude and hope. 26 questions · 161 references
- Study & Knowledge The value of knowledge, how to learn, and ambition for young people. 23 questions · 87 references
- Worship Essentials Salah, fasting, dua and the Quran. 24 questions · 120 references
- Character (Akhlaq) Honesty, humility, patience, the tongue, and the diseases of the heart. 23 questions · 150 references
- Common Misconceptions Clear answers, from the sources, to the most common claims about Islam. 28 questions · 149 references
Most asked
- Is bank interest haram? Yes. Interest charged or paid on a loan is riba, which the Quran forbids in the strongest terms, and the Prophet ﷺ cursed everyone who takes part in it. The prohibition covers any agreed increase on a loan, not only "excessive" rates.
- Who is the Dajjal? The Dajjal (the great deceiver, al-Masih ad-Dajjal) is a man who will appear before the Hour and claim to be Allah. The Prophet ﷺ called his trial the greatest from Adam until the Hour, and described him clearly: blind in one eye, with "kafir" written between his eyes, so that believers can recognise him.
- How do I stop waswasa (whispers from Shaitan)? The Quran and Sunnah give a clear method: seek refuge in Allah the moment the whisper comes, do not engage with it or argue with it, affirm your faith ("amantu billah"), and keep your heart busy with the remembrance of Allah. The whisperer is described as one who "retreats" when Allah is remembered.
- How do I pray istikhara? Pray two voluntary rak'ahs (not one of the obligatory prayers), then say the istikhara dua taught by the Prophet ﷺ and name the matter you are deciding. You are asking Allah, who knows what you do not, to make it easy and blessed if it is good for you, and to turn it away from you if it is not.
- Is music haram in Islam? The majority of scholars, including the four schools of law, hold that musical instruments are forbidden, with an exception for the daf (frame drum) at weddings and Eid. Singing with wholesome words, without instruments, is allowed by many. A minority of scholars permit instruments, so this is a real difference of opinion, but all agree that songs promoting sin are haram.
- What does Islam say about anxiety and depression? Islam treats worry and sadness as real human experiences that even prophets went through, not as proof of weak faith or a punishment. The Quran and Sunnah offer real comfort, such as dua, prayer, remembrance of Allah and the promise of ease after hardship, and the Prophet ﷺ also told people to seek medical treatment. If you are in crisis or thinking of harming yourself, please contact your local emergency services or a crisis line now.
Science Showcase
Signs in creation
Verses that describe the natural world with remarkable precision, held to four strict tests.
Open the Science Showcase- The heaven that is being widened A 7th-century text describes the sky as something Allah is expanding. Until the 1920s, most scientists thought the universe was static.
- Darkness upon darkness in the deep sea A parable describes a deep sea where darkness is layered so thickly that a person can hardly see their own hand. The deep ocean really is that dark. Sunlight fades with depth, and below about 1,000 metres none arrives at all.
- Honey from the bellies of bees The leading naturalist of antiquity taught that bees only gather honey that is distilled from dew and falls from the air. The Quran says it comes from inside the bee.
Verse of the day
لَا يُكَلِّفُ ٱللَّهُ نَفۡسًا إِلَّا وُسۡعَهَاۚ لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتۡ وَعَلَيۡهَا مَا ٱكۡتَسَبَتۡۗ رَبَّنَا لَا تُؤَاخِذۡنَآ إِن نَّسِينَآ أَوۡ أَخۡطَأۡنَاۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تَحۡمِلۡ عَلَيۡنَآ إِصۡرࣰ ا كَمَا حَمَلۡتَهُۥ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِنَاۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تُحَمِّلۡنَا مَا لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِۦۖ وَٱعۡفُ عَنَّا وَٱغۡفِرۡ لَنَا وَٱرۡحَمۡنَآۚ أَنتَ مَوۡلَىٰنَا فَٱنصُرۡنَا عَلَى ٱلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلۡكَٰفِرِينَ
Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity. It will have [the consequence of] what [good] it has gained, and it will bear [the consequence of] what [evil] it has earned. "Our Lord, do not impose blame upon us if we have forgotten or erred. Our Lord, and lay not upon us a burden like that which You laid upon those before us. Our Lord, and burden us not with that which we have no ability to bear. And pardon us; and forgive us; and have mercy upon us. You are our protector, so give us victory over the disbelieving people
Al-Baqara 2:286Only the strongest sources
- The Quran in its original Arabic, with the Saheeh International translation.
- Hadith from the six books and the Muwatta, only when graded sahih or hasan.
- Classical tafsir, only to explain meaning.