I had a fixed deposit in a conventional bank and there are some interest money from that.
I requested my mother to give the money to some local orphanage. But she wants to give that to deserving relatives. Is that allowed?
Bismillahi Ta’ala
Walaikum Assalam Warahmatullah
In principle, if one has accrued interest amounts in one’s bank then the primary avenue of getting rid of it is the same bank. If it so happens that one has some fines or interest payment due towards that bank then this amount should be paid to that. However, since we strive to maintain ourselves interest free, chances that one has accrued interest as well as has interest to pay is low.
In such a case, one desires to get rid of any such tainted interest that one has accrued. This means that one should not gain any benefit from disposing off such amount, including a sense of satisfaction for having helped some relative or poor people.
When you give that money away to your relative, there will be sense of gratification borne from it in your relatives as well as a satisfaction of having assisted one’s family. This is a type of benefit as well.
It is for this reason we suggest to find some avenue which although may be generally good deed, but the dispensation is made with the intent of cleansing oneself of filth.
You may utilize this avenue from Al Salaam Foundation which I normally recommend to people: https://charity.as-salaam.org/projects/interest/
Wallahu A’lam
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Mufti Faisal al-Mahmudi