Financing a Ramadan iftar invitation in instalments

A question about financing a Ramadan iftar invitation in instalments, in which Jordan's General Iftaa Department answered that maintaining kinship ties is according to one's means and it is better not to burden oneself with debt for it; an interest-bearing loan is forbidden, an interest-free loan or compliant murabaha is not forbidden though burdensome, and borrowing is forbidden if it leads to stinting on one's dependants or the feast is for showing off. ¹

The questioner asked whether the costs of a Ramadan iftar invitation may be paid in instalments through a finance company. ¹

The Department answered that Islam encourages maintaining kinship ties, citing a hadith agreed upon by al-Bukhari and Muslim from Anas ibn Malik whose meaning is that whoever wishes his provision to be expanded and his life extended should maintain his ties of kinship; such ties are according to one's means: inviting relatives to iftar is good for whoever can afford it, but whoever cannot should not overburden himself or borrow, and visiting and greeting them suffices. ¹ It said that if someone does borrow for the iftar feast, the means matters: an interest-bearing loan is forbidden, citing a hadith narrated by Muslim from Jabir ibn Abdullah about the curse on whoever consumes riba, pays it, records it or witnesses it; an interest-free loan or a murabaha meeting Shari'a standards is not forbidden, though he has burdened himself beyond his capacity, especially if his finances do not allow repayment. ¹ It added that the loan is forbidden if it leads to stinting on spending for his family, citing a hadith narrated by Abu Dawud whose meaning is that it is sin enough for a person to neglect those he must provide for, and the feast is likewise forbidden if held for showing off, boasting or display. ¹

Jordan's General Iftaa Department published this fatwa on aliftaa.jo as no. 3761, dated 10 April 2023. ¹ The museum records this text as a historical document attributed to the body or scholar that issued it; it issues no ruling of its own.