মেয়ের মা ব্যাংক থেকে সুদ এনে খায়, মেয়ের করণীয় কি?

Answer:
In the Shāfi‘ī school, consuming wealth acquired through ribā (interest) is unequivocally ḥarām. If the mother takes interest from a bank and uses that money to buy food, and the daughter knowingly eats that food without a valid excuse, she shares in the sin. However, if she is compelled (e.g., has no other food and would suffer harm) or is unaware of the source, she is not sinful. The primary responsibility lies with the mother, but the daughter must strive to avoid what is clearly ḥarām and advise her parent in a wise manner.

Detailed Ruling with Shāfi‘ī References

1. The Prohibition of Ribā

   • Allāh says: “Allāh has permitted trade and forbidden ribā” (Qur’an 2:275).
   • The Prophet (ﷺ) cursed the one who takes ribā, the one who gives it, the one who records it, and the two witnesses (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim).

2. Consuming Ḥarām Wealth

   • In Shāfi‘ī fiqh, it is a major sin to knowingly consume wealth obtained by ḥarām means. Imam al-Nawawī (رحمه الله) in al-Majmū‘ states: “It is unlawful to eat food that one knows is from a forbidden source, and the sin falls upon the eater as well as the one who provided it” (al-Majmū‘, 1/23).
   • The same principle is echoed by Imam al-Ramlī in Nihāyat al-Muḥtāj: “If a person knows that a specific morsel is from ribā or theft, it is ḥarām to eat it” (Nihāyat al-Muḥtāj, 8/147).

3. The Daughter’s Responsibility

   • If the daughter knows that the food in her father’s house is bought with the mother’s interest money, she must avoid it as much as possible. Eating it knowingly would make her a participant in the sin.
   • She should gently advise her mother to repent and stop dealing with ribā. If she is a minor or financially dependent and has no other option for food, she may eat due to necessity (ḍarūrah), but she should still strive to avoid it.
   • The principle of “necessity permits the prohibited” (al-ḍarūrāt tubīḥ al-maḥẓūrāt) applies only when there is a genuine risk of harm, such as starvation. In normal circumstances, she should seek alternative food or eat only what she knows is from a ḥalāl source.

4. If She Is Unaware

   • If the daughter does not know the source of the money or the food, she bears no sin. The sin is on the one who knowingly spends ribā. Imam al-Shāfi‘ī (رحمه الله) in al-Umm states: “The one who eats from a doubtful matter without knowledge is excused” (al-Umm, 4/227).

5. Obligation to Advise

   • The daughter should not remain silent. She must advise her mother with wisdom, explaining the gravity of ribā and urging her to repent. Fault lies more heavily on the one who acquires the ḥarām money, but the daughter’s duty is to avoid being a cause of sin.

Conclusion

• If the daughter knows the food is from interest money and chooses to eat it without any necessity, she commits a sin.
• If she does not know or is forced to eat it (no other food available), she is not sinful.
• She should strive to avoid such food and advise her mother to stop dealing with ribā.