﷽
In the Name of Allah, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful
To charge late fees for a due payment is not permissible as it is tantamount to Ribā (interest). [1]
When an individual enters into an interest free-loan transaction with an invalid condition such as agreeing to pay interest on late payments, then such transaction will be regarded permissible and the invalid condition (of paying interest) will be void.
If one intends to finance dental work in such a manner, then they should do so on condition that they are confident in paying back the amount owed before its due date. If they are not confident in being able to pay back the owed amount by its due date, then such financing will not be permissible. [2]
An alternative, is to set a higher price ie. inflated by 10%, and those who pay on time will be given 10% discount. Note, there should be no association with interest, and therefore if one defaults on the payment, they will not be charged interest on the late payment.
And Allah Ta’āla knows best
30 December 2019 / 04 Rabī’ul Ūlā 1441 AH
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[1]
الَّذِينَ يَأْكُلُونَ الرِّبَا لَا يَقُومُونَ إِلَّا كَمَا يَقُومُ الَّذِي يَتَخَبَّطُهُ الشَّيْطَانُ مِنَ الْمَسِّ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَالُوا إِنَّمَا الْبَيْعُ مِثْلُ الرِّبَا ۗ وَأَحَلَّ اللَّهُ الْبَيْعَ وَحَرَّمَ الرِّبَا ۚ فَمَن جَاءَهُ مَوْعِظَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِ فَانتَهَىٰ فَلَهُ مَا سَلَفَ وَأَمْرُهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ ۖ وَمَنْ عَادَ فَأُولَٰئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ - سورة البقرة سورة البقرة ٢٧٥:٢
Those who consume interest cannot stand [on the Day of Resurrection] except as one stands who is being beaten by Satan into insanity. That is because they say, "Trade is [just] like interest." But Allah has permitted trade and has forbidden interest. So whoever has received an admonition from his Lord and desists may have what is past, and his affair rests with Allah . But whoever returns to [dealing in interest or usury] - those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide eternally therein. [Surah Al-Baqarah 2:275]
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَذَرُوا مَا بَقِيَ مِنَ الرِّبَا إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ - سورة البقرة ٢٧٨:٢
O you who have believed, fear Allah and give up what remains [due to you] of interest, if you should be believers. [Surah Al-Baqarah 2:278]
فَإِن لَّمْ تَفْعَلُوا فَأْذَنُوا بِحَرْبٍ مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ ۖ وَإِن تُبْتُمْ فَلَكُمْ رُءُوسُ أَمْوَالِكُمْ لَا تَظْلِمُونَ وَلَا تُظْلَمُونَ - سورة البقرة ٢٧٩:٢
And if you do not, then be informed of a war [against you] from Allah and His Messenger.
But if you repent, you may have your principal - [thus] you do no wrong, nor are you wronged. [Surah Al-Baqarah 2:279]
[2]
(وَفِي الْخُلَاصَةِ الْقَرْضُ بِالشَّرْطِ حَرَامٌ وَالشَّرْطُ لَغْوٌ - (الدر المختار ورد المحتار، ج٥ ص١٦٦، دار الفكر
قَوْلُهُ (وَمَا لَا يَبْطُلُ بِالشَّرْطِ الْفَاسِدِ الْقَرْضُ) بِأَنْ قَالَ أَقْرَضْتُك هَذِهِ الْمِائَةَ بِشَرْطِ أَنْ تَخْدُمَنِي شَهْرًا مَثَلًا فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَبْطُلُ بِهَذَا الشَّرْطِ وَذَلِكَ؛ لِأَنَّ الشُّرُوطَ الْفَاسِدَةَ مِنْ بَابِ الرِّبَا وَأَنَّهُ يَخْتَصُّ بِالْمُبَادَلَةِ الْمَالِيَّةِ وَهَذِهِ الْعُقُودُ كُلُّهَا لَيْسَتْ بِمُعَاوَضَةٍ مَالِيَّةٍ فَلَا تُؤَثِّرُ فِيهَا الشُّرُوطُ الْفَاسِدَةُ ذَكَرَهُ الْعَيْنِيُّ فَيُقَالُ لَهُ فَكَيْفَ بَطَلَ عَزْلُ الْوَكِيلِ وَالِاعْتِكَافُ وَالرَّجْعَةُ بِالشُّرُوطِ الْفَاسِدَةِ مَعَ أَنَّهَا لَمْ تَكُنْ مِنْ الْمُبَادَلَةِ الْمَالِيَّةِ وَفِي الْبَزَّازِيَّةِ وَتَعْلِيقُ الْقَرْضِ حَرَامٌ وَالشَّرْطُ لَا يَلْزَمُ
(البحر الرائق شرح كنز الدقائق، ج٦ ص٢٠٣، دار الكتاب الإسلامي)
