Staying in the debtor’s house for the purpose of recovering a loan

To the respected Mufti Sahib, Jamia Binoria! Assalamu Alaikum, Respected Sir, I humbly request your guidance on the following matter: I work in the Banarsi zari (brocade) trade. I had borrowed an amount of Rs. 120,000 from my father-in-law as a loan, which still has seven months remaining before it is due. Currently, my mother-in-law and father-in-law have been living in my house for the past year, and due to their presence, there are frequent arguments between me and my wife. I do not wish to keep my in-laws in my home any longer, but now they insist that unless I return the loan amount, they will not leave. My wife also sides with them. I am deeply distressed, and my life has become paralyzed due to this situation. I request you to kindly provide a Shari‘ah and Qur’anic ruling on this matter so that I may avoid falling into sin before making any decision. Additionally, I seek clarification: Is it my responsibility to host my in-laws in my house, or to provide food, or to allow their frequent visits for meals or medical treatment, etc., by force? And is their behavior in this situation justified?

الجوابُ حامِدا ًو مُصلیِّا ً

It is indeed permissible for the questioner’s father-in-law and mother-in-law to demand repayment of their loan. However, using this loan as a reason to stay in the questioner’s home permanently and to demand the fulfillment of all their needs from him amounts to deriving benefit from the loan, which is considered usury (riba) and is impermissible in Shari‘ah. Therefore, they must refrain from such behavior. As for the questioner, he should politely and appropriately explain to them and see them off, and also make proper arrangements to repay their loan.

مأخَذُ الفَتوی

کمافي الهداية شرح البداية: وكل دين حال إذا أجله صاحبه صار مؤجلا لما ذكرنا إلا القرض فإن تأجيله لا يصح اھ (3/ 60)۔
وفي حاشية ابن عابدين: (قوله في كل جمعة) هذا هو الصحيح، خلافا لمن قال له المنع من الدخول معللا بأن المنزل ملكه، وله حق المنع من دخول ملكه دون القيام على باب الدار، ولمن قال لا منع من الدخول بل من القرار؛ لأن الفتنة في المكث وطول الكلام، أفاده في البحر (3/ 603)۔
وفي مرقاة المفاتيح: (" لا يحل مال امرئ ") أي: مسلم أو ذمي (" إلا بطيب نفس ") أي: بأمر أو رضا منه. رواه البيهقي في " شعب الإيمان "، والدارقطني في "المجتبى" (5/ 1974)۔
وفي الدر المختار؛ وفي الأشباه كل قرض جر نفعا حرام فكره للمرتهن سكنى المرهونة بإذن الراهن. (5/ 166)۔