Usury: definition and ruling
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Usury is charging a rate of interest upon lending money. It is forbidden in Islam and it is clearly stated in Quran. Only trade is permissible.
Usury: definition and ruling
The Arabic term riba, which means ‘usury’, originally means ‘increase’. In Islamic usage it means ‘an increase in one of the two exchanged items without a compensation to offset this increase.[1]
Usury is forbidden, which is clearly stated in the Qur’an.
:Allah says
‘Allah has made trade lawful and usury forbidden’
(2:275)
and
‘O you who have believed, fear Allah and give up what remains [due to you] of interest, if you should be believers.’
(2:278)
The Prophet (peace be upon him) considered it one of the major sins and he cursed all those who participated in usurious transactions, whatever was their role.
Jabir reports: ‘Allah’s messenger (peace be upon him) cursed the one who devours usury, the one who pays it, the one who writes the contract between them and the two witnesses to the contract. He said that they are all the same.’ The Muslim community is unanimous that usury is forbidden in Islam.[2]
references
- Ibn 'Abidin, Al-Durr al-Mukhtar, vol. 4; p. 184.
- Al-Khatib al-Shirbini, Mughni al-Muhtaj, vol. 2, p. 21; Al-Muhadhdhab, vol. 1, p. 270; Ibn Qudamah, Al-Mughni, vol. 4, p. 1; Al-Mabsut, vol. 12, p. 109; Al-Shawkani, Fath al-Qadir, vol. 5, p. 274.