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Interest/Usury

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Interest/Usury

الرِّبَا

*Riba*, often translated as interest or usury, is a deeply significant concept in Islamic finance and ethics, signifying any unjust or exploitative gain in financial transactions. Islam strictly prohibits *Riba* because it can lead to economic injustice, create undue hardship for borrowers, and concentrate wealth. The Quran makes a clear distinction, stating that [Allah has permitted trade and has forbidden interest], promoting fair exchange over exploitative profit. The prohibition of *Riba* is underscored by strong warnings, with those who persist in it facing severe consequences, including being [informed of a war [against you] from Allah and His Messenger]. Muslims are admonished to [fear Allah and give up what remains [due to you] of interest], recognizing that [Allah destroys interest and gives increase for charities]. This commitment reflects Islam's emphasis on social justice, compassion, and ensuring that financial dealings benefit society rather than exploit vulnerable individuals, ultimately encouraging ethical conduct for success.

Quran 7 verses

ٱلَّذِينَ يَأْكُلُونَ ٱلرِّبَوٰا۟ لَا يَقُومُونَ إِلَّا كَمَا يَقُومُ ٱلَّذِى يَتَخَبَّطُهُ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنُ مِنَ ٱلْمَسِّ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّمَا ٱلْبَيْعُ مِثْلُ ٱلرِّبَوٰا۟ وَأَحَلَّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْبَيْعَ وَحَرَّمَ ٱلرِّبَوٰا۟ فَمَن جَآءَهُۥ مَوْعِظَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦ فَٱنتَهَىٰ فَلَهُۥ مَا سَلَفَ وَأَمْرُهُۥٓ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَمَنْ عَادَ فَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَٰلِدُونَ

Allazeena yaakuloonar ribaa laa yaqoomoona illaa kamaa yaqoomul lazee yatakhabbatuhush shaitaanu minal mass; zaalika bi annahum qaalooo innamal bai'u mishur ribaa; wa ahallal laahul bai'a wa harramar ribba; faman jaaa'ahoo maw'izatum mir rabbihee fantahaa falahoo maa salafa wa amruhooo ilal laahi wa man 'aada fa ulaaa 'ika Ashaabun naari hum feehaa khaalidoon

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.

جو لوگ سود کھاتے ہیں وہ (قبروں سے) اس طرح (حواس باختہ) اٹھیں گے جیسے کسی کو جن نے لپٹ کر دیوانہ بنا دیا ہو یہ اس لئے کہ وہ کہتے ہیں کہ سودا بیچنا بھی تو (نفع کے لحاظ سے) ویسا ہی ہے جیسے سود (لینا) حالانکہ سودے کو خدا نے حلال کیا ہے اور سود کو حرام۔ تو جس شخص کے پاس خدا کی نصیحت پہنچی اور وہ (سود لینے سے) باز آگیا تو جو پہلے ہوچکا وہ اس کا۔ اور (قیامت میں) اس کا معاملہ خدا کے سپرد اور جو پھر لینے لگا تو ایسے لوگ دوزخی ہیں کہ ہمیشہ دوزخ میں (جلتے) رہیں گے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: The prohibition of ربا riba From these verses begins the description of the forbiddance of riba ربا and the injunctions relating to its unlawfulness. This issue is very important from different angles. On the one hand, there are the severe warnings of the Qur'an and Sunnah and on the other, it has b...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Those who devour that is those who seize by way of usury which is an excess levied in transactions of money or foodstuffs either on their value or on credit shall not rise again from their graves except rising as one whom Satan has made prostrate demented from touch through madness min al-mass ‘from...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Punishment for Dealing with Riba (Interest and Usury) After Allah mentioned the righteous believers who give charity, pay Zakah and spend on their relatives and families at various times and conditions, He then mentioned those who deal in usury and illegally acquire people's money, using various...

يَمْحَقُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلرِّبَوٰا۟ وَيُرْبِى ٱلصَّدَقَٰتِ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ كَفَّارٍ أَثِيمٍ

Yamhaqul laahur ribaa wa yurbis sadaqaat; wallaahu laa yuhibbu kulla kaffaarin aseem

Allah destroys interest and gives increase for charities. And Allah does not like every sinning disbeliever.

خدا سود کو نابود (یعنی بےبرکت) کرتا اور خیرات (کی برکت) کو بڑھاتا ہے اور خدا کسی ناشکرے گنہگار کو دوست نہیں رکھتا

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Sayings Of The Holy Prophet ﷺ About ربا riba or Interest: عن النبی ﷺ قال : اجتنبوا السبع المبقات ، قالوا (سَٔلوا): یا رسول اللہ ﷺ ! قال : اَلشِّرک والسحر، وقتل النفس التی حرم اللہ الا بالحق ، واکل الربوا ، واکل مال الیتیم والتولی یوم الزحف ، وقذف المحصنات الغافلات (رواہ البخاری و مسلم و ابوداؤد والن...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: God effaces usury diminishing it and eliminating any blessing in it but He augments voluntary almsgivings with interest increasing them making them grow and multiplying their reward. God loves not that is to say He will requite any guilty profligate devouring it ingrate who deems usury licit.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Allah Does Not Bless Riba Allah states that He destroys Riba, either by removing this money from those who eat it, or by depriving them of the blessing, and thus the benefit of their money. Because of their Riba, Allah will torment them in this life and punish them for it on the Day of Resurrection....

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَذَرُوا۟ مَا بَقِىَ مِنَ ٱلرِّبَوٰٓا۟ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ

Yaaa ayyuhal lazeena aamanut taqul laaha wa zaroo maa baqiya minar ribaaa in kuntum mu'mineen

O you who have believed, fear Allah and give up what remains [due to you] of interest, if you should be believers.

مومنو! خدا سے ڈرو اور اگر ایمان رکھتے ہو تو جتنا سود باقی رہ گیا ہے اس کو چھوڑ دو

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: The gist of the fourth verse (278): يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّـهَ وَذَرُ‌وا مَا بَقِيَ مِنَ الرِّ‌بَا إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ those who believe, fear Allah and give up what still remains of the riba if you are believers" is that, after the revelation that prohibited riba, the givi...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: O you who believe fear God and give up abandon the usury that is outstanding if you are believers true to your faith since it is expected of the believer that he adhere to God’s command this was revealed when some of the Companions after the prohibition wanted to reclaim some of the usury from befor...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Necessity of Taqwa and Avoiding Riba Allah commands His believing servants to fear Him and warns them against what would bring them closer to His anger and drive them away from His pleasure. Allah said, يأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ اتَّقُواْ اللَّهَ (O you who believe! Have Taqwa of Allah) mea...

فَإِن لَّمْ تَفْعَلُوا۟ فَأْذَنُوا۟ بِحَرْبٍ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ وَإِن تُبْتُمْ فَلَكُمْ رُءُوسُ أَمْوَٰلِكُمْ لَا تَظْلِمُونَ وَلَا تُظْلَمُونَ

Fail lam taf'aloo faazanoo biharbim minal laahi wa Rasoolihee wa in tubtum falakum ru'oosu amwaalikum laa tazlimoona wa laa tuzlamoon

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.

اگر ایسا نہ کرو گے تو خبردار ہوجاؤ (کہ تم) خدا اور رسول سے جنگ کرنے کے لئے (تیار ہوتے ہو) اور اگر توبہ کرلو گے (اور سود چھوڑ دو گے) تو تم کو اپنی اصل رقم لینے کا حق ہے جس میں نہ اوروں کا نقصان اور تمہارا نقصان

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: After that, in the fifth verse (279), severe warning has been given to those who act contrary to this injunction. They are told if they do not abandon ربا riba, they must face a declaration of war from Allah Almighty and His Messenger. So severe is this warning that any other warning of such severit...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: But if you do not do what you have been commanded then be warned have knowledge of war from God and His Messenger against you herein is a grave threat for them. When it was revealed they said ‘What power can we have in a war against Him!’ Yet if you repent and forgo it you shall have your principal ...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Necessity of Taqwa and Avoiding Riba Allah commands His believing servants to fear Him and warns them against what would bring them closer to His anger and drive them away from His pleasure. Allah said, يأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ اتَّقُواْ اللَّهَ (O you who believe! Have Taqwa of Allah) mea...

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَأْكُلُوا۟ ٱلرِّبَوٰٓا۟ أَضْعَٰفًا مُّضَٰعَفَةً وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ

Yaaa ayyuhal lazeena aamanoo la taakuhur ribaaa ad'aafam mudaa'afatanw wattaqul laaha la'allakum tuflihoon

O you who have believed, do not consume usury, doubled and multiplied, but fear Allah that you may be successful.

اےایمان والو! دگنا چوگنا سود نہ کھاؤ اور خدا سے ڈرو تاکہ نجات حاصل کرو

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: The meaning of doubled and multiplied The detailed rules regarding 'riba' and the philosophy underlying its prohibition have been discussed thoroughly in Surah al-Baqarah verses 275-278 (Volume 1 of this commentary). However, it may be pointed out here that words أَضْعَافًا مُّضَاعَفَةً of (doubled ...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: O you who believe do not exact usury twofold and severalfold read mudā‘afatan or mud‘afatan by increasing the amount to be repaid when the loan period comes to an end and delaying the request of the loan. And fear God by abandoning such usury so that you may prosper that you may triumph.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Interest (Riba) is Prohibited Allah prohibits His believing servants from dealing in Riba and from requiring interest on their capital, just as they used to do during the time of Jahiliyyah. For instance, when the time to pay a loan comes, the creditor would say to the debtor, "Either pay now, or th...

وَأَخْذِهِمُ ٱلرِّبَوٰا۟ وَقَدْ نُهُوا۟ عَنْهُ وَأَكْلِهِمْ أَمْوَٰلَ ٱلنَّاسِ بِٱلْبَٰطِلِ وَأَعْتَدْنَا لِلْكَٰفِرِينَ مِنْهُمْ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا

Wa akhzihimur ribaa wa qad nuhoo 'anhu wa aklihim amwaalan naasi bilbaatil; wa a'tadnaa lilkaafireena minhum 'azaaban aleema

And [for] their taking of usury while they had been forbidden from it, and their consuming of the people's wealth unjustly. And we have prepared for the disbelievers among them a painful punishment.

اور اس سبب سے بھی کہ باوجود منع کئے جانے کے سود لیتے تھے اور اس سبب سے بھی کہ لوگوں کا مال ناحق کھاتے تھے۔ اور ان میں سے جو کافر ہیں ان کے لئے ہم نے درد دینے والا عذاب تیار کر رکھا ہے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Mentioned earlier through several verses were the wrongdoings of Jews and the punishment they would get for doing so. The present verses talk about some other vices of theirs and mention yet another kind of punishment as well. This punishment will, obviously, visit them on the Day of Judgment. But, ...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And because of their taking usury when they had been forbidden it in the Torah and their consuming people’s wealth through falsehood through bribes in adjudications and We have prepared for the disbelievers among them a painful chastisement.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Some Foods Were Made Unlawful for the Jews Because of their Injustice and Wrongdoing Allah states that because of the injustice and transgression of the Jews, demonstrated by committing major sins, He prohibited some of the lawful, pure things which were previously allowed for them. This prohibition...

وَمَآ ءَاتَيْتُم مِّن رِّبًا لِّيَرْبُوَا۟ فِىٓ أَمْوَٰلِ ٱلنَّاسِ فَلَا يَرْبُوا۟ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ وَمَآ ءَاتَيْتُم مِّن زَكَوٰةٍ تُرِيدُونَ وَجْهَ ٱللَّهِ فَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُضْعِفُونَ

Wa maaa aataitum mir ribal li yarbuwa feee amwaalin naasi falaa yarboo 'indal laahi wa maaa aataitum min zaakaatin tureedoona wajhal laahi fa ulaaa'ika humul mud'ifoon

And whatever you give for interest to increase within the wealth of people will not increase with Allah. But what you give in zakah, desiring the countenance of Allah - those are the multipliers.

اور جو تم سود دیتے ہو کہ لوگوں کے مال میں افزائش ہو تو خدا کے نزدیک اس میں افزائش نہیں ہوتی اور جو تم زکوٰة دیتے ہو اور اُس سے خدا کی رضا مندی طلب کرتے ہو تو (وہ موجبِ برکت ہے اور) ایسے ہی لوگ (اپنے مال کو) دو چند سہ چند کرنے والے ہیں

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: وَمَا آتَيْتُم مِّن رِّ‌بًا لِّيَرْ‌بُوَ فِي أَمْوَالِ النَّاسِ (And whatever Riba [ increased amount ] you give so that it may increase in the wealth of the people, - 30:39). This verse is meant to correct an evil custom which is common in close relatives and the families at large. When people exte...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And what you give in usury — such as when something is given as a gift or a present for the purpose of demanding more in return; it the practice of usury ribā is referred to by the same noun denoting that illicit ‘extra’ ziyāda requested in the financial transaction — that it may increase the wealth...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Command to uphold the Ties of Kinship and the Prohibition of Riba Allah commands giving: ذَا الْقُرْبَى حَقَّهُ (to the kindred his due) his due of respect and upholding the ties of kinship. وَالْمَسَـكِينُ (and to Al-Miskin) the one who has nothing to spend on his needs, or he has something but...

Hadith 1 tradition

Sahih al-Bukhari 34:184sahih

حَدَّثَنَا حَجَّاجُ بْنُ مِنْهَالٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي عَوْنُ بْنُ أَبِي جُحَيْفَةَ، قَالَ رَأَيْتُ أَبِي اشْتَرَى حَجَّامًا، فَسَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ ذَلِكَ،‏.‏ قَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَهَى عَنْ ثَمَنِ الدَّمِ، وَثَمَنِ الْكَلْبِ، وَكَسْبِ الأَمَةِ، وَلَعَنَ الْوَاشِمَةَ وَالْمُسْتَوْشِمَةَ، وَآكِلَ الرِّبَا، وَمُوكِلَهُ، وَلَعَنَ الْمُصَوِّرَ‏.‏

Narrated `Aun bin Abu Juhaifa:I saw my father buying a slave whose profession was cupping, and ordered that his instruments (of cupping) be broken. I asked him the reason for doing so. He replied, "Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) prohibited taking money for blood, the price of a dog, and the earnings of a slave-girl by prostitution; he cursed her who tattoos and her who gets tattooed, the eater of Riba (usury), and the maker of pictures

ہم سے حجاج بن منہال نے بیان کیا، ان سے شعبہ نے بیان کیا، کہا کہ مجھے عون بن ابی حجیفہ نے خبر دی، کہا کہ میں نے اپنے والد کو دیکھا کہ ایک پچھنا لگانے والے ( غلام ) کو خرید رہے ہیں۔ اس پر میں نے اس کے متعلق ان سے پوچھا تو انہوں نے کہا کہ رسول اللہ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم نے خون کی قیمت، کتے کی قیمت، باندی کی ( ناجائز ) کمائی سے منع فرمایا تھا۔ اور گودنے والیوں اور گدوانے والیوں، سود لینے والوں اور دینے والوں پر لعنت کی تھی اور تصویر بنانے والے پر بھی لعنت کی تھی۔

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