Regarding Riba (interest)

THE REALITY OF INTEREST AND ITS MODERN INTERPRETATIONS%0D%0A%0D%0AThe history of the prohibition of Interest%0D%0AIn the Torah (Old Testament) where intoxicants, fornication and the%0D%0Aconsumption of pork are declared unlawful interest is also prohibited. This%0D%0Abears testimony to the fact that Interest was unlawful and prohibited during%0D%0Athe time of the Banu Israaeel (Children of Israel). But the Jews in their%0D%0Aegoism and transgression revolted against this divine law with such%0D%0Aintensity that they became proverbial USURERS and INTEREST EATERS. During%0D%0Athe time of the Zaboor, a group condemned for their transgression.%0D%0A%0D%0A'Those of the children of Israel who went astray were cursed by the tongue%0D%0Aof Dawood and of Eesa, son of Maryam. That was because they rebelled and%0D%0Aused to transgress.' (Sura 7 v. 78)%0D%0A%0D%0AThis accursed nation was continuously afflicted with punishments and%0D%0Acalamities even upto the present day. Their empires and kingdoms were%0D%0Arepeatedly overthrown and they wandered from door-to-door. This was in%0D%0Areality the consequences of their insatiable evil deed to consume interest%0D%0Aand their insanity, through which they had murdered their own messengers and%0D%0Aprophets (Alayhimus salaam), falsely accused them and rejected their%0D%0Amiracles. When the Christian empire was established, one Jew deluded%0D%0AChristians by proclaiming that Jesus was the son of God, thereby distorting%0D%0Athe reality of Christianity.%0D%0A%0D%0ADuring the era of the Christian invasion of Europe, practically every lawful%0D%0Athing was declared unlawful. Interest devouring has reached its peak, such a%0D%0Alevel especially after the two world wars. That practically the entire%0D%0Aworld's economy evolves around this most destructive system.%0D%0A%0D%0ARIBA OR INTEREST%0D%0AInterest in the Holy Qur'an is referred to as 'Riba'. Riba is derived from%0D%0Athe word, 'Ribwun' which literally means 'increase'. This outward increase,%0D%0Ain reality, is a loss. Allah most High sanctions in the Noble Qur'an:%0D%0A%0D%0A'Allah has blighted Usury and made almsgiving fruitful'%0D%0A%0D%0AThis verse explicitly explains the reality of Interest and its result.%0D%0A%0D%0AIn the above verse, the word 'Yurbi' is used in its literal meaning which%0D%0Ameans increase and the word 'Riba' is used in its figurative meaning: that%0D%0Aexcess in a transaction, against which there is no value.%0D%0A%0D%0AIf the above meanings are not observed, the correct translation of this%0D%0Averse will not be possible. This verse informs us that the apparent (outer)%0D%0Aincrease in Interest is in reality decrease and loss and the apparent%0D%0A(outer) decrease in charity is in reality expansion and increase.%0D%0A%0D%0AINTEREST IS HARAAM (IN ITS NATURE AND SUBSTANCE)%0D%0AAllah most High has made unlawful for the believers all types and forms of%0D%0Ainterest because interest in its nature and essence is Haraam and the%0D%0Aprohibiting factor is also found in it i.e. decreasing and abolishing. These%0D%0Atwo realities i.e. prohibition and decreasing are original qualities of the%0D%0Avery nature of interest and because the original properties can never be%0D%0Aabandoned. From it, no portion of interest can be free from these two%0D%0Aqualities. Consequently, each and every part of interest is forbidden and%0D%0AHaraam.%0D%0A%0D%0AThe conclusion that little interest and single interest is lawful proves%0D%0Atotal ignorance of the reality of interest or is based upon false%0D%0Aimputations.%0D%0A%0D%0AMR SABSWARI'S MISCONCEPTION%0D%0AMr Sabswari has termed the Alif laam on the word Al riba in the verse 'Allah%0D%0Apermitted trading and forbiddeth usury' as an indication to a particular%0D%0Atype of interest, not all types of interest. He terms that particular type%0D%0Aof interest, as compound interest. He claims that this verse forbids only%0D%0Acompound interest and not all interests. He further tries to substantiate%0D%0Athis by using Imaam Razi's statement that the Alif laam on the word Riba is%0D%0Asimilar to the Alif laam on the word 'bay' which really means that the%0D%0Apermission granted to trading in the said verse refers to a particular type%0D%0Aof trade. What particular trade is meant in this verse? It is evident that%0D%0Athis view of Mr Sabswari is incorrect. In reality, the word alif laam in%0D%0Aboth the words Riba and Bay' (Trade) are general and refer to all types of%0D%0Atrade and interest. Unfortunately, Mr Sabswari who is not a theologian,%0D%0Awrongly substantiated his view with the words of Imaam Razi (and could not%0D%0Aunderstand these words from Imaam Razi RA).%0D%0A%0D%0AThe verse prohibiting Interest is not Muskil (an Aayat which does not give a%0D%0Adefinite meaning and requires some interpretation to understand it) nor it%0D%0Ais Mushtabeeh (an Aayat bearing more than one meaning and requires something%0D%0Ato determine which meaning is meant) nor is it obliterated (Mahsooq) by the%0D%0AAhaadith that it can be refuted or rejected.'%0D%0A%0D%0AQaadhi Thanaullah mentions in his commentary of the Noble Qur'an, Tafseer%0D%0AMazhari that trade in this verse means all types of trade that are not%0D%0AMakrooh (disliked) Baatil (incorrect) and Faasid (corrupt). He also accepts%0D%0Athat trade is opposite to interest. That proves that the alif laam on the%0D%0Awords Trade and Interest are general and include all forms and types. Then%0D%0Aonly will trade and interest be termed as opposites i.e. all types of trade%0D%0Aare permissible and all types of interest are prohibited.%0D%0A%0D%0ADR FAZLUR RAHMAAN'S MISCONCEPTION%0D%0ADr Fazlur Rahmaan has also failed to understand the verse, 'O Ye Who believe%0D%0Adevour not usury doubling and quadripling'. He mentions that the words%0D%0A'quadripling' are linked with the command 'Devour not'. He has stated that%0D%0Aonly compound Interest is prohibited not simple interest. Interest is of two%0D%0Atypes - one permissible the other unlawful.%0D%0A%0D%0AThis division is totally against the terminology of the Noble Qur'an. The%0D%0Aclarifications of the the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) and the%0D%0Aviews of the learned Ulama of Fiqh.%0D%0A%0D%0AAll the commentators of the Noble Qur'an, the narrators of Hadith and the%0D%0AJurists have unanimously declared interest as Haraam, and have based their%0D%0Aclaims on relevant facts. They say that the words 'doubling and quadripling'%0D%0Aare merely emphasising this system of interest. The prohibition is alredy%0D%0Aderived from the words 'devour not'.%0D%0A%0D%0AQaadhi Thanaullah (RA) mentions that the words 'doubling and quadripling'%0D%0Aare mentioned as a rebuke and reproach not for abstinence from this%0D%0Aparticular form of interest because all forms are prohibited.%0D%0A%0D%0AThe Noble Qur'an explicitly prohibits all forms and types of interest in the%0D%0Afollowing verse, 'O You who believe! Observe your duty to Allah, and give up%0D%0Awhat remaineth (due to you) from usury. If you are (in truth) believers'%0D%0A(Baqarah 278).%0D%0A%0D%0AThis verse prohibits the remains of interest. The word Maa is general and%0D%0Aincludes all forms and types of interest thus resulting in the total%0D%0Aprohibition of all interest. However, it is permissible to collect the%0D%0Aprinciple amount invested but whatever is over and above that, will be%0D%0Ainterest and is totally prohibited even if it is equal to a gram of silver%0D%0Aor merely one Dirham. It will all be in 'what remained from usury'.%0D%0ASimilarly simple interest, interest that has been doubled or any other form%0D%0Awill be included in the verse 'what remained from usury' which has been%0D%0Aprohibited. The classification of interest as simple interest and compound%0D%0Ainterest is incorrect. All forms are prohibited, therefore, the commentators%0D%0Aof the Noble Qur'an like Imaam Razi (RA), Imaam Abu Mas'ood (RA) have termed%0D%0Ainterest as absolutely unlawful and Haraam and they totally reject such%0D%0Amisconceptions as compound interest is Haraam and simple interest is lawful.%0D%0A%0D%0ABesides these clear verses of the Noble Qur'an, the Ahaadith also very%0D%0Aexplicitly state that interest is entirely forbidden. Hadhrat Abdullah bin%0D%0AHanzala (RA) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) said,%0D%0A'One Dirhma of interest, whosoever devours intentionally is worse than%0D%0Athirty six fornications.' (Abur-Razzack, Tibri)%0D%0A%0D%0AThe modern interpreters who have classified Interest into simple and%0D%0Acompound interest are asked, 'One Dirham is interest or not?' If they termed%0D%0Ait as interest, all their interpretations are invalidated. If they do not%0D%0Aterm it interest, they have openly rejected the Hadith and falsified the%0D%0AHoly Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam).%0D%0A%0D%0AHowever, this Hadith makes apparent that though fornication is a major sin%0D%0Aand completely against the conduct of Islam, interest eating is much worse,%0D%0Aimmaterial how little it is, even if it is equals to just one Dirham.%0D%0A%0D%0AFurthermore, the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) mentioned in his%0D%0Asermon at the farewell pilgrimage (the last sermon). 'EVERY BLOOD OF%0D%0AIGNORANCE IS TRAMPLED UNDER MY FEET AND EVERY INTEREST IS TRAMPLED UNDER MY%0D%0AFEET'.%0D%0A%0D%0ATHE WORD 'Riba' is an indefinite noun which has a general meaning i.e. every%0D%0Akind of interest is abolished. This is exactly what is meant by the verse%0D%0A'Allah permiteth trading and forbiddeth usury'.%0D%0AThe effort to legalise interest today is not a new one. The Noble Qur'an%0D%0Abears testimony that this was present even in the time of our Holy Prophet%0D%0A(Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam). The Noble Qur'an states: 'That is because%0D%0Athey say trade is like usury'. (Baqarah 275)%0D%0A%0D%0ATheir initial claim was 'usury is like trade' but they deliberately reversed%0D%0Athe sentence to strengthen their claim. Their object was as follows: trading%0D%0Ais generally accepted to be lawful. Loss and gain (profit) is permitted in%0D%0Atrade. Interest is similar to trade. Therefore, why is profit and gain not%0D%0Apermitted in interest?%0D%0A%0D%0AAllah, most High exposes these distorts of this truth by quoting their own%0D%0Awords and replying to them that they are destined for punishment for their%0D%0Adistorted claims.%0D%0A%0D%0ATHE PROPAGATION OF INTEREST OR THE LEGISLATION OF INTEREST%0D%0AThe legalisation of interest will have detrimental results and effects on%0D%0Athe entire society. Basically, the poor sink deeper into poverty and the%0D%0Awealthy hold a monopoly over the wealth. Divine power does not allow this%0D%0Amonopoly for long, and eventually the poor will take revenge on the rich by%0D%0Ameans of what is termed today as a revolution. Therefore, Islam has totally%0D%0Aand strictly forbidden interest and the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi%0D%0AWasallam) preached its evil consequences in detail and practically%0D%0Aeradicated it from his society. After him the Khalifas and Imaams of Islamic%0D%0Alaws termed it absolutely Haraam without an atom of doubt.%0D%0A%0D%0AHadhrat Umar (Radhiallaahu Anhu) says, 'Eradicate all doubt the matter%0D%0A(Aayat) is conclusive and decisive.'%0D%0A%0D%0ATHE WARNING TO THOSE WHO EARN AND DEVOUR INTEREST%0D%0AHow severe is this warning in the Noble Qur'an against interest!%0D%0A'Those who swallow usury cannot rise up save as he ariseth whom the Devil%0D%0Ahas portrayed by (his) touch' (Baqarah 275)%0D%0A%0D%0AHadhrat Abu Sa'eed Khudri (Radhiallaahu Anhu) while reporting the incident%0D%0Aof Me'raaj has quoted many narrators who report that Hadhrat Ibn Abbaas%0D%0A(Radhiallaahu Anhuma) used to mention in the commentary of the%0D%0Aabovementioned Aayat that their getting up from the graves in this state and%0D%0Abeing unable to stand will be a sign of the interest-eaters. They will be%0D%0Arecognised by these very signs.%0D%0A%0D%0ATabraani reports on the authority of Hadhrat Auf bin Maalik (Radhiallaahu%0D%0AAnhu) that they will be crazy, insane and mad. Imaam Muslim (Radhiallaahu%0D%0AAnhu) reports on the authority of Hadhrath ibn Mas'ood (Radhiallaahu Anhu)%0D%0Aand Imaam Bukhari (RA) reports on the authority of Hadhrat Abu Juhayfa (RA)%0D%0Athat the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) has cursed both the%0D%0Agiver and taker of interest.%0D%0A%0D%0AThe following verse is more threatening:%0D%0A'As for him who returned (to usury) such are rightful owners of the fire.%0D%0AThey will abide therein.' (Baqarah 275)%0D%0A%0D%0AFinally, the most severest punishment, declared in the Qur'an, is mentioned%0D%0Afor those who do not abstain from interest.%0D%0A%0D%0AAND IF YOU DO NOT, THEN BE WARNED OF WAR (AGAINST YOU) FROM ALLAH AND HIS%0D%0AMESSENGER (Baqarah 279)%0D%0A%0D%0AThis announcement will remain in force till the day of Judgement for those%0D%0Awho engage in interest bearing deals.%0D%0A%0D%0A