The ruling on one who says, “I will consume riba (usury or interest),” while knowing it is forbidden

Question:
May Allah reward you. This questioner says: A man said, “I know that riba is forbidden, but I will consume it.” Is this considered treating it as permissible, or is it persisting in the sin?

Answer:
If he knows it is forbidden and says, “I will consume it,” that is more severe. He is consuming it while knowing it is forbidden. This is more severe, may Allah protect us, than the one who consumes it without knowing it is forbidden. The one who does not know that what he has is forbidden, because it may be riba or it may not be riba. Not everything that is called riba becomes riba until the ruling and the evidence align with it. Yes. This is serious speech. This is serious. Yes.