Questions on the Explanation of the Book of Nullifiers of Islam

The questioner:
Yes. May Allah reward you. Honorable Shaykh, what is the ruling on a man who consumes riba (usury or interest), yet he maintains the congregational prayer, stands in prayer at night, calls the adhan for the Fajr prayer, and does good deeds? But at the same time, he consumes riba, and when he is advised against it, he says that this is the global economy, and that some scholars have permitted it, and he is angry about that. Does this man’s entire work become nullified by this action?

The Shaykh:
There are issues regarding riba (usury or interest) on which there is scholarly disagreement. If this is one of the disputed issues, then he does not become a disbeliever, but he is in error. He has committed an error and gone astray. However, if the issue is one on which there is scholarly consensus, then he becomes a disbeliever if he says that the riba of the pre-Islamic age of ignorance is lawful. That is the increase imposed on a debtor who is unable to pay, where the debt is increased and deferred a second time. If he says this is lawful, this is a matter on which there is consensus that it is forbidden, and he apostatizes from the religion of Islam. Yes. May Allah reward you. Honorable Shaykh. Among the issues of riba, some are matters of consensus, such as the riba of the pre-Islamic age of ignorance, riba al-fadl (usury of excess in a like-for-like exchange), and riba al-nasi'ah (usury of deferment); there is consensus on these. As for some of the disputed issues regarding riba, if he consumes it, he is in error, but he is not declared a disbeliever. Even if he consumes the riba on which there is consensus, if he consumes it but does not consider it lawful, he does not become a disbeliever. If he acknowledges that riba is forbidden but he commits it, he is considered to have committed a major sin and is exposed to the warning, but he does not become a disbeliever.