The Response to Those Who Cite the Hadith: “You Know Your Worldly Affairs Best” as Evidence for the Permissibility of Riba

The questioner : This hadith has confused some people in the present age, and they have used it to declare things permissible.

The Shaykh : Yes. The submerged things. No, they did not declare anything specific permissible. And peace be upon you. Riba. They say it is a benefit for the country. Yes, and they called it investment riba, and they said all these houses are lawful, because there is no injustice in them. And is it possible for us to respond to them? Yes.

The questioner : State the ruling on the two types of riba, and the Shari'ah has come with its prohibition, so it cannot be a benefit.

The Shaykh : Yes. And in truth, we have not mentioned an example that would put a stone in the mouths of these people. It is that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) was brought good dates. He said, “Is all the dates of Khaybar like this?” They said, “No, but we take one sa' of this for two sa' and two sa' for three.” He said, “This is the very essence of riba,” and he ordered that the bad dates be sold first, and then good dates be bought with their price.
So here, is there injustice if we take one good sa' and give in exchange two bad sa' whose value is equal to the value of the good sa'? There is no injustice, and yet the Messenger said it is the essence of riba. And it is strange that these people who make a big fuss about the Islamic Shari'ah arranging only worship. And it is strange that they ignore that the longest verse in the Book of Allah is the verse of debt, and it is all about transactions, with nothing in it regarding worship. Then they come and say that the Islamic religion is intended only to arrange the relationship with the Creator, Mighty and Majestic.