The Ruling on Riba with Disbelievers and Investment Riba
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
Honorable Shaykh, some people say that riba (usury or interest) is permissible with disbelievers because it economically burdens them, and that the principles of the Shari'ah permit harming the disbelievers of war. Does this view have any valid basis?
Answer:
No, it has no valid basis. Allah has forbidden riba absolutely. Allah has forbidden riba absolutely. Therefore, it is not permissible to restrict the words of Allah and the words of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) except with evidence. Riba is forbidden with disbelievers and with Muslims alike, so it is not permissible. Some also say that riba is permissible with the disbelievers of war, but this is a false statement. Furthermore, there are now those who say that only consumption riba is forbidden, while investment riba is not forbidden. That is to say, riba is not permissible with the poor and the needy, but it is permissible with merchants, institutions, and companies. This is restricting what Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) has forbidden based on desire and empty talk. Riba is absolutely forbidden except with evidence from the Shari'ah indicating that a part of it is lawful. As for these deceptions and these naive and foolish statements, they are of no account.
Honorable Shaykh, some people say that riba (usury or interest) is permissible with disbelievers because it economically burdens them, and that the principles of the Shari'ah permit harming the disbelievers of war. Does this view have any valid basis?
Answer:
No, it has no valid basis. Allah has forbidden riba absolutely. Allah has forbidden riba absolutely. Therefore, it is not permissible to restrict the words of Allah and the words of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) except with evidence. Riba is forbidden with disbelievers and with Muslims alike, so it is not permissible. Some also say that riba is permissible with the disbelievers of war, but this is a false statement. Furthermore, there are now those who say that only consumption riba is forbidden, while investment riba is not forbidden. That is to say, riba is not permissible with the poor and the needy, but it is permissible with merchants, institutions, and companies. This is restricting what Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) has forbidden based on desire and empty talk. Riba is absolutely forbidden except with evidence from the Shari'ah indicating that a part of it is lawful. As for these deceptions and these naive and foolish statements, they are of no account.
Source
شرح بلوغ المرام من أدلة الأحكام [ صالح الفوزان ]، بداية من باب الربا — islamhouse.com (37:00)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.