A man says: What is riba (usury or interest), and what are its levels, if it has levels, and what is its punishment with Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He)? Please inform us, may you be rewarded.
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The questioner : With Allah’s blessing, we begin this session with a message received from listener 'A. S. 'A. from Somalia. He sent a message saying: We are in urgent need of clarification regarding many matters of religion, not only the difficult and specialized ones, but also the simple details that every Muslim must be familiar with, regardless of his level of knowledge and culture. Therefore, I ask about riba (usury or interest), O honorable Shaykh: What is it, and what are its levels, if it has levels, and what is its punishment with Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He)? Please inform us, may you be rewarded.
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and I send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions. Riba (usury or interest) in language means increase, and from this is the saying of Allah the Exalted:[Al-Hajj 22:5] meaning it increased.
And in the Shari'ah (Islamic sacred law), it is an increase in specific items in which the Lawgiver prohibited increasing when exchanging, or delaying possession in cases where possession is required before parting. For this reason, the scholars say that riba (usury or interest) is of two types: riba al-fadl (usury of excess in a like-for-like exchange) and riba al-nasi'ah (usury of deferment). Riba al-fadl means the riba of increase, and riba al-nasi'ah means the riba of delay. However, we must know first that not every riba is of the forbidden riba; rather, the forbidden riba is in specific items that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) specified in his saying:Sahih Muslim 1587c and he said: Sahih Muslim 1588a So if you sell gold for gold, it is necessary to meet two conditions. The first condition is equality in weight, not in value. Value is not the concern; rather, equality in weight is required.
The second is possession before parting. An example of this is a person who exchanges gold jewelry for other gold jewelry, where their weights are equal but their values differ. In this case, possession before parting is required, while the difference in value does not harm, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sahih Muslim 1587c As for when the types differ, such as selling gold for silver, then riba al-fadl (usury of excess in a like-for-like exchange) does not apply here, and increase is permissible. For example, it is permissible to exchange one mithqal of gold for fifty mithqals of silver, but mutual possession before parting is required, due to the saying of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him): Sahih Muslim 1587c.
Thus, if the type is the same, two conditions are necessary: equality in weight, and second, possession before parting. And if the type differs, such as gold for silver, one condition is necessary, which is mutual possession before parting. This is with regard to gold and silver.
With regard to food: wheat, barley, dates, and salt. If one sells an item for its own type, equality in measure is required, not in description, and mutual possession before parting is required. So if one sells a sa' (a dry measure of about 3 kg) of wheat of a specific type for a sa' of wheat of a specific type, mutual possession before parting is required. If they part before possessing, they have fallen into riba al-nasi'ah (usury of deferment), and the contract becomes invalid (batil).
Likewise, if one sells one sa' for two sa's, it is riba, even if possession occurs, because they are of the same type. For this reason, when Bilal brought good dates to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), he asked him: He said: O Messenger of Allah, I used to buy one sa' of these for two sa's, and two sa's for three, so that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would eat, meaning to eat good food. And food is dates, which are food. So the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: And this is a painful word: Do not do it. Return it. Then he guided him to sell the bad dates for dirhams, take the dirhams, and buy good dates with them. This indicates that if a type is sold for its own type, excess is not permissible, even if it is due to a difference in description regarding quality and badness; rather, equality is required.
Likewise, barley, dates, and other things in which riba applies. If an item is sold for its own type, two things are necessary: equality in measure if it is measured, and in weight if it is weighed. And if it is sold for a different type, one condition is necessary, which is possession before parting, and equality is not required, because requiring equality is impossible.
However, the Sunnah (the Prophet's way) has indicated that if the difference in type is because one of the types is currency and the other is goods, there is no harm in delaying possession. This is in what is established by the authentic hadith from Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him and him) who said: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) arrived in Madinah and they were making forward sales (salam) of fruits for one year or two years, meaning they were paying the price in advance for fruits they would take after one or two years. So the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Mishkat al-Masabih 2883 And based on this, if one of the two exchanges is currency, it is permissible to part before possession. And if both exchanges are currency, but the type is different, mutual possession before parting is necessary.
As for what the questioner requested regarding the warning, or mentioning the texts containing warnings about riba.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Many verses and many hadiths have come regarding riba, indicating its greatness and horror. Among them is the saying of Allah the Exalted:[Al-Baqarah 2:278-279] And Allah the Mighty and Majestic said: [Al-Baqarah 2:275] And He the Mighty and Majestic said: [Ali 'Imran 3:130-132] And it is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he cursed the eater of riba, the one who gives it, its two witnesses, and its scribe. And he said: So my advice to the Muslim brothers is to stay away from all riba, riba al-fadl (usury of excess in a like-for-like exchange) and riba al-nasi'ah (usury of deferment), and to know that the provision of Allah the Mighty and Majestic is not obtained by His disobedience, and that what they possess through riba has no good or blessing in it. Allah the Exalted said: [Ar-Rum 30:39] And in the saying of Allah the Exalted: For Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) accepts or takes charity from good earnings and grows it for its owner, as a person grows his seed until what is equivalent to a date becomes like a mountain. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you, Shaykh Muhammad.
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and I send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions. Riba (usury or interest) in language means increase, and from this is the saying of Allah the Exalted:
but when We send down upon it rain, it quivers and swells
فإذا أنزلنا عليها الماء اهتزت وربتAnd in the Shari'ah (Islamic sacred law), it is an increase in specific items in which the Lawgiver prohibited increasing when exchanging, or delaying possession in cases where possession is required before parting. For this reason, the scholars say that riba (usury or interest) is of two types: riba al-fadl (usury of excess in a like-for-like exchange) and riba al-nasi'ah (usury of deferment). Riba al-fadl means the riba of increase, and riba al-nasi'ah means the riba of delay. However, we must know first that not every riba is of the forbidden riba; rather, the forbidden riba is in specific items that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) specified in his saying:
Gold is to be paid for by gold, silver by silver, wheat by wheat, barley by barley, dates by dates, and salt by salt, like for like and equal for equal, payment being made hand to hand. If these classes differ, then sell as you wish if payment is made hand to hand.
الذهب بالذهب والفضة بالفضة والبر بالبر والشعير بالشعير والتمر بالتمر والملح بالملح مثلا بمثل سواء بسواء يدا بيد فإذا اختلفت هذه الأصناف فبيعوا كيف شئتم إذا كان يدا بيدHe who made an addition or demanded an addition, in fact, dealt in usury
من زاد أو استزاد فقد أربىThe second is possession before parting. An example of this is a person who exchanges gold jewelry for other gold jewelry, where their weights are equal but their values differ. In this case, possession before parting is required, while the difference in value does not harm, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
like for like and equal for equal, payment being made hand to hand
مثلا بمثل سواء بسواء يدا بيدIf these classes differ, then sell as you wish
فإذا اختلفت هذه الأصناف فبيعوا كيف شئتمThus, if the type is the same, two conditions are necessary: equality in weight, and second, possession before parting. And if the type differs, such as gold for silver, one condition is necessary, which is mutual possession before parting. This is with regard to gold and silver.
With regard to food: wheat, barley, dates, and salt. If one sells an item for its own type, equality in measure is required, not in description, and mutual possession before parting is required. So if one sells a sa' (a dry measure of about 3 kg) of wheat of a specific type for a sa' of wheat of a specific type, mutual possession before parting is required. If they part before possessing, they have fallen into riba al-nasi'ah (usury of deferment), and the contract becomes invalid (batil).
Likewise, if one sells one sa' for two sa's, it is riba, even if possession occurs, because they are of the same type. For this reason, when Bilal brought good dates to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), he asked him:
Where did this come from?
من أين هذا؟Ugh
أوّهLikewise, barley, dates, and other things in which riba applies. If an item is sold for its own type, two things are necessary: equality in measure if it is measured, and in weight if it is weighed. And if it is sold for a different type, one condition is necessary, which is possession before parting, and equality is not required, because requiring equality is impossible.
However, the Sunnah (the Prophet's way) has indicated that if the difference in type is because one of the types is currency and the other is goods, there is no harm in delaying possession. This is in what is established by the authentic hadith from Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him and him) who said: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) arrived in Madinah and they were making forward sales (salam) of fruits for one year or two years, meaning they were paying the price in advance for fruits they would take after one or two years. So the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Those who pay in advance for anything must do so for a specified measure and weight with a specified time fixed.
من أسلف في شيء فليُسلف في كيل معلوم ووزن معلوم إلى أجل معلومAs for what the questioner requested regarding the warning, or mentioning the texts containing warnings about riba.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Many verses and many hadiths have come regarding riba, indicating its greatness and horror. Among them is the saying of Allah the Exalted:
(278) O you who have believed, fear Allah and give up what remains [due to you] of interest, if you should be believers. (279) And if you do not, then be informed of a war [against you] from Allah and His Messenger. But if you repent, you may have your principal - [thus] you do no wrong, nor are you wronged.
يا أَيُّهَا الَّذينَ ءامَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَذَروا ما بَقِيَ مِنَ الرِّبا إِن كُنتُم مُؤمِنينَ * فَإِن لَم تَفعَلوا فَأذَنوا بِحَربٍ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَرَسولِهِ وَإِن تُبتُم فَلَكُم رُءوسُ أَموالِكُم لا تَظلِمونَ وَلا تُظلَمونَSo whoever has received an admonition from his Lord and desists may have what is past, and his affair rests with Allah. But whoever returns to [dealing in interest or usury] - those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide eternally therein.
فَمَن جاءَهُ مَوعِظَةٌ مِن رَبِّهِ فَانتَهى فَلَهُ ما سَلَفَ وَأَمرُهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَمَن عادَ فَأُولئِكَ أَصحابُ النّارِ هُم فيها خالِدونَ(130) O you who have believed, do not consume usury, doubled and multiplied, but fear Allah that you may be successful. (131) And fear the Fire, which has been prepared for the disbelievers. (132) And obey Allah and the Messenger that you may obtain mercy.
يا أَيُّهَا الَّذينَ ءامَنوا لا تَأكُلُوا الرِّبا أَضعافًا مُضاعَفَةً وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُم تُفلِحونَ * وَاتَّقُوا النّارَ الَّتي أُعِدَّت لِلكافِرينَ * وَأَطيعُوا اللَّهَ وَالرَّسولَ لَعَلَّكُم تُرحَمونَThey are all the same.
هم سواءAnd whatever you give for interest to increase within the wealth of people will not increase with Allah. But what you give in zakah, desiring the countenance of Allah - those are the multipliers.
وَما ءاتَيتُم مِن رِبًا لِيَربُوَ في أَموالِ النّاسِ فَلا يَربو عِندَ اللَّهِ وَما ءاتَيتُم مِن زَكاةٍ تُريدونَ وَجهَ اللَّهِ فَأُولئِكَ هُمُ المُضعِفونَIt does not increase with Allah.
فَلا يَربو عِندَ اللَّهِThe questioner : May Allah bless you, Shaykh Muhammad.