Explanation of the hadith: “Whoever lends two dirhams is as if he gave one dinar in charity.”
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The Shaykh : Ah; but look, now the clarification by the Sunnah: some authentic hadiths came, meaning if you lend two dirhams, it is as if you gave one dirham in charity for the sake of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He. Now, double the number: if you lend one hundred dinars for the sake of Allah, it is as if you gave fifty dinars in charity; if you lend two hundred, it is as if you gave one hundred, and so on...
The Shaykh : Look at trade now; if they sell at what price? How much do they increase in installment sales, and how many charities are available to them every day? And what is amazing is that this merchant who earns charity day and night by following this Shari'ah ruling also earns more from a material standpoint. Do you agree with me on this point or not?
The questioner: No.
The Shaykh : Not yet; in a little while you will agree with me. Now, of these two merchants I gave you as an example, which of the two will have more customers?
The questioner : Definitely the cheaper one.
The Shaykh : So which one will have more profit?
The questioner : Here there is a cause: if he keeps selling on installments indefinitely, if he does not have the ability to keep providing all these people with credit?
The Shaykh : How can he provide everyone with credit? Does he not want to make a profit?
The questioner : He does make a profit.
The Shaykh : Okay, does this profit die or does it live?
The questioner : It does not die; but he has large material capabilities for the sake of...
The Shaykh : As much as possible. Now, the man starts working in trade, for example, at the age of twenty, fifteen, twenty-five, depending on the case, right or not?
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Okay, you are observing one side, and this is a valid observation; but you are not observing the other side: the one who is selling at a single price will increase his customers and increase his profit over the long term. All that is required is that the matter needs patience, deliberation, and removing greed and avarice from the soul that commands evil. Then, is the answer you mentioned an Islamic answer? We are seeking an Islamic inquiry.
The questioner : Fine, when we spoke, we spoke from the material side.
The Shaykh : Yes, the material side. Meaning, the one who takes open riba (usury or interest), does he earn more? Or the one who goes back and forth? From the material side, let me leave aside the Shari'ah aspects?
The questioner : The two are the same.
The Shaykh : No, how are the two the same?
The questioner : This one earns in this way, and this one earns in that way.
The Shaykh : No, not at the same rate. No, the one who gives money and takes it back, paying one hundred and taking one hundred and five, or getting into murabahah (cost-plus sales) and trades and the like. On what basis did European banks stand? Was it not on the basis of forbidden, open riba (usury or interest)?
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : And they are richer than all other banks without a doubt; but I do not want from here except to bring you to a point, which is
That lending two dirhams is like giving one dirham in charity
أن قرض درهمين كصدقة درهمThe Shaykh : Look at trade now; if they sell at what price? How much do they increase in installment sales, and how many charities are available to them every day? And what is amazing is that this merchant who earns charity day and night by following this Shari'ah ruling also earns more from a material standpoint. Do you agree with me on this point or not?
The questioner: No.
The Shaykh : Not yet; in a little while you will agree with me. Now, of these two merchants I gave you as an example, which of the two will have more customers?
The questioner : Definitely the cheaper one.
The Shaykh : So which one will have more profit?
The questioner : Here there is a cause: if he keeps selling on installments indefinitely, if he does not have the ability to keep providing all these people with credit?
The Shaykh : How can he provide everyone with credit? Does he not want to make a profit?
The questioner : He does make a profit.
The Shaykh : Okay, does this profit die or does it live?
The questioner : It does not die; but he has large material capabilities for the sake of...
The Shaykh : As much as possible. Now, the man starts working in trade, for example, at the age of twenty, fifteen, twenty-five, depending on the case, right or not?
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Okay, you are observing one side, and this is a valid observation; but you are not observing the other side: the one who is selling at a single price will increase his customers and increase his profit over the long term. All that is required is that the matter needs patience, deliberation, and removing greed and avarice from the soul that commands evil. Then, is the answer you mentioned an Islamic answer? We are seeking an Islamic inquiry.
The questioner : Fine, when we spoke, we spoke from the material side.
The Shaykh : Yes, the material side. Meaning, the one who takes open riba (usury or interest), does he earn more? Or the one who goes back and forth? From the material side, let me leave aside the Shari'ah aspects?
The questioner : The two are the same.
The Shaykh : No, how are the two the same?
The questioner : This one earns in this way, and this one earns in that way.
The Shaykh : No, not at the same rate. No, the one who gives money and takes it back, paying one hundred and taking one hundred and five, or getting into murabahah (cost-plus sales) and trades and the like. On what basis did European banks stand? Was it not on the basis of forbidden, open riba (usury or interest)?
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : And they are richer than all other banks without a doubt; but I do not want from here except to bring you to a point, which is
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.