Defining Riba and Explaining Its Types
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Question:
A sister named Hanaa Saleh from Mogadishu, Somalia, sent a message containing several questions. In one of her questions, she says: I ask you to define for me what the meaning of riba (usury or interest) is?
Answer:
Linguistically, riba means increase. It is said: the money increased (raba al-mal), and the tree grew and increased (raba al-shajar).
In the Shari'ah, it is the increase of one type of wealth over another type, provided they are of the same genus, such as gold for gold, silver for silver, wheat for wheat, barley for barley, and the like. If one of them is increased over the other, this is called riba in the Shari'ah, and it is prohibited by the Shari'ah. Therefore, a Muslim must not sell one dirham for two dirhams, nor one dinar for two dinars, if the weight of the dinar is the same. For this would be gold for gold with an increase, and silver for silver with an increase. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:.
Riba also occurs without an increase, but through separating before taking possession, or through deferral. It is called riba in the Shari'ah if one sells a type of wealth for its own type and they do not take possession of it, or if he sells a type that is not sold on credit and they do not take possession of it; it is called riba, even if there is no increase.
So if he sells a dirham for a dirham on credit, or they separate before taking possession, it is called riba in the Shari'ah, even if there is no increase. Or if he sells a dinar for a dinar, but they do not take possession of it, or he says: until a specified time, it is called riba as well, even if there is no increase.
Likewise, if he sells silver for gold, or gold for silver, on credit, or immediately, but they do not take possession of it, it is called riba. And likewise, if he sells wheat for barley, or dates for barley, or dates for wheat, and they do not take possession of it, it is called riba. Or if it is on credit, it is called riba. With this, the meaning of riba in the Shari'ah becomes clear to the questioner: riba al-fadl (usury of excess in a like-for-like exchange) and riba al-nasi'ah (usury of deferment); because there are two types according to the scholars of knowledge:
The first is called riba al-fadl, such as a dirham for two dirhams, or a dinar for two dinars, or a sa' (a dry measure of about 3 kg) of wheat for a sa' and a half of wheat. This is called riba al-fadl.
The second type is riba al-nasi'ah: a dirham for a dirham on credit; this is nasi'ah. A sa' of wheat for wheat, for another sa' of wheat, but on credit; this is riba al-nasi'ah. Or silver for gold without taking possession; it is called riba al-nasi'ah. Or wheat for barley without taking possession; it is called riba al-nasi'ah, and so on. Yes.
The presenter : May Allah reward you with good.
A sister named Hanaa Saleh from Mogadishu, Somalia, sent a message containing several questions. In one of her questions, she says: I ask you to define for me what the meaning of riba (usury or interest) is?
Answer:
Linguistically, riba means increase. It is said: the money increased (raba al-mal), and the tree grew and increased (raba al-shajar).
In the Shari'ah, it is the increase of one type of wealth over another type, provided they are of the same genus, such as gold for gold, silver for silver, wheat for wheat, barley for barley, and the like. If one of them is increased over the other, this is called riba in the Shari'ah, and it is prohibited by the Shari'ah. Therefore, a Muslim must not sell one dirham for two dirhams, nor one dinar for two dinars, if the weight of the dinar is the same. For this would be gold for gold with an increase, and silver for silver with an increase. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Gold for gold, like for like, equal in amount, hand to hand, and silver for silver, like for like, equal in amount, hand to hand, and wheat for wheat, barley for barley, dates for dates, and salt for salt, like for like, equal in amount, hand to hand. So whoever increases or asks for an increase has committed riba.
الذهب بالذهب مثلًا بمثل، سواء بسواء، يدًا بيد، والفضة بالفضة مثلًا بمثل، سواء بسواء، يدًا بيد، والبر بالبر والشعير بالشعير، والتمر بالتمر، والملح بالملح، مثلًا بمثل، سواء بسواء يدًا بيد، فمن زاد، أو استزاد؛ فقد أربىRiba also occurs without an increase, but through separating before taking possession, or through deferral. It is called riba in the Shari'ah if one sells a type of wealth for its own type and they do not take possession of it, or if he sells a type that is not sold on credit and they do not take possession of it; it is called riba, even if there is no increase.
So if he sells a dirham for a dirham on credit, or they separate before taking possession, it is called riba in the Shari'ah, even if there is no increase. Or if he sells a dinar for a dinar, but they do not take possession of it, or he says: until a specified time, it is called riba as well, even if there is no increase.
Likewise, if he sells silver for gold, or gold for silver, on credit, or immediately, but they do not take possession of it, it is called riba. And likewise, if he sells wheat for barley, or dates for barley, or dates for wheat, and they do not take possession of it, it is called riba. Or if it is on credit, it is called riba. With this, the meaning of riba in the Shari'ah becomes clear to the questioner: riba al-fadl (usury of excess in a like-for-like exchange) and riba al-nasi'ah (usury of deferment); because there are two types according to the scholars of knowledge:
The first is called riba al-fadl, such as a dirham for two dirhams, or a dinar for two dinars, or a sa' (a dry measure of about 3 kg) of wheat for a sa' and a half of wheat. This is called riba al-fadl.
The second type is riba al-nasi'ah: a dirham for a dirham on credit; this is nasi'ah. A sa' of wheat for wheat, for another sa' of wheat, but on credit; this is riba al-nasi'ah. Or silver for gold without taking possession; it is called riba al-nasi'ah. Or wheat for barley without taking possession; it is called riba al-nasi'ah, and so on. Yes.
The presenter : May Allah reward you with good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.