Chapter: Usury (Riba) and Currency Exchange (Sarf)
Linguistically, Riba means an increase. Allah the Almighty said: "And when We send down upon it the rain, it quivers and grows (rabat)" (1). He also said: "Lest a nation should be more (arba) than another nation" (2), meaning more numerous. It is said: "Arba fulan 'ala fulan" (so-and-so exceeded such-and-such) if he increased over him. In the Shari'ah, it refers to an increase in specific things. It is forbidden by the Book, the Sunnah, and consensus (ijma'). As for the Book, it is the saying of Allah the Almighty: "And has forbidden usury" (3), and the verses following it. As for the Sunnah, it is narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) that he said: "Avoid the seven destructive sins." It was said: O Messenger of Allah, what are they? He said: "Associating partners with Allah (shirk), magic, killing a soul which Allah has forbidden except by right, consuming usury, consuming the wealth of an orphan, fleeing on the day of the battle, and slandering chaste, believing, unsuspecting women." It was also narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) that he cursed the one who consumes usury, the one who pays it, its two witnesses, and its writer. These are agreed upon (4) in narrations other than these.
(1) Surah Al-Hajj, 5. (2) Surah An-Nahl, 92. (3) Surah Al-Baqarah, 275. (4) The first was recorded by Al-Bukhari in: "Chapter: The saying of Allah the Almighty: 'Indeed, those who consume the wealth of orphans unjustly are only consuming into their bellies fire. And they will be burned in a Blaze'" from the Book of Wills; and "Chapter: Shirk and magic are among the destructive sins" from the Book of Medicine; and "Chapter: Slandering chaste women..." from the Book of Legal Punishments. Sahih Al-Bukhari 4/12, 7/177, 8/218. And Muslim in: "Chapter: Clarification of the Major Sins and the Greatest of Them" from the Book of Faith. Sahih Muslim 1/92. It was also recorded by Abu Dawud in: "Chapter: What has been mentioned regarding the severity of consuming the orphan's wealth" from the Book of Wills. Sunan Abi Dawud 2/104. And An-Nasa'i in: "Chapter: Avoiding the consumption of the orphan's wealth" from the Book of Wills. Al-Mujtaba 6/215, 216. The second was recorded by Al-Bukhari in: "Chapter: Whoever curses the maker of images" from the Book of Clothing. Sahih Al-Bukhari 7/217. And Muslim in: "Chapter: Cursing the consumer of usury and the one who pays it" from the Book of Sharecropping. Sahih Muslim 3/1219.
