Quranic Verses About Riba (Interest/Usury)
The Holy Quran contains clear and emphatic statements about the prohibition of riba (interest/usury). These verses form the foundation of Islamic finance and economics. Below are the key Quranic references that Muslims around the world turn to when understanding the Islamic perspective on financial transactions.
الَّذِينَ يَأْكُلُونَ الرِّبَا لَا يَقُومُونَ إِلَّا كَمَا يَقُومُ الَّذِي يَتَخَبَّطُهُ الشَّيْطَانُ مِنَ الْمَسِّ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَالُوا إِنَّمَا الْبَيْعُ مِثْلُ الرِّبَا ۗ وَأَحَلَّ اللَّهُ الْبَيْعَ وَحَرَّمَ الرِّبَا ۚ فَمَا جَاءَهُ مِنْ رَبِّهِ مُحْسِنًا فَلَا كَفَّارَةَ لَهُ ۖ وَمَنْ عَادَ فَأُولَٰئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ
Translation: "Those who consume interest cannot stand [on the Day of Resurrection] except as one stands who is being beaten by Satan into insanity. That is because they say, 'Trade is [just] like interest.' But Allah has permitted trade and has forbidden interest. So 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 [interest-taking] – those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide eternally therein."
Key Point: This verse clearly distinguishes between permissible trade and forbidden riba. It emphasizes that those who consume interest will face severe consequences in the Hereafter.
يَمْحَقُ اللَّهُ الرِّبَا وَيُنْمِي الصَّدَقَاتِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ كَفَّارٍ أَثِيمٍ
Translation: "Allah destroys interest and gives increase for charities. And Allah does not like every sinning disbeliever."
Key Point: This verse shows that while riba leads to destruction, charitable giving (sadaqah) leads to growth and blessing. It presents a stark contrast between the outcomes of interest-based versus halal transactions.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَذَرُوا مَا بَقِيَ مِنَ الرِّبَا إِنْ كُنْتُمْ مُؤْمِنِينَ فَإِنْ لَمْ تَفْعَلُوا فَأْذَنُوا بِحَرْبٍ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ ۖ وَإِنْ تُبْتُمْ فَلَكُمْ رُءُوسُ أَمْوَالِكُمْ لَا تَظْلِمُونَ وَلَا تُظْلَمُونَ
Translation: "O you who have believed, fear Allah and give up what remains [due to you] of interest, if you should be believers. 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."
Key Point: This verse contains a strong warning to believers, equiting those who persist in interest with being at war with Allah and His Messenger. It also offers hope for those who repent – they can reclaim their principal amount.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَأْكُلُوا الرِّبَا أَضْعَافًا مُضَاعَفَةً ۖ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
Translation: "O you who have believed, do not consume interest, doubled and multiplied, and fear Allah that you may be successful."
Key Point: This verse specifically warns against compound interest ("doubled and multiplied"), which was common in pre-Islamic Arabia. It emphasizes that fearing Allah and avoiding interest leads to success in this world and the Hereafter.
وَالَّذِينَ يَتَّبِعُونَ الرَّسُولَ النَّبِيَّ الْأُمِّيَّ الَّذِي يَجِدُونَهُ مَكْتُوبًا عِنْدَهُمْ فِي التَّوْرَاةِ وَالْإِنجِيلِ يَأْمُرُهُمْ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَاهُمْ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَيُحِلُّ لَهُمُ الطَّيِّبَاتِ وَيُحَرِّمُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْخَبَائِثَ وَيَضَعُ عَنْهُمْ إِصْرَهُمْ وَالْأَغْلَالَ الَّتِي كَانَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ فَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِهِ وَعَزَّرُوهُ وَنَصَرُوهُ وَاتَّبَعُوا النُّورَ الَّذِي أُنْزِلَ مَعَهُ ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ
Translation: "Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered prophet, whom they find written in the Torah and the Gospel with them – he commands them to what is right and forbids them from what is wrong; he makes lawful for them what is pure and prohibits for them what is impure; and he relieves them of their burdens and the shackles that were upon them. So they who have believed in him, honored him, supported him and followed the light which was sent down with him – those are the successful."
Key Point: While not directly mentioning riba, this verse establishes the principle that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) prohibits what is impure (khaba'ith), which scholars interpret as including interest and other prohibited transactions.
وَلَا تَقُولَنَّ لِشَيْءٍ إِنِّي فَاعِلٌ ذَٰلِكَ غَدًا إِلَّا أَنْ يَشَاءَ اللَّهُ ۚ وَاذْكُرْ رَبَّكَ إِذَا نَسِيتَ وَقُلْ عَسَى أَنْ يَهْدِيَنِ رَبِّي لِأَقْرَبَ مِنْ هَٰذَا رَشَدًا
Translation: "And never say of anything, 'I will surely do that tomorrow,' without [saying], 'If Allah wills.' And remember your Lord when you forget [Him] and say, 'Perhaps my Lord will guide me to what is nearer than this to right conduct.'"
Key Point: This verse emphasizes the importance of placing one's trust in Allah and recognizing that all outcomes are by His will. In the context of finance, it reminds Muslims that their sustenance comes from Allah and they should not rely solely on interest-based wealth.
Quranic Verses About Halal Earnings
The Quran not only prohibits riba but also encourages halal (permissible) earnings through honest trade, labor, and investment. The following verses highlight the importance of earning a livelihood through lawful means.
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ كُلُوا مِمَّا فِي الْأَرْضِ حَلَالًا طَيِّبًا وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا خُطُوَاتِ الشَّيْطَانِ ۚ إِنَّهُ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ مُبِينٌ
Translation: "O mankind, eat from whatever is on the earth [that is] lawful and wholesome and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy."
Key Point: This verse commands Muslims to consume only what is lawful (halal) and wholesome (tayyib) from the earth, which includes earnings from permissible business activities.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَقُولُوا قَوْلًا سَدِيدًا يُصْلِحْ لَكُمْ أَعْمَالَكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ ۗ وَمَنْ يُطِعِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَقَدْ فَازَ فَوْزًا عَظِيمًا
Translation: "O you who have believed, fear Allah and speak words of appropriate truth. He will [then] amend for you your deeds and forgive you your sins. And whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger has certainly attained a great attainment."
Key Point: This verse emphasizes that fearing Allah and speaking truth leads to rectified deeds and forgiveness. In financial matters, it encourages Muslims to be honest and truthful in their transactions.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا نُودِيَ لِلصَّلَاةِ مِنْ يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ فَاسْعَوْا إِلَى ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَذَرُوا الْبَيْعَ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ فَإِذَا قُضِيَتِ الصَّلَاةُ فَانْتَشِرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَابْتَغُوا مِنْ فَضْلِ اللَّهِ وَاذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
Translation: "O you who have believed, when [the adhan] is called for the prayer on the day of Jumu'ah [Friday], then proceed to the remembrance of Allah and leave trade. That is better for you, if you only knew. And when the prayer has been concluded, then disperse in the land and seek from the bounty of Allah, and remember Allah often so you may succeed."
Key Point: This verse shows that while seeking sustenance (including through trade) is permissible, it should not come at the expense of remembering Allah. It balances worldly pursuits with spiritual obligations.
Hadiths About Riba (Interest/Usury)
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) provided extensive guidance about the prohibition of riba. The following hadiths clearly demonstrate the serious nature of interest in Islam.
Jabir ibn Abdullah (رضي الله عنه) reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
إِنَّ الرِّبَا سَبْعٌ وَسَبْعُونَ بَابًا، أَيْسَرُهَا مِثْلُ أَنْ يَزْنِيَ الرَّجُلُ بِأُمِّهِ، وَإِنَّ أَعظَمَهَا مَا يَزْنِيَ الرَّجُلُ بِامْرَأَةِ جَارِهِ
Translation: "Indeed, there are seventy-three types of riba. The least of them is equivalent to a man committing adultery with his mother, and the worst of them is when a man commits adultery with his neighbor's wife."
Source: This hadith is graded hasan (good) by Al-Albani and others.
Abu Bakrah (رضي الله عنه) reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:
"There are seventy-three types of riba, the least of which is equal to a man committing zina (immoral acts) with his nearest relative."
Source: This emphasizes the grave severity of interest in Islamic law.
Abu Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه) reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:
"Beware of the seven destructive things: (1) Associating partners with Allah (shirk), (2) Sorcery, (3) Killing a soul which Allah has forbidden except for a just cause, (4) Consuming interest (riba), (5) Consuming the property of an orphan, (6) Turning back on the day of battle, and (7) Slander against chaste, innocent believing women."
Key Point: This hadith explicitly lists consuming interest (riba) among the seven most destructive sins in Islam.
Nawwas ibn Sam'an (رضي الله عنه) reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:
"Gold for gold, silver for silver, wheat for wheat, barley for barley, dates for dates, salt for salt – like for like, hand to hand. Whoever gives more or asks more, then he has engaged in riba. The receiver and giver are alike [in sin]."
Key Point: This hadith establishes the principle of "like for like" in exchanges of the same type of goods, which forms the basis of Islamic rules regarding monetary transactions.
Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (رضي الله عنه) reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:
"A dirham of interest which a man consumes knowingly is worse than thirty-six acts of zina (fornication/adultery)."
Key Point: This hadith shows that consuming interest knowingly is a grave sin, even more severe than many other major sins.
Umar ibn al-Khattab (رضي الله عنه) reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:
"There is no interest (riba) between muwaqqit (believers who fix a time for repayment) in gold for gold, silver for silver, wheat for wheat, barley for barley, dates for dates, and salt for salt. Whoever needs more, let him take more; and whoever needs less, let him give less."
Key Point: This hadith indicates that when there is trust between parties (such as in a business relationship), some rules may be relaxed, but scholars note this applies only to specific circumstances.
Hadiths About Trade & Commerce
While Islam prohibits riba, it encourages halal trade and commerce. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was himself a merchant and provided extensive guidance about ethical business practices.
Abu Qilaba (رضي الله عنه) reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:
"The honest, trustworthy merchant will be with the prophets, the truthful, and the martyrs."
Key Point: This hadith highlights the great reward for merchants who conduct their business with honesty and trustworthiness.
Abu Umamah (رضي الله عنه) reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:
"It is not permissible for anyone to take the property of a Muslim without his consent, except in a just cause. Indeed, a Muslim is the brother of another Muslim."
Key Point: This emphasizes the importance of consent in financial transactions and the brotherhood among Muslims in matters of property.
Ibn Umar (رضي الله عنه) reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:
"Both parties in a business transaction have the right to dissolve it (cancel the deal) as long as they have not separated. If they are truthful and disclose the defects, they will be blessed in their transaction. But if they conceal defects, the blessing will be removed from their transaction."
Key Point: This hadith emphasizes transparency and honesty in business transactions. Both parties should disclose any defects in the goods being sold.
Abu Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه) reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:
"Beware of deception, for deception is darkness on the Day of Judgment."
Key Point: This warning applies to all business dealings, including financial transactions, where deception in any form is prohibited.