Answer
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
In this fatwa:
Islam strictly forbids riba (usury), considering it a major sin. The Quran warns that those who engage in interest-based transactions are at war with Allah and His Messenger. A hadith states that consuming, giving, recording, or witnessing riba is equally sinful. Some scholars interpret certain narrations as comparing riba’s severity to zina, highlighting its grave consequences in Islam.
Answering your question, Dr. Wael Shehab, PhD in Islamic Studies from Al-Azhar University and currently the Imam of the Downtown Toronto Masjid in Canada, states:
Thank you for your question.
Islam disallows riba (interest or usury). Consuming and dealing with riba are major sins that a Muslim should steer clear of.
Allah says, {O you who believe! Fear Allah and give up what remains of your demand for usury if you are indeed believers. If you don’t, take notice of war from Allah and His messenger. But if you turn back, you shall have your capital sums. Deal not unjustly and you shall not be dealt with unjustly.} (Al-Baqarah 2: 278-279)
Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) declared that four categories of people are cursed by God because of the sin of riba. T
he Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Allah has cursed the one who consumes riba, the one who gives it, the one who records it, and the witnesses.” He (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “They are all the same”.
The above Hadith clearly indicates that Allah’s punishment will similarly befall the one who consumes riba, the one who gives it, the one who writes its contract, and the witnesses of it. The Prophet’s sentence “they are all the same” emphasizes this concept.
The Hadith you referred to is reported through many ways of transmission. Al-Albani reported it, for instance, in As-Silsilah As-Sahihah and in Da`if At-Tarighib through ibn `Abbas.
The meaning of the hadith is general, and so it is applicable on the one who consumes and the one who deals with riba.
Consult the fatwas below for more answers:
- Difference between Riba and Mortgage
- Can We Achieve Social Justice With Riba?
- Loan with Profit from Islamic Bank: Riba?
- Can Muslims Deal in Riba with Non-Muslims?
- Buying a Car With Interest: Riba?
Almighty Allah knows best.
Editor’s note: This fatwa is from Ask the Scholar’s archive and was originally published at an earlier date.
