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The evils of Riba (usury/interest) Summarised:

In our grandparents generation, they might have bought a house for a cost of around 10,000$. If they moved, they would probably sell it to a person for abit higher (maybe 20,000$) since they want a better home.

A new buyer might want the house quick so he buys it on Mortgage, and topped up with this cost of 20,000$, he pays extra due to the usury/interest placed in the mortgage - with a total cost being around 40,000$ for his new home. As he gets wealthier, he wants to move to a better neighbourhood, so he sells his home for more than he payed, he might sell it for 60,000$.

The next buyer wants to buy the home, so he will buy it on Credit (card). He will then have to pay maybe 100,000$ for the home (including the Credit he borrowed, plus riba/interest/usury.)

So we see that the Riba/Usury/Interest system is really harmful to society as a whole. Whereas the financial elite who lend money, but charge people usury breakdown society as a whole, while sucking away the wealth of the poor to feed the already fat rich men.


Whereas the Islamic system is the total opposite to the Riba/Usury System;

You have an old man who is has one foot in the grave (i.e. Near death), and he places a seed in the ground. Someone asks him why he's doing this, since he's going to die before he can see the plant grow or benefit him.

So he replies; I am already aware of this, but this is continuous charity from me (Sadaqah Jaariyah). It might be that after I am dead, someone goes past this tree and rests under its shade, or eats from its fruits.

See the difference?


We think about how the future will be of benefit. Whereas the one being cursed does not care about the weak and oppressed, he is stingy, corrupt, and just counts his wealth, thinking he will last forever.


Discussed in tafseer Surah Humazah [continue reading]...




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