Al-Baqarah · Madani · ayah 275 of 286

Al-Baqarah 2:275

ٱلَّذِينَ يَأْكُلُونَ ٱلرِّبَوٰا۟ لَا يَقُومُونَ إِلَّا كَمَا يَقُومُ ٱلَّذِى يَتَخَبَّطُهُ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ مِنَ ٱلْمَسِّ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّمَا ٱلْبَيْعُ مِثْلُ ٱلرِّبَوٰا۟ ۗ وَأَحَلَّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْبَيْعَ وَحَرَّمَ ٱلرِّبَوٰا۟ ۚ فَمَن جَآءَهُۥ مَوْعِظَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦ فَٱنتَهَىٰ فَلَهُۥ مَا سَلَفَ وَأَمْرُهُۥٓ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَمَنْ عَادَ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ

“Those who consume interest[110] 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 Allāh 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 Allāh. But whoever returns [to dealing in interest or usury] - those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide eternally therein.”

Saheeh International

Essence

Those who feed on ribā rise staggering; they call it trade, but Allah permitted trade, forbade ribā, and left the door back open.

A reflection

Who decides what counts as fair?

In a high-street window, a lender advertises quick cash. At the bottom, in the smallest print on the poster, is the yearly rate. It runs to four figures. It is entirely legal, and called 'the going rate'.

The ayah cuts through the language of markets in five words: 'Allah has permitted trade and forbidden ribā'. The verbs belong to Him. Not to the market, not to custom, not to the strongest party in the room.

That is where the ego is checked. Human beings are skilled at calling exploitation normal. When the powerful set the terms, the terms start to feel natural. 'Everyone does it'. 'That is just how money works'. The ayah refuses that comfort. The One who created wealth, and gave it, decides what may be done with it.

Is this arbitrary control? The commentators see mercy in it. A classical scholar describes the old ribā of the pre-Islamic Arabs. A debt fell due. 'Pay now, or it grows'. Each delay swelled it, until a hundred became thousands. Almost always, he notes, only the desperate agreed to it. The debt rose over the needy man until it swallowed everything he owned. The lender's wealth grew without bringing his brother any benefit. Forbidding this, he says, was from the mercy of the Most Merciful.

A classical commentator adds that Allah is more merciful to His servants than a mother to her infant. He permits what benefits them and forbids what harms them. He gains nothing either way. He is free of all need (35:15).

The four-figure rate in the window is legal in many places. The ayah asks a different question: is it fair before the One who owns the money?

The full entry has 7 more reflections, questions to sit with, and "Live it today" - with the words, the roots and the tafsir alongside. Free, no account, works offline.