USURY vs PROFIT

LIFE UNDER LOANS

Pakistan is a country that was created to enable its inhabitants to lead their life in accordance with the tenets of Islam. Islam has forbidden usury in the wording of the Qur'an and the prophet (pbuh) and by the unanimous decision of all the schools of Islam.

Allah (s.w.t) said O you, who believe, fear Allah and give up what remains of your demand of usury, you are indeed believers. If you do it not, take a notice of war from Allah and his messenger. But if you turn back (return to Allah) from usury, you shall have your capital sums, don't deal unjustly and you shall not be dealt unjustly.

As we notice from this verse Allah has declared a war on two kinds of people only (1) he who deals with usury (2) and he who harms Al-Mouhsen.

Allah (s.w.t) has forbidden usury because it is a financial profit or gain without any physical effort, and it creates animosity among one another, and it separates our society. Lenders are the ones who live a luxury life, very rich, and the loaner's work like animals all day long just to pay their debts.

As we all know, trade is the trading between merchandise and money but the usury is the money addition on loans.

Usury is forbidden in Christianity too (Luke, chapter 6, verses 34), loan your money, not awaiting usury, and then your reward is great. Germany prohibited its banks from charging usury between the two world wars (1920 - 1945)

Usury is forbidden in Judaism. According to verses 71 (if you lend money to the children of my people don't ask them to pay interest), and verses 35 (if your brother is in need don't ask any interest from him). Jewish people forbid usury among them, and deal with it among other people.

- Having an account in the bank: make sure that the interest that you earned on your account doesn't get to your pocket, in the same time don't leave it to the bank, it should be calculated and paid as a charity.

- Food stamps: one of the most obvious dealing with usury that some of us fell in it is buying food stamps for less than what it is worth, the dealer in this case is doing to forbidden acts: he is a sinner of usury, and he is eating the money of the poor people.

- Credit cards: if you pay the total on it in the end of the month you are save from committing a sin .If you don't pay the total by the end of the month then you are a sinner of usury.