QUR’ANIC REVELATIONS PRIOIR TO THE QUR’ANIC PROHIBITION OF RIBA
Perhaps the first revelation
to indirectly address the subject of riba is the very early Makkan
Surah entitled the Scandal-Monger (al-Humaza):
Woe to every
scandal-monger (i.e. each and every one of them. and also each and every form of
scandalous behavior); (Among the different types of scandal-mongers is) he who
amasses wealth and realizes its constant increase; (always increase and never
decrease); (or who counts on his wealth as a safeguard); He believes that his
wealth will last forever (i.e. that he will remain rich for as long as he
lives. In other words he feels that he has succeeded in blocking all avenues
through which anyone, including Allah can ever reduce his wealth or ever make
him poor. And that is precisely the ultimate objective of those who establish
and sustain the system of riba). (The alternative translation is: He believes
that his wealth will cause him to live forever).
By no means (will his
wealth save him)! He will surely be thrown into al-hutamah (i.e. that which
will smash him to bits). And what will explain to you al-hutamah? (It is) the
fire of Allah s (anger) which has been kindled (to a blaze). (A fire) which
ascends to the very heart. It shall surely he over them like a vault rising in
columns outstretched. (They will choke and suffocate in that terrible fin).
(Qur’an: al-Humazah: -104:1-8)
This Surah of the Qur’an
revealed a form of scandalous and sinful behavior which plotted Allah's anger.
He is al-razzaq (the One who provides). And He has provided adequately
for the needs of all:
And We have provided therein
(i.e. like earth) means of subsistence - for you and for those for whom you
provide not.
(Qur’an: al-Hijr.-15:20)
And Allah ordained in
due proportion therein (i.e. the earth) the sustenance thereof (for the purpose
of fulfilling the requirements of its inhabitants) in four days, equal for
those who seek (to fulfill their needs).
(Qur’an: al-Fussilat -41:10)
And there is not a
single living creature on earth but that Allah is responsible for its
livelihood
(Qur’an: Hud 11:6)
Allah the Most High,
allocated the wealth of the world amongst mankind but ordained that each must
labor to earn that which has been allocated to him;
And man can have
nothing except that for which he strives (through labor). . .
(Qur’an: an-Najm: 53:39)
And that his (man’s)
effort (i.e. his striving through labor) will be seen, then he will be repaid for
it with fullest payment.
(Qur’an: an-Najm; 53:40-41)
In no less than ten verses
of the Qur’an Allah the Most High, declared His capacity to increase, or he
strict in measure, in respect of the wealth or sustenance. He saw fit to provide
mankind; Allah increases, or is strict in measure, in respect of the sustenance
He provides to whomsoever He wishes ...
(Qur’an: al-Ra’ad:-13:26.
See also 2:240, 17:30, 28:82, 29:62 30:37, 34:36, 34:39, 39:52, 42:12)
See also 2:240, 17:30, 28:82, 29:62 30:37, 34:36, 34:39, 39:52, 42:12)
If we spend in charity, for
example, He not only returns loans that which we spent, but also multiplies the
return (Qur’an: al-Rum 30:39).
But some people are not
prepared to accept the fact that rizq is allocated by Allah the Most
High. Their love of wealth is great indeed. They devote their lives and efforts
exclusively to the accumulation of wealth and to its continuous augmentation.
They get rich and then grow constantly richer. They get rich in such a way that
convinces them that they will remain permanently rich. Their method of
accumulating wealth, therefore constitutes an attempt to take over from Allah
the Most High, His function of the allocation of rizq and to nullify His
capacity to redistribute wealth. They seek and obtain not only that wealth
which Allah the Most High, has allocated to them, but also that which has been
allocated to others. Since they get more than the share of wealth which Allah the
Most High, has provided for them, the implication is that it has been obtained
by unlawful means. Whether it was obtained by theft or legalized theft or
deception or any other such means, it was obtained unlawfully! And that is riba
unlawfully acquired wealth.
Allah the Most High,
denounced such people and their ill-gotten wealth. Their resort to foul means
results in terrible punishment as Allah's fire rises in columns unto their
hearts. Externally such people may appear because of their wealth, to live in
heaven itself. But internally their life is hell itself!
In another very early Makkan
Surah al-Tatfir (dealing in fraud), Allah the Most High, exposed that riba
which takes place in the form of one of the most-common place methods of
unlawfully acquiring wealth, i.e. common theft by deception:
Woe to those that
deal in fraud; Those who, when they have to receive by measure from men exact
full measure; But when they have to give by measure or weight to men give less
than due ... Do they not think that they will be called to account (for their
theft)?
(Qur’an: al-Mutaffifeen :- 83:1-3)
What these first revelations
did was to both educate and to warn such people! The divine method thus taught
the lesson that without knowledge and education concerning that which is evil,
it is not possible to eradicate evil. In other words, if a people are immersed
in an evil, then the way to extricate them from that evil would he to commence
the process by teaching them that it was evil, and then warning them of the
severe punishment Allah the Most High, will give to those who commit such evil
deeds. Allah the Most High, delivers that warning time and again in the Qur’an:
And spend (of your
wealth} in the cause of Allah, and do not allow your own hands to contribute to
your destruction. But do good, Allah loves those who do good.
(Qur’an al-Baqarah:-2:195)
And how many a
community have We (Allah) destroyed that became reckless in respect of (its structure
of) livelihood. Now those habitation of theirs, after their destruction are so
deserted that only a few inhabitants are left. And We are certainly the heirs!
(Qur’an: al-Qasas:- 28:58)
The Qur’an makes specific
reference to Qarun (Korah) who was wicked in respect of his attitude to wealth.
Allah the Most High, punished him by having the earth swallow him and his
wealth:
Qarun was doubtless, of the
people of Moses: but he acted insolently towards them: Such were the treasures
We had bestowed on him, that their very keys would have been a burden to a body
of Strong men. Behold, his people said to him: Exult not, for Allah loveth not
those who exult (in riches). But seek, with (the wealth) which Allah has
bestowed on thee, the Home of the Hereafter, nor forget thy portion in this
world: but do thou good, as Allah has been good to thee and seek not (occasions
for) mischief in the land: for Allah loves not those who do mischief.
He said: This has been given to me because of a certain knowledge which I have. Did he not know that Allah had destroyed before him (whole) generations which were superior to him in strength and greater in the amount (of riches) they had collected? But the wicked are not called (immediately) to account for their sins. So he went forth among his people in the (pride of his worldly) glitter.
Said those whose aim is the Life of this World: Oh! that we had the like of what Qarun has got! He is truly a Lord of mighty good fortune! But those who had been granted (true) knowledge said: Alas for you! The reward of Allah (in the Hereafter) is best for those who believe and work righteousness: but this none shall attain, save those who steadfastly persevere (in good). Then, We caused the earth to swallow up him and his house: and he had not (the least little) party to help him against Allah, nor could he defend himself
He said: This has been given to me because of a certain knowledge which I have. Did he not know that Allah had destroyed before him (whole) generations which were superior to him in strength and greater in the amount (of riches) they had collected? But the wicked are not called (immediately) to account for their sins. So he went forth among his people in the (pride of his worldly) glitter.
Said those whose aim is the Life of this World: Oh! that we had the like of what Qarun has got! He is truly a Lord of mighty good fortune! But those who had been granted (true) knowledge said: Alas for you! The reward of Allah (in the Hereafter) is best for those who believe and work righteousness: but this none shall attain, save those who steadfastly persevere (in good). Then, We caused the earth to swallow up him and his house: and he had not (the least little) party to help him against Allah, nor could he defend himself
(Qur’an: al-Qasas:-28:76-81)
The Qur’an singles out the
Jews for special mention as a people who commit this sin:
(They are fond of)
listening to falsehood (and) of devouring ill-gotten wealth (obtained through
the exploitation of others)...
(Qur’an: al-Mai’dah:-5:45)
And thou shalt see
many of them (Jews), hastening towards sin and transgression and their
devouring of ill-gotten wealth (obtained through the exploitation of others).
Vile indeed are the things that they do
(Qur’an: al-Mai’dah:-5:65)
goes on to question: why do
the rabbis not do something about it?
Why do the Rabbis and
the Doctors of Law not forbid them from their habit of uttering sinful words
and consuming ill-gotten wealth (obtained through the exploitation of others)?
Evil indeed are their works.
(Qur’an: al-Mai'dah -5.66)
to be continued . . . .
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