CHAPTER
THREE
THE
PROHIBITION OF RIBA IN THE QUR’AN
The Divine wisdom established,
through the process of the gradual revelation of the Qur’an, a stage-by-stage
method for dealing with the subject of the prohibition of riba.
It consisted of three distinct stages:
Stage 1 - Education
concerning the evil of riba, but with no legislation prohibiting riba;
the language which is used is mild, not fearsome and its basic purpose is to
teach;
Stage 2 - Legislation
prohibiting riba while yet refraining from a retro-active
enforcement of the legislation; - process of education also continued; the
language which is now used is more graphic, - the believers are expected to be
able to recognize the rip off that is riba;
Stage 3 - Retro-active
enforcement of the legislation prohibiting riba;
- Sanction for waging war to
eradicate riba;
- Debt relief;
- Process of education
continued
In fact there was much
similarity between this and the divine method employed for prohibiting the
consumption of intoxicants, for prohibiting gambling and for dealing with the
institution of slavery. As a consequence, a study of the methods employed in
the Qur’an for prohibiting intoxicants and gambling, and for dealing with
slavery, would yield very useful knowledge for an understanding, of the method
used by the Qur’an for the prohibition and eradication of riba.
It is important that the
Islamic Movement pay serious attention to this stage-by-stage divine method of
dealing with riba. If Pakistan were to embark on an effort to eradicate riba
from the economy, the effort would easily end in failure if it does not commence
with a massive campaign of skillfully designed public education.
to be continued . . . .
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