Qur'anic revelations prior to the Qur'anic prohibition of riba

THE PROHIBITION OF RIBA IN THE QUR’AN AND SUNNAH

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)

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

(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)

Source: IMRAN N. HOSEIN

to be continued . . . . 

The Prohibition of Riba (Interest) by Imran Hosein

The Prohibition of Riba (Interest) (Q&A) by Imran Hosein