Riba Definition Characteristics Social Impact
Riba Definition Characteristics Social Impact
Riba Definition Characteristics Social Impact
01 . De finition of Riba ?
The word “Riba” means excess, increase or addition, which correctly interpreted
according to Shariah terminology, implies any excess compensation without due
consideration.
Riba may be defined as any excess paid and received over and above the
principal, as a condition of loan for which no recompense or exchange value is
paid or received, and which tends to increase with the passage of time and is not
related with business result.
Interest originates from the latin word “Intiesed”.
Any pre-obligated addition to loan-principal is interest i.e. Riba Nasia. Islamic Shariah
prohibits interest on loan but permits rent on lease and also profit (ribh) on sales purchases.
It may be noted that interest is invariably associated with loan, in whatever form it may be
expressed.
02 . Types of Riba ?
(a) Riba An Nasiah is defined as excess, which results from predetermined interest
which a lender receives over an above the principal (Ras ul Maal)
(b) Riba Al Fadl is defined as excess compensation without any consideration
resulting from sale of goods. Riba Al-Fadl actually means that excess which is
taken in exchange of specific homogenous commodities and encountered in their
hand to hand purchase and sale. Gold, Silver, Dates, Wheat, Salt & Barley are
the six commodities can only be bought & sold in equal quantities and on spot.
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04. Prohibition of Riba in Islam:
Quranic injunctions:
(a) Sura Ar-Rum: Verse 39 (615 A.D.)
(b) Sura An-Nisa: Verse 160-161 (625-627 A.D.)
(c) Sura Ale-Imran: Verse 130 (631 A.D.)
(d) Sura Al-Bakara: Verse 275-279 (632-633 A.D.)
1st Revelation :
Su'ratur Rum : Verses 39, 5th year of Nabuwah, 615 A.D
" And whatever Riba you give so that it may increase in the wealth of the people, it
does not increase with Allah; but that which you give in Zakat seeking Allah's
countenance, then those they shall have increase”
2ND Revelation:
Su'ratun Nisa: Verses 160-61, Around Battle of Uhud
"For the inequity of the Jews we made unlawful for them certain (foods) goods and
where some of which had been lawful for them; And that they hindered many
from Allah's Way; And they took Riba, though they were forbidden; and that
they devoured men's substance wrongfully; we have prepared for the
disbelievers among them a grievous punishment."
3rd Revelation:
Su'rah Ale Imran : Verses 130-134 After Battle of Uhud.
"O you who believe! Eat not Riba doubled and multiplied; but fear Allah that you may
(really) prosper. And fear the fire, which is prepared for those who reject faith; And
obey Allah and the Messenger; That ye may obtain mercy. Be quick in the race for
forgiveness from your lord; And for a garden whose width Is that (of the whole)
of the heavens And of the earth, prepared for the righteous, - Those who spend
(freely), Where in prosperity, Or in adversity; who restrain anger, And pardon
(all) men;- For Allah loves those who do good.”
4t" Revelation:
Su'ratul Baqarah : Verses 275-281 : After conquest of Makkah
"Those who eat Riba will not stand except like the standing of a person whom the
Shaitan by his touch has driven to madness/insanity. That is because they say "Bai
is like Riba", but Allah has permitted Bai and forbidden Riba. Hence whosoever
receives this admonition from his lord and stops eating Riba may keep his previous
gain; his case is for Allah (to judge) . But whoever reverts to it, they are the
companions of the fire, they shall abide therein (forever)."
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06. Riba in Hadith:
(a) From Jabir (R): The Prophet (SM), may cursed the receiver and the
payer of interest, the one who records it and the two witnesses to the transaction and
said, “They are all alike [in guilt].” (Muslim, kitab al Musaqat Bab la’ni akili ar riba wa
mu’kilihi; also in Tirmidhi and Musnad Ahmed)
(b) The Prophet (SM) said, “Sell gold in exchange of equivalent gold, sell
silver in exchange of equivalent silver, sell dates in equivalent dates, sell wheat in
exchange of equivalent wheat, sell salt in exchange of equivalent salt, sell barley in
exchange of equivalent barley, but if a person transacts in excess, it will be usury (riba).
However, sell gold for silver anyway you please on the condition it is hand to hand
(spot) and sell barley for date anyway you please on the condition it is hand to hand
(spot).
(d) One Jew couldn’t take interest by lending money form another.
But taking interest was in practice by lending money to the people of other
religions.
(e) Some writers quoted from the book, “Talmud” that the Hebrew
Prophets forbade interest not only from Jews but from all. (Eric Roll, A history
of Economic Thought: Page 48).
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SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACT OF RIBA
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Difference between Interest & Profit
Interest Profit
1 Interest in forbidden. 1 Profit is permissible.
2 Interest is prefixed rate of return on 2 Profit is the end result of business
loan. (Buying & selling of commodities,
renting assets, giving services etc.)
3 Interest bears no risk of loss. 3 There is risk of loss in profit earning.
4 Interest is prefixed, certain and 4 Profit is not fixed & uncertain. Profit
interest rate never becomes zero. can be high or low or even negative.
5 Interest can be compounded in 5 Profit can be charged on
loan transactions and recovered commodities once only.
accordingly.
6 No effort is required to be given for 6 Capital, time & labor are required for
earning interest. earning profit.
7 There are two parties in loan 7 There requires three parties in
transactions – one is lender & the earning profit viz buyer, seller & the
other is borrower. producer.
8 No commodity or price of 8 Commodity or price of commodities
commodity is linked with interest is essential for earning profit.
transactions.
9 There is no exchange of 9 Profit is the exchange for
commodity for interest. commodity.
W ha t i s L oa n ?
Loan is present transfer of certain number or quantity of fungibles against promise of future retransfer,
of such fungibles with or without any addition. Hence, loan involves (i) fungible items of income or
wealth (ii) fixed obligation of the borrower and (iii) credit transactions.
Fungibles (n. pl.) are movable effects which are invariably consumed by use, and which are estimated
by weight, number and measure. Thus fungibles do not have repetitive use. Examples are money,
petrol etc.
Non-fungibles are the reverse of fungibles.
Examples are cars, machineries etc.
Fungibles cannot give any service to the transferee (borrower) if ownership is not transferred to him.
Non-fungibles can give service to the transferee (lessee) though the ownership in not transferred to him.
Hence fungibles are loanable and non-fungibles are leaseable.
Fungibles Non-Fungibles
Loanable / Qardable but not leasable Leaseable i.e. Ijarah with rent Ariyya on Gratis