RIBA- War with Allah and His Messenger

[ajr]

Is it not amazing that a Muslim will never eat pork because it is haram (unlawful); never marry his mother or sister because it is also haram, yet that same person has no problem devouring riba (e.g. interest, usury)? Did you know that engaging in riba is a major sin which could lead you to Hell?
...but whoever returns (to dealing in riba), such are the dwellers of the Fire they will abide therein.Quran 2:275 If dealing in riba is so punishable, why do many Muslims fall into this sin and take the issue so lightly?
The Meaning of Riba
Riba is an Arabic noun derived from the verb Raba, meaning to increase, to grow, and to exceed. It includes interest which is paid by banks or on loans such as car loans, home loans or credit card debt.
Proof that Riba is Haram
There are many proofs showing that riba is haram and one of the most serious sins in Islam!
For those with true faith in Allah and the Quran, this clear verse prohibiting riba is sufficient:
Allah has permitted trade and has forbidden riba.Quran 2:275 In the Quran, Allah does not declare war on anyone except those who deal in riba:
O you who believe, fear Allah and give up what remains of your demand for riba, if you are indeed believers. If you do it not, take notice of war from Allah and His Messenger.Quran 2:278-279 Would you like Allah, The Almighty, to wage war against you after He has made it abundantly clear that riba is haram?
The Prophet (peace be upon him) warned that consuming riba is one of the seven sins that doom a person to Hell. (Bukhari and Muslim)
Riba is haram in all of its aspects, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) said (Muslim), Allah has cursed the one who consumes riba, the one who gives it, the one who witnesses over it, and the one who writes down the transaction.
Do not be of those whom Allah has cursed!
Why is Riba Haram?
The first and foremost reason riba is haram is because Allah declared it so. It is based on Allahs infinite wisdom that He deems an action to be obligatory or prohibited, prescribing matters in mans best interests, in this life and in the Hereafter, as He is the All-Wise, All-Knowing. The scholars of Islam have suggested the following reasons as to why riba is haram:
Whole nations, dozens of them, large and small, have foreign debts so large that their riba payments on these debts are a crushing burden on the entire country. Debt kills. Some 11 million children die each year around the world due to conditions of poverty and debt. Former President Obasanjo, commented on the debt Nigeria faces:
All that we had borrowed up to 1985 or 1986 was around $5 billion and we have paid about $16 billion yet we are still being told that we owe about $28 billion. That $28 billion came about because of the injustice in the foreign creditors (lenders) interest rates.
If you ask me what is the worst thing in the world, I will say it is compound interest.
Riba conflicts with the spirit of brotherhood and sympathy, and is based on greed, selfishness and hard heartedness.
Riba is one of the major contributors towards inflation.
Riba causes trauma and depression due to mounting debts.
Riba is a sure gain without any possibility of loss, hence all the risk is taken by the borrower, rather than sharing the risk and the profits with both parties.
Riba creates a monopoly in society, where the rich are rewarded for being wealthy, while those who are not are forced to pay extra!
There is a common misconception amongst Muslims with regards to buying a first house using riba. Some claim that it is permissible, a necessity. The fact that one can easily rent a house instead of buying, disproves this claim. If the theory were true, would that then mean that drinking the first bottle of alcohol is permissible, even though water is available? Or eating pork when there is a permissible substitute? While it may be easy to fool others into believing this, we must remember that:
... Allah knows all that you reveal and all that you conceal.Quran 5:99
Paying rent in order to support oneself and their family is not wasted money. InshaAllah, Allah the Most Appreciative, will reward this like charity: When someone spends on his family seeking his reward for it from Allah, it is counted as a charity from him. (Bukhari and Muslim)
Success in this Life & the Hereafter
When examining this issue of riba, we should remember that true success lies with the help of Allah alone. If we abide by that which is lawful, and avoid that which is haram, our wealth will be blessed and beneficial in this world and the Hereafter. What good is extra money earned through riba if there is no blessing in it, and it is cursed - a source of misery?
On the Day of Resurrection, people will rise from their graves quickly, except those who engaged in riba. They will stand up and then fall down like epileptics because:
Those who consume riba cannot stand (on the Day of Resurrection) except as one stands who is being beaten by Satan into insanity. That is because they say, Trade is (just) like riba. But Allah has permitted trade and has forbidden riba...Quran 2:275
Such is the punishment for those who consume riba and do not sincerely repent from this great sin.
As for those who strive toward success by earning Allahs pleasure, they take comfort from the following verse:
O you who believe! Do not devour Riba (e.g. interest), making it double & redouble, and be careful of (your duty to) Allah, that you may be successful.Quran 3:130
We are also shown how to be successful in the Hereafter:
The only saying of the faithful believers when they are called to Allah (His Words- the Quran) and His Messenger, to judge between them, is that they say: We hear and we obey. And such are the successful (who will live forever in Paradise).Quran 24:51
Conclusion
None can doubt that riba is haram and a major sin, and no disobedience to Allah is worth the risk of His punishment. We must remember that the life of this world is short and fleeting, and that the purpose of our existence is not to lust after beauty and wealth, but rather to worship Allah correctly and live by His rules. Just because riba is widespread and common, it does not make it permissible.
And whosoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty), and will provide him sustenance from where he never even imagined. And whosoever puts his trust in Allah, Allah is sufficient for him.Quran 65:2-3

[saif-uddin]

Dealing in Riba earns one Sins equivalent to 36 x Zina

نعوذ بالله من ذلك

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “A dirham which a man consumes as riba knowingly is worse before Allaah than thirty-six acts of zina.” Narrated by Ahmad and al-Tabaraani; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani inSaheeh al-Jaami’, no. 3375.

And he said: “There are seventy-two types of riba, the least of which is like a man committing incest with his mother.” Narrated by al-Tabaraani in*al-Awsat; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in*Saheeh al-Jaami’, no. 3537.*

One of the Most Heinous/Filthy Sin,

Stay away from it brothers and sisters, for our own good.

جزاك الله خيرا