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ISLAMIC ETHICS:
Charity, No Usury
Abdullatif Aljibury, Phd.
Danville, California
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God, throughout the Quran stresses the principle that mere compliance with outward forms and rituals does not fulfil the requirements of
piety.
God has, in His infinite wisdom, ordered that the believer spends and shares that which he values most out of his own possession with others. Firstly, we notice that the lawful
tax, Zakat, always comes mentioned in the Quran in conjunction with prayers. The sharing is not limited to material possessions, but to any form of giving that the believer is
capable of. This includes, (but not limited to) the individual's ability to serve by means of volunteer work, teaching, writing, research, social work, and caring for the
environment. These are all charitable acts even if the individual is short on material wealth.
It is worth noting that the Quran does not limit the giving of charities to the followers of the faith only but makes it abundantly clear that it be disbursed upon all who need
them irrespective of their faith or belief.. Charity must be exercised solely as an inner conviction and practiced solely for the sake of God. Charity must never be thought of as a
means of attracting non Muslims to convert to the faith nor shall it be used as an instrument to discriminate against those who do not hold to the faith: 2:256 “THERE SHALL BE no
coercion in matters of faith..”
Holy Quran:
Code of Ethics #61:
Be Charitable and moderate in your generosity
Quran 2:2-3
ذَٰلِكَ
الْكِتَابُ لَا رَيْبَ ۛ فِيهِ ۛ هُدًى لِلْمُتَّقِينَ
الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْغَيْبِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنْفِقُونَ |
This is the Book,
let there be no doubt about it, is a guidance for all the God-conscious who believe in [the existence of] that which is beyond the reach of human perception,
and are constant in prayer, and spend on others out of what We provide for them as sustenance |
Quran 2:254
يَا أَيُّهَا
الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَنْفِقُوا مِمَّا رَزَقْنَاكُمْ مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ يَأْتِيَ يَوْمٌ لَا بَيْعٌ فِيهِ وَلَا خُلَّةٌ وَلَا شَفَاعَةٌ ۗ وَالْكَافِرُونَ هُمُ الظَّالِمُونَ |
O you
who believe! Spend out of the bounties We have provided for you, before the Day comes when no bargaining (will avail), nor friendship nor intercession. Those who reject Faith
they are the wrong-doers. |
Quran 2: 261
مَثَلُ الَّذِينَ
يُنْفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ حَبَّةٍ أَنْبَتَتْ سَبْعَ سَنَابِلَ فِي كُلِّ سُنْبُلَةٍ مِائَةُ حَبَّةٍ ۗ وَاللَّهُ يُضَاعِفُ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ ۗ وَاللَّهُ
وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ |
The
parable of those who spend their substance in the way of Allah is that of a grain of corn:
it groweth seven ears, and each ear Has a hundred grains.
God gives manifold increase to whom He pleases: And God cares for all and He knows all things. |
Quran 2: 272
لَيْسَ عَلَيْكَ
هُدَاهُمْ وَلَٰكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَهْدِي مَنْ يَشَاءُ ۗ وَمَا تُنْفِقُوا مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَلِأَنْفُسِكُمْ ۚ وَمَا تُنْفِقُونَ إِلَّا ابْتِغَاءَ وَجْهِ اللَّهِ ۚ وَمَا تُنْفِقُوا مِنْ
خَيْرٍ يُوَفَّ إِلَيْكُمْ وَأَنْتُمْ لَا تُظْلَمُونَ |
It is not for
thee [O Prophet] to make people follow the right path, since it is God [alone] who guides whom He wills.
And whatever good you may spend on others is for your own good, provided that you spend only out of a longing for God's countenance: for, whatever good you may spend will be
repaid unto you in full, and you shall not be wronged. |
Quran 2: 274
الَّذِينَ
يُنْفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُمْ بِاللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ سِرًّا وَعَلَانِيَةً فَلَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ
وَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ |
Those
who (in charity) spend of their goods by night and by day, in secret and in public, have their reward with their Lord:
on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve. |
Quran 3:92
لَنْ تَنَالُوا
الْبِرَّ حَتَّىٰ تُنْفِقُوا مِمَّا تُحِبُّونَ ۚ وَمَا تُنْفِقُوا مِنْ شَيْءٍ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ بِهِ عَلِيمٌ |
By no means
shall you attain righteousness unless you give (freely) of that which you love; and whatever you give, of a truth God knows it well. |
Quran 3: 134
الَّذِينَ
يُنْفِقُونَ فِي السَّرَّاءِ وَالضَّرَّاءِ وَالْكَاظِمِينَ الْغَيْظَ وَالْعَافِينَ عَنِ النَّاسِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ |
Those
who spend freely, whether in prosperity, or in adversity; who restrain anger, and pardon (all) men;- for God loves those who do good;- |
Holy Quran:
Code of Ethics #62:
Do not be niggardly
Quran 3:180
وَلَا يَحْسَبَنَّ
الَّذِينَ يَبْخَلُونَ بِمَا آتَاهُمُ اللَّهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ هُوَ خَيْرًا لَهُمْ ۖ بَلْ هُوَ شَرٌّ لَهُمْ ۖ
سَيُطَوَّقُونَ مَا بَخِلُوا بِهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ۗ
وَلِلَّهِ مِيرَاثُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ |
They who
niggardly cling to all that God has granted them out of His bounty should not think that it is good for them:
Nay, it will be the worse for them: soon shall the things which they covetously withheld be tied to their necks Like a twisted collar,
on the Day of Judgment. To Allah belongs the heritage
of the heavens and the earth; and God is well-acquainted with all that ye do. |
Quran 17:29
وَلَا تَجْعَلْ
يَدَكَ مَغْلُولَةً إِلَىٰ عُنُقِكَ وَلَا تَبْسُطْهَا كُلَّ الْبَسْطِ فَتَقْعُدَ مَلُومًا مَحْسُورًا |
Make not thy
hand tied (like a niggard's) to thy neck, nor stretch it forth to its utmost reach, so that thou become blameworthy and destitute. |
Quran 25:67
وَالَّذِينَ إِذَا
أَنْفَقُوا لَمْ يُسْرِفُوا وَلَمْ يَقْتُرُوا وَكَانَ بَيْنَ ذَٰلِكَ قَوَامًا |
Those who, when
they spend, are not extravagant and not niggardly, but hold a just balance between those extremes; |
Quran: 47:38
هَا أَنْتُمْ
هَٰؤُلَاءِ تُدْعَوْنَ لِتُنْفِقُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ
فَمِنْكُمْ مَنْ يَبْخَلُ ۖ وَمَنْ يَبْخَلْ فَإِنَّمَا يَبْخَلُ عَنْ نَفْسِهِ ۚ وَاللَّهُ الْغَنِيُّ وَأَنْتُمُ الْفُقَرَاءُ ۚ
وَإِنْ تَتَوَلَّوْا يَسْتَبْدِلْ قَوْمًا
غَيْرَكُمْ ثُمَّ لَا يَكُونُوا أَمْثَالَكُمْ |
Behold, you are
thus invited to spend of your substance in the Way of God:
But among you are some that are niggardly. But any who are niggardly are so at the expense of their own souls. But God is free of all wants, and it is you that are needy.
If ye turn back (from the Path), He will substitute in your stead another people; then they would not be like you! |
Quran: 92:8-10
وَأَمَّا مَنْ
بَخِلَ وَاسْتَغْنَىٰ
وَكَذَّبَ بِالْحُسْنَىٰ
فَسَنُيَسِّرُهُ لِلْعُسْرَىٰ |
But he who is a greedy
miser and thinks himself self-sufficient,
And and calls the ultimate good a lie ,-
We will indeed make smooth for him the path to Misery; |
Holy Quran:
Code of Ethics #63:
Shun extravagance and wastefulness.
Quran: 6:141
وَهُوَ الَّذِي
أَنْشَأَ جَنَّاتٍ مَعْرُوشَاتٍ وَغَيْرَ مَعْرُوشَاتٍ وَالنَّخْلَ وَالزَّرْعَ مُخْتَلِفًا أُكُلُهُ وَالزَّيْتُونَ وَالرُّمَّانَ مُتَشَابِهًا وَغَيْرَ مُتَشَابِهٍ ۚ كُلُوا مِنْ
ثَمَرِهِ إِذَا أَثْمَرَ وَآتُوا حَقَّهُ يَوْمَ حَصَادِهِ ۖ وَلَا تُسْرِفُوا ۚ إِنَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُسْرِفِينَ |
It is He Who
produceth gardens, with trellises and without, and dates, and tilth with produce of all kinds, and olives and pomegranates, similar (in kind) and different (in variety): eat of
their fruit in their season, but render the dues that are proper on the day that the harvest is gathered. But waste not by excess: for God loves not the wasters. |
Quran: 7:31
يَا بَنِي آدَمَ
خُذُوا زِينَتَكُمْ عِنْدَ كُلِّ مَسْجِدٍ وَكُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا
وَلَا تُسْرِفُوا ۚ إِنَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُسْرِفِينَ |
O Children of
Adam! wear your beautiful apparel at every time and place of prayer: eat and drink:
But waste not by excess, for God loves not the wasteful. |
Quran: 17:26-27
وَآتِ ذَا
الْقُرْبَىٰ حَقَّهُ وَالْمِسْكِينَ وَابْنَ السَّبِيلِ وَلَا تُبَذِّرْ تَبْذِيرًا
إِنَّ الْمُبَذِّرِينَ كَانُوا إِخْوَانَ الشَّيَاطِينِ ۖ وَكَانَ الشَّيْطَانُ لِرَبِّهِ كَفُورًا
وَالَّذِينَ إِذَا أَنْفَقُوا لَمْ يُسْرِفُوا وَلَمْ يَقْتُرُوا وَكَانَ بَيْنَ ذَٰلِكَ قَوَامًا |
And render to
the kindred their due rights, as also to those in want, and to the wayfarer: But squander not your wealth in the manner of a spendthrift.
Verily spendthrifts are alike to the Evil Ones; and the Evil One is to his Lord (himself) ungrateful
Those who, when they spend, are not extravagant and not niggardly, but hold a just balance between those extremes; |
Holy Quran:
Code of Ethics #64:
Refrain from Usury
Quran: 2:275-276
الَّذِينَ
يَأْكُلُونَ الرِّبَا لَا يَقُومُونَ إِلَّا كَمَا يَقُومُ الَّذِي يَتَخَبَّطُهُ الشَّيْطَانُ مِنَ الْمَسِّ ۚ
ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَالُوا إِنَّمَا الْبَيْعُ مِثْلُ الرِّبَا ۗ وَأَحَلَّ اللَّهُ
الْبَيْعَ وَحَرَّمَ الرِّبَا ۚ
فَمَنْ جَاءَهُ مَوْعِظَةٌ مِنْ رَبِّهِ فَانْتَهَىٰ فَلَهُ مَا سَلَفَ وَأَمْرُهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ ۖ وَمَنْ عَادَ فَأُولَٰئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ
يَمْحَقُ اللَّهُ الرِّبَا وَيُرْبِي الصَّدَقَاتِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ كَفَّارٍ أَثِيمٍ |
Those who
devour usury will not stand except as stand one whom the Evil one by his touch Hath driven to madness.
That is because they say: "Trade is like usury," but God has permitted trade and forbidden usury.
Those who after receiving direction from their Lord, desist, shall be pardoned for the past; their case is for God (to judge); but
those who repeat (The offence) are companions of the Fire: They will abide therein (for ever).
God will deprive usury of all blessing, but will give increase for deeds of charity: For He loveth not creatures ungrateful and wicked. |
Quran: 3:130
يَا أَيُّهَا
الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَأْكُلُوا الرِّبَا أَضْعَافًا مُضَاعَفَةً ۖ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ |
O you who
believe! Devour not usury, doubled and multiplied; but fear God; that you may prosper. |
Quran: 30:39
وَمَا آتَيْتُمْ
مِنْ رِبًا لِيَرْبُوَ فِي أَمْوَالِ النَّاسِ فَلَا يَرْبُو عِنْدَ اللَّهِ ۖ
وَمَا آتَيْتُمْ مِنْ زَكَاةٍ تُرِيدُونَ وَجْهَ اللَّهِ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُضْعِفُونَ |
And [remember:]
whatever you may give out in usury so that it might increase through [other] people's possessions will bring [you] no increase in the sight of God -
whereas all that you give out in charity, seeking God's countenance, (will be blessed by Him: for it is they, (who thus seek His
countenance] that shall have their recompense multiplied! |
The term for usury appears in the Quran as “Riba” which means an unlawful addition, by way of interest, to a
sum of money or goods lent by one person or body of persons to another.
Thus, the unlawful addition with profits obtained through a contracted loan at a rate of interest is unacceptable especially if the
economic motivation of the loan is to extract addition to the “value” of the loaned money,with due consideration to the fluctuation and change in the real value of money over the
time of the contract, without any risk taken by the lender.
The Quran condemns riba and those who practice it, especially when viewed against the background of mankind's economic experiences during
the centuries.
A sufficiently clear indication of its nature and its social as well as moral implications obtained through the case of an
interest-bearing loan involving an exploitation of the economically weak by the strong and the well to do individuals or groups of individuals:
an exploitation characterized by the fact that the lender, while retaining full ownership of the capital loaned remains contractualJy
assured of gain irrespective of any losses which the borrower may suffer in conseqence of this transaction.
With this definition in mind, we realize that the question as to what kinds of financial transactions fall within the category of riba
is, in the last resort, a moral one, closely connected with the socio-economic motivation underlying the mutual relationship of borrower and lender; and, stated in purely economic
terms, it is a question as to how profits and risks may be equitably shared by both partners to a loan transaction.
The answer as to what is Riba and what is not Riba must necessarily vary in accordance with the changes to which man's social and technological
development - and, thus, his economic environment. Hence, while the Quranic condemnation of the concept and practice of riba is unequivocal and final, the Muslim scholars are faced
with the challenge of giving new dimensions and a fresh economic meaning to this term which, for want of a better word, may be rendered as "usury”, which is understood to mean the
increase of one's own wealth by exploiting other people's possessions.
