Fear Allah and give up usury

These verses from Surah Al-Baqarah stress the importance of avoiding usury, which is the practice of charging excessive interest on loans. Allah urges those who believe to fear Him and to forsake interest entirely, confirming their faith. The warning given is very severe, threatening war from Allah and His Messenger (PBUH) to those who persist in dealing with interest. To understand why this rule is important, we look at the guidance from Tafsir Ibn Kathir and other authentic sources. Usury, or riba, is considered exploitative and unjust because it benefits the lender disproportionately at the expense of the borrower, increasing their hardship. Islam encourages fairness and mutual benefit in financial dealings. By avoiding usury, we are fostering a community based on fairness and support rather than one that preys on the financially vulnerable. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) also warned against usury, explaining its destructive nature. In a Hadith from Sahih Muslim, it is said that the consumption of riba can lead to severe consequences and social instability. Thus, the prohibition of usury in Islam is not only a personal act of piety but also a means to achieve economic justice and community well-being. Understanding this helps us to appreciate the wisdom in following this directive from Allah.