(Usury Prohibited*)
Those who charge usury are in the same position as those controlled by the devil’s influence. This is because they claim that usury is the same as commerce. However, God permits commerce, and prohibits usury. Thus, whoever heeds this commandment from his Lord, and refrains from usury, he may keep his past earnings, and his judgment rests with God. As for those who persist in usury, they incur Hell, wherein they abide forever.
الَّذينَ يَأكُلونَ الرِّبوٰا۟ لا يَقومونَ إِلّا كَما يَقومُ الَّذى يَتَخَبَّطُهُ الشَّيطٰنُ مِنَ المَسِّ ذٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُم قالوا إِنَّمَا البَيعُ مِثلُ الرِّبوٰا۟ وَأَحَلَّ اللَّهُ البَيعَ وَحَرَّمَ الرِّبوٰا۟ فَمَن جاءَهُ مَوعِظَةٌ مِن رَبِّهِ فَانتَهىٰ فَلَهُ ما سَلَفَ وَأَمرُهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَمَن عادَ فَأُولٰئِكَ أَصحٰبُ النّارِ هُم فيها خٰلِدونَ
allazeena yaakuloonar ribaa laa yaqoomoona illaa kamaa yaqoomul lazee yatakhabbatuhush shaitaanu minal mass; zaalika bi annahum qaalooo innamal bai’u mislur ribaa; wa ahallal laahul bai’a wa harramar ribaa; faman jaaa’ahoo maw’izatum mir rabbihee fantahaa falahoo maa salafa wa amruhooo ilal laahi wa man ‘aada fa ulaaa ‘ika Ashaabun naari hum feehaa khaalidoon
*2:275-278 It is an established economic principle that excessive interest on loans can utterly destroy a whole country. During the last few years we have witnessed the devastation of the economies of many nations where excessive interest is charged. Normal interest – less than 20% – where no one is victimized and everyone is satisfied, is not usury.