Usury in the light of the Holy Quran and the Hadith

Usury (Sud in Urdu) is  expressly forbidden (Haraam).  The Holy Quran declares usury as forbidden in such severe terms as no other.  The Holy Quran does not have such strong condemnation for consuming alcohol, adultery, eating pork, etc. as it has for usury.  Allah Ta’ala says:

 

Surah Baqarah (2:278/279)

 

Allah Ta’ala also says:

 

Surah Baqarah (2:275)

 

It is given in Surah Al-Imran:

 

Surah Al Imran (3:130)

 

Many Hadith have very strong condemnations of usury.  As an example, some Hadith are being mentioned here:

 

Translation of Hadith: It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Jabir (May Allah be well pleased with him), he said that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) has cursed those22 who consume usury, those who give usury and those who write documents of usury and has said that these are all equal p partners in sin.  (Sahih Muslim,Hadith No. 2955; Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith No. 2268)

 

There is a Hadith in Musnad Imam Ahmed, Sunan Dara Qutni, Mishkaatul Masabeeh and Zujajatul Masabeeh:

 

Translation of Hadith: It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abdullah Bin Hanzlah, (the one whom the angels bathed) that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: Using 1 Dirham (or rupee) of usury with full knowledge about it (i.e. knowing fully that it is usury) is worse than committing adultery 36 times. (Musnad Imam Ahmed, Hadith No. 20951)

 

In Shu’abul Iman, these words are also recorded:

 

Translation of Hadith: The flesh is nourished with forbidden food is more suitable for hell only. (Shu’abul Iman, Hadith No. 5277)

 

There is a Hadith in Mishkaatul Masabeeh:

 

Translation of Hadith: The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: There are 70 degrees in usury and the least among them is like committing adultery with one’s own mother.  (Mishkaatul Masabeeh, Pg. No. 246)

 

All of us should have these verses of the Holy Quran and the blessed Hadith in mind, save ourselves from the usury and not be a partner in it in any way.

 

Mufti Syed Ziauddin Naqshbandi Qadri,

 

[Associate Professor, Islamic Law, Jamia Nizamia,

Founder/Director Abul Hasanaat Islamic Research Center]