Rule about Unlawful Interest

The sin of receiving one dirham of [unlawful] interest is more serious than having seventy carnal relations with one’s mahrams."

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said, ‘One who consumes Riba’, one who feeds Riba ’ and one who documents it, are all the same (in committing this sins).”’

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who consumes Riba ’ and he considers it lawful. He (the Imam) replied, ‘It does not harm him as long as he does not consume it knowing that it is unlawful, in which case he will face the condition of one who is mentioned in the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Any kind of Riba ’ people have consumed in ignorance then repented, such repentance is accepted if such repentance is found in them.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘If a man inherits goods, from his father and knows that there is Riba ’ in it but is mixed in trade with other lawful goods it is lawful and clean for him and he has permission to consume such properties. If however, he comes to know the Riba ’ item, he then must separate his capital and return the Riba’ property. If one earns a great deal of property in which there is a great deal of Riba’ but does not know such property exactly and afterwards comes to know it and wants to remove it, what is passed is for him but he must stay away from Riba ’ in coming times.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that once a man came to my father and said, ‘I have inherited a certain amount of property and I knew the owner from whom I inherited received Raba’ and I know with certainty there is Riba’ in it and I do not feel happy to consume it because of my knowledge about it. I asked the scholars of law of Iraq about it and they said, ‘It is not lawful to consume it.’ Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), said, ‘If you know exactly Riba’ property in it and you know the owner also, you must separate it and return to the owner. If it is mixed you can consume it in good health and pleasure. It is your property but you must stay away from what the previous owner would do. The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, granted relief to what is passed and prohibited from Riba ’ in coming times. If one is ignorant he is exempt, until he comes to know of the unlawfulness of Riba Once a person learns that Riba ’ is unlawful and punishment becomes necessary if one consumes Riba’ just as it (punishment) is necessary for one who has consumed Riba’.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Riba’ is of two kinds: One kind is that which is consumed and the other kind is not consumed. The gift that one presents to someone in order to receive Thawab (rewards from Allah) is better. Of this kind is the Riba’ which is consumed as it is mentioned in the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ’The Riba’ in which you are involved so it increases in people’s property does not increase before Allah.’ (30:38) The other kind of Riba’ is that which Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has prohibited and has warned those involved in it with punishment in the fire.”

“I once said to abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘I have noticed that Allah, most High, has mentioned Riba’ in more than one passages of the Holy Quran. He (the Imam) asked, ’Do you know why He has done so?’ I (the narrator) replied, ’No, I do not know.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is because He wants people not to deny performing good and benevolent deeds.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has prohibited receiving Riba’ so that people do not deny acts of benevolence and compassion.”

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who received Riba’ in ignorance, then he wanted to stay away from Riba’. He (the Imam) said ’What is passed is for him and he must stay away in the coming times.’ He (the Imam) then said, ’Once a man visited abu Ja’far (a.s.), and said, “I have inherited a certain amount of property and noticed that the owner of that property was involved in Riba’. I asked the scholars of law of Iraq and Hijaz and they said that consuming it is not lawful.” Abu Ja’far (a.s.), said, “If you know the Riba’ item distinctly and know the owners of such property, you must return it to them, if you know it is Riba’, take away your capital and leave the rest. If the property is mixed, you can consume them in good health and with pleasure; the property is your property and stay away from what your companion was involved in. The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, exempted what had passed of Riba’. One who is ignorant is exempt and is allowed to consume such property. Once he comes to know then it becomes unlawful for him to consume. If he consumes after knowing, it becomes necessary on him what has become necessary on one who consumes Riba’.’””

“I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘Riba’ comes in existence only in what is measured or is weighed.”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), was informed about a man who consumed Riba ’ and called it fresh milk. Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), said, ‘Had Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, made it possible for me I most certainly would strike his neck.’”

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘The filthiest earning is earning by means of Riba , . ,,,