Theme: The Dangers and Prohibitions of Riba

The Prophet (ﷺ) said:

“There is no one that will have more (gain/increase in wealth) from Riba dealings except that the person will end up with less (despair/decrease in wealth).”

– Narrated by Ibn Mas’ud رضي الله عنهما
(Source: Ibn Majah, No.2279)

In the hadith, the Prophet (ﷺ) reiterates Allah’s sayings in Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 226: “Allah will deprive Riba of all blessing, but will give increase for deeds of charity; For He loveth not creatures ungrateful and wicked”.

Both the hadith and the verse signify that wealth through Riba dealings is only a materialistic value, which is void of Allah’s blessings and shall cause agony to all those associated with it in the hereafter.

Imam Ghazali in his book, titled “Ihya’ Ulum al-Din” (Revival of Religious Sciences), mentions that: “there is no reason to the perpetual act of sin.. except for negligence and desire, and there is no (way) opposing negligence. except knowledge, and there is no (way) opposing desire.. except patience in stopping the means for the desire”. He then further mentioned several ways to break one’s act of sin, and one is to remember what the Quran and Hadiths have injuncted and warned on the danger and punishment of those sinful acts.