Have you ever acquired wealth through riba (usury) without knowing its forbidden status? Should you dispose of it, purify it, or give it in charity? Find the answers here.
Riba stands as one of the grave sins in Islam, something every Muslim should avoid. But what if someone has unintentionally earned wealth through riba without being aware of its prohibition? Should they discard it, purify it, or utilize it for personal gain?
Understanding Riba and Its Jurisprudence
In linguistic terms, riba signifies an increase or surplus. In Islamic jurisprudence, riba refers to the increment that has no rightful place in trade or lending transactions. Riba can be categorized into two types: riba fadhl and riba nasi'ah. Riba fadhl denotes the surplus that occurs in the exchange of similar commodities, including gold, silver, wheat, dates, salt, and barley, as mentioned in hadith. Riba nasi'ah, on the other hand, arises due to delayed payment or delivery of goods.
The law regarding riba is unequivocal; it is prohibited, whether one gives or receives it. Allah SWT states:
"O you who have believed, fear Allah and give up what remains [due to you] of interest if you should be believers. And if you do not, then be informed of a war [against you] from Allah and His Messenger. But if you repent, you may have your principal—[thus] you do no wrong, nor are you wronged." (Quran, Al-Baqarah: 278-279)
Unintentional Earnings of Riba
What about wealth acquired unknowingly through riba? For instance, someone works in a conventional bank based on interest, borrows money from a lender with interest, or sells goods at a higher price when installment payments are involved. Should such wealth be discarded, purified, given in charity, or can it be utilized for personal benefit?
- Prohibited and Must Be Given in Charity or Disposed
Scholars differ in their opinions on this matter. Some argue that wealth earned through riba, even unknowingly, remains forbidden and must be given to the poor without expecting reward. This opinion is based on the hadith:
Narrated by Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him): The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When one of you gets some of the money earned through riba, he should give it in charity." (Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, and Hakim, authenticated)
- Permissible for Personal Use
Others contend that wealth earned unknowingly through riba can be used for personal benefit, provided the person has repented and ceased involvement in riba-related transactions. This perspective is based on the Quranic verse:
"Allah has permitted trade and has forbidden interest. So whoever has received an admonition from his Lord and desists may have what is past, and his affair rests with Allah. But whoever returns to [dealing in interest or usury]—those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide eternally therein." (Quran, Al-Baqarah: 275)
This opinion is also supported by several fatwas from the Permanent Committee for Islamic Research and Issuing Fatwas and Sheikh Muhammad bin Saleh al-Uthaymeen.
Conclusion
Wealth earned unknowingly through riba can be used for personal benefit, provided that the individual has repented and ceased involvement in riba transactions. This aligns with Allah's guidance in Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 275.
However, if one chooses to give this wealth in charity, it is also acceptable, as long as they do not expect a reward for their charity. In essence, there is no obligation to dispose of or purify wealth earned unknowingly through riba.
We hope this article has been informative and broadened your understanding of the Islamic perspective on riba wealth. Thank you for reading. Wallahu a'lam (and Allah knows best).
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