Al-Muqaddimāt al-Mumahhidāt - Ibn Rush al-Jadd - (2/8)

Al-Muqaddimāt al-MumahhidātIbn Rush al-Jadd

and the one who witnesses it and the one who records it.” He said, “They are all alike.” Other evidence includes his prohibition of unequal exchanges of gold for gold and silver for silver, and of exchanging any of these on a deferred basis for something delivered immediately. There are many similar examples. As for consensus, it is necessarily known as part of the Muslim community’s religion that usury is prohibited in general, although scholars differ over its particular cases, the clarification of its rulings, and the specification of its conditions. These matters will be discussed in their respective places, Allah willing. Success comes through Allah, glorified and exalted is He, and He guides to the straightest path.

Section: The Meaning of Usury

The basic meaning of ribā is increase and addition. Of something that increases and grows, one says rabā, yarbū; of someone who exceeds another, one says arbā, yurbī, irbā’. Usury in the pre-Islamic period took the following form: one man owed another a debt, and when it fell due, the creditor would ask him, “Will you pay, or increase the debt?” If he paid, the creditor accepted payment; otherwise, he increased both the amount owed and the time allowed for repayment. Allah then revealed what He revealed concerning this. The person practising usury was thus called a murbī because of the additional amount he demanded on his debt in return for extending its term.

Section

Whoever regards usury as lawful is an unbeliever whose blood may lawfully be shed. He is called upon to repent; if he repents, he is spared, but otherwise he is put to death. Allah, Mighty and Majestic, says:

“But whoever returns—those are the companions of the Fire; they will remain therein forever.” [al-Baqarah: 275]

This means returning to usury while regarding it as lawful, because remaining in the Fire forever is a characteristic of unbelievers. He, Mighty and Majestic, also says:

“O you who believe, fear Allah and give up what remains of usury, if you are believers.” [al-Baqarah: 278]

“If you do not, then be informed of war from Allah and His Messenger.” [al-Baqarah: 279]

That is, if you do not do this, accept it, and acknowledge it, then be informed of war: know that Allah and His Messenger are at war with you because you are polytheists.

وشاهده وكاتبه»، وقال: هم سواء، ومن ذلك تحريمه التفاضل بين الذهبين والورقين. وأن لا يباع من ذلك شيء غائب بناجز، وما أشبه ذلك كثير. وأما الإجماع فمعلوم من دين الأمة ضرورة أن الربا محرم في الجملة وإن اختلفوا في تفصيل مسائله وتبيين أحكامه وتعيين شرائطه، على ما يأتي في مواضعه إن شاء الله، وبالله ﷾ التوفيق وهو الهادي إلى أقوم طريق. فصل في معنى الربا، وأصل الربا الزيادة والإضافة، يقال: ربا الشيء يربو: إذا زاد وعظم، وأربى فلان على فلان: إذا زاد عليه، يربي إرباء، وكان ربا الجاهلية أن يكون للرجل على الرجل الدين، فإذا حل قال له: أتقضي أم تربي؟ فإن قضاه أخذه، وإلا زاده في الحق وزاده في الأجل، فأنزل الله في ذلك ما أنزل، فقيل للمربي: مرب، للزيادة التي يستزيدها في دينه لتأخيره به إلى أجل. فصل فمن استحل الربا فهو كافر حلال الدم، يستتاب، فإن تاب وإلا قتل، قال الله ﷿: ﴿وَمَنْ عَادَ فَأُولَئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ﴾ [البقرة: ٢٧٥]، يريد: عاد إلى الربا باستحلاله، لأن الخلود في النار من صفات الكافرين. وقال ﷿: ﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَذَرُوا مَا بَقِيَ مِنَ الرِّبَا إِنْ كُنْتُمْ مُؤْمِنِينَ﴾ [البقرة: ٢٧٨] ﴿فَإِنْ لَمْ تَفْعَلُوا فَأْذَنُوا بِحَرْبٍ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ﴾ [البقرة: ٢٧٩]، أي إن لم تفعلوا وتقبلوا ذلك وتقروا به، فأذنوا بحرب؛ أي فاعلموا أنكم محاربون من الله ورسوله لأنكم مشركون.