or a horse or camel strays, its owner sells it as a gamble, and the buyer purchases it for far less than its value. If the buyer obtains it, the seller says, “You have won this gamble against me and taken my property for a paltry price.” If he does not obtain it, the buyer says, “You have won this gamble against me and taken my money without giving me anything in return.” This leads to the harm caused by gambling: sowing enmity and hatred, alongside wrongfully consuming wealth, which is a form of injustice. Thus, sales involving uncertainty entail injustice, enmity and hatred.

Among the forms of uncertainty prohibited by the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, are habal al-habalah, malāqīh and madāmīn sales; selling the produce of future years; selling fruit before it shows signs of ripeness; sales concluded by touching or tossing an item; and similar transactions. All these are forms of uncertainty.

As for interest, the Quran prohibits it in even stronger terms. Thus Allah Most High says:

“O you who believe, fear Allah and give up what remains of interest, if you are believers.”

“If you do not, then be warned of war from Allah and His Messenger.”

The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, also counted it among the major sins, as al-Bukhārī and Muslim both narrated in their Sahīh collections from Abū Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him. Allah stated that He forbade the Jews certain wholesome things previously permitted to them because of their wrongdoing, their barring others from Allah’s path, their taking interest, and their wrongfully consuming people’s wealth. He, glorified be He, also declared that He brings interest to nothing, just as He makes charity grow. Both are borne out by people’s experience.