Allah—exalted is He—says, “Indeed, those who persecute the believing men and believing women and then do not repent…” (85:10). Even while they are burning His devoted servants, He still opens the door of repentance for them, for He loves those who turn back to Him. “But if they do not repent, for them is the punishment of Hell, and for them is the torment of the Blaze” (85:10). We ask Allah to grant repentance to us and to you.

He also says, “So whoever receives an admonition from his Lord and desists may keep what is past, and his affair rests with Allah; but whoever returns to it…”—after the ruling has been made clear to him—“…such are the people of the Fire; they will abide therein forever” (2:275).

That is their punishment in the Hereafter. As for the punishment in this world, Allah says, “Allah obliterates usury” (2:276). He destroys it, and that destruction is of two kinds.

1. A tangible destruction: Allah may unleash upon a person’s wealth a calamity that consumes it. He himself may fall ill and have to spend on medicine and treatment; his family may become sick; his property may be stolen; or his goods may burn. Such is the worldly punishment—“Allah obliterates usury.”

2. An intangible eradication: A man may stash his wealth in bags, yet he lives like a pauper and derives no benefit from it. Can anyone truly say that such a person possesses riches? Never. He is worse off than one who is poor, for his money lies idle in sacks, kept only for his heirs while he himself gains nothing from it. This, then, is an intangible obliteration—“Allah obliterates usury.”

We ask Allah to grant us and you the admonition that revives our hearts and rectifies our affairs. And with that, the author’s words on this point come to an end.

Allah, the Exalted, also says, “Those who consume usury will not stand [on the Day of Resurrection] except as one stands whom Satan has driven to madness by his touch. That is because they say, ‘Trade is but like usury,’ while Allah has permitted trade and forbidden usury. So whoever receives an admonition from his Lord and desists may keep what is past, and his affair rests with Allah; but whoever returns to it—such are the people of the Fire; they will abide therein forever. Allah obliterates usury and multiplies charity” up to His words, “O you who believe, fear Allah and give up what remains of usury” (2:275–278).

[Explanation]
The author—may Allah have mercy on him—states in his book Riyad al-Salihin, in the chapter entitled “The Stern Warning Against Devouring Usury and Its Prohibition.” He cited verses from Surah al-Baqarah, and we have already discussed them up to His saying, “…and whoever returns to it—such are the people of the Fire; they will abide therein forever. Allah obliterates usury,” and His saying, “and He multiplies charity,” meaning that He causes it to grow and increase. It is authentically reported from the Prophet ﷺ that he said, “Whoever gives in charity the equivalent of a single date-fruit from lawful earnings—and Allah accepts nothing but what is lawful—Allah receives it with His right hand and nurtures it just as a person nurtures