“And if you repent, you may have your principal; you will neither wrong nor be wronged.” He did not add, “except when you deal with unbelievers—then take interest.” We are genuinely saddened that some well-known figures issue rulings of that sort; had they looked closely they would have realized their mistake. My Lord has told me, “Your capital is yours; you will neither wrong nor be wronged.” I answer, “I hear and I obey, O Lord.” I reclaim my principal and have no concern for the rest; let them spend it as they wish.

Do they really still need my profits to build churches? The churches already stand, and the war against the Muslims is fierce—with your money or without it. Is the whole affair hanging on your few coins? They may, or may not, channel the money into churches or into fighting the Muslims, but that notion is only a suspicion—an illusion with which Satan deceives people: “If you leave this money, they will spend it on churches and on terrorizing Muslims.” Who said so? In any case, between us and other people stands the Book of Allah: “And if you repent, you may have your principal; you will neither wrong nor be wronged.” When we follow the Sacred Law, Allah grants us relief from every worry and a way out of every hardship. But if we start reasoning on our own and say—as others once said—“Trade is only like interest,” or, like Satan, “I am better than him; You created me from fire and created him from clay,” that is a colossal error. My brothers, this matter is perfectly clear; it needs no new ijtihad: “And if you repent, you may have your principal; you will neither wrong nor be wronged.”

Suppose the debtor is insolvent, the due date arrives, and he has nothing. Should I not simply give him time instead of adding to the debt? Should I say, “Very well—since you have nothing now, let this one thousand become one thousand one hundred, payable next year”? No! Look at the verse that follows: “And if the debtor is in hardship, then grant him respite until a time of ease.” You may not prolong the term and charge him more when he lacks the means to repay; you must grant him reprieve—“then grant him respite until a time of ease.” Who said those words? It is Allah—majestic and exalted—the One who gave you the wealth, favored you with it, and allowed you to dispose of it. He told you that if the debtor is poor you must grant him time, yet you say, “No respite—off to prison, or pay interest.” Where is faith? Where is worship? The true servant is the one who says to Allah, “I hear and I obey.”