Studying the concept of Riba-Interest
Mu' meneen
Brothers and Sisters,
As Salaam Aleikum wa
Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be
upon all of you)
One of our
brothers/sisters has asked this question:
Dear Sir,
Asalam o Aliqum,
I have a question related to interest. I am an ACCA student and my
studies include books, questions and topics related to the calculation and ways
of recording interest in the books of account. As it is a compulsory topic
I cannot opt to leave it, as one of our papers (Financial Management and
Accounting) is totally based on calculation and ways of recording
interest.
My question relates to a hadith of the
Holy Prophet (PBUH) in which he has said that, (I
don't remember the hadith correctly but it was some
what like this) :
Four types of people have been cursed
1- who takes Riba'
2- who gives Riba'
3- who writes Riba'
4- I don't
remember the fourth one.
My question is that to clear my exams I have to do the
topics related to interest. Do I fall in the category of the one who writes Riba' ?
Although I intend not do interest based calculations when I join the firm
(i.e. start earning).
Hoping to have a favorable and quick reply.
(There may be some
grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not
change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our
readers for circulation in confidentiality.)
Answer:
Studying the concept of Riba-Interest
In the
name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness.
Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray,
none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no
person, no grave, no prophet, no imam,
no dai,
nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that
Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.
Al-Tirmidhi Hadith
2829 Narrated by Ali ibn AbuTalib
Ali heard Allah's Messenger (saws) curse those who took usury,
those who paid it, those who recorded it, and those who refused to give sadaqah.
Dear
Brother in Islam, under the circumstances related by you, you would definitely
not fall under the categories of people who actually record the receipt or payment
of interest or riba.
Allah Subhanah has declared haraam the
consumption of swine flesh, or flesh of the dead, or wine, or gambling, etc.;
but nowhere in the Shariah is it mentioned that a
believer is forbidden to study these things or subjects. For only if one studies these subjects in
detail, one will be able to realize and grasp some of the wisdom behind these
Commands of the All Wise, All Knowing Lord of the Worlds.
It may
be, that once you learn the trappings of the concept of riba,
you might use your knowledge for the good of mankind, and strive to make others
aware of the evil consequences of riba; and that
will, Insha Allah earn you a huge reward from the
Merciful Lord.
All your
deeds, no matter what they are, will be judged by Allah Subhanah
on your intentions! Thus if your
intentions to study this concept of riba is to earn
the pleasure of Allah Subhanah and work in His Cause,
it might be a source of huge rewards and benefit for you from the All Mighty
Lord of the Worlds.
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 1.1 Narrated
by Umar bin Al Khattab
I heard the Messenger of Allah (saws) saying, "The reward of
deeds depends upon the intentions, and every person will get the reward
according to what he has intended.
Whatever
written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allahs Assistance and Guidance,
and whatever of error is of me. Allah
Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.
Your Brother in Islam,
