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Surah: Al-Baqarah (275)
Allah Has Permitted Trade and Forbidden Usury
وَأَحَلَّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡبَيۡعَ وَحَرَّمَ ٱلرِّبَوٰاْ
— البقرة الآية 275
Verse: "Allah has permitted trade and forbidden usury." (2:275) — Response to polytheists who said "trade is like usury." Allah's reply: they are fundamentally different. Trade: real exchange (money for goods), risk, effort, real value. Usury: absolute guarantee, no risk, exploitation. Repentance from usury: "whoever heeds the admonition — what has passed is forgiven."
Source: Al-Qurtubi (3/355); Ibn Kathir (1/719)
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