Allah Has Permitted Trade and Forbidden Usury
fiqh
Level: basic
muamalat
fqh-070
وَأَحَلَّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡبَيۡعَ وَحَرَّمَ ٱلرِّبَوٰاْ
— البقرة 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)
Question: What is the fundamental difference between trade and usury in Islamic law?
Answer: Trade: risk, effort, real value — goods exchanged for money. Usury: absolute guarantee, no real value — money for mere delay.