What Does Riba (Usury/Interest) Mean in Arabic?
رِبَا
riba
Root: ر ب و
Riba (Usury/Interest) Riba means any unjust increase in a loan or exchange transaction, broadly translated as usury or interest. The Quran prohibits it in the strongest terms: "Allah destroys riba but increases charity" (2:276). Both giving and receiving riba are declared sinful. Islamic finance offers alternatives such as murabaha, mudaraba, and ijara to enable economic activity without interest.
The root of Riba (Usury/Interest) (riba) appears 8 times in the Quran, reflecting its foundational importance in Islamic theology and practice.
Frequently Asked Questions about Riba (Usury/Interest)
What does Riba (Usury/Interest) mean in Islam?
Riba means any unjust increase in a loan or exchange transaction, broadly translated as usury or interest. The Quran prohibits it in the strongest terms: "Allah destroys riba but increases charity" (2:276). Both giving and receiving riba are declared sinful. Islamic finance offers alternatives such as murabaha, mudaraba, and ijara to enable economic activity without interest.
How many times is Riba (Usury/Interest) mentioned in the Quran?
The root of the word Riba (Usury/Interest) appears 8 times in the Quran, underscoring its central importance in Islamic theology and practice.
What is the Arabic root of Riba (Usury/Interest)?
The Arabic root letters of Riba (Usury/Interest) are ر ب و.
Related Words
حَلَال
Halal (Permissible)
Halal refers to anything permissible or lawful under Islamic law. It applies to food, drink, financial transactions, and behavior. The Quran repeatedly instructs believers to eat from what is halal and good (tayyib). Halal is the opposite of haram (forbidden) and forms one of the five rulings (ahkam) of Islamic jurisprudence.
حَرَام
Haram (Forbidden)
Haram refers to anything strictly forbidden by Islamic law. Committing a haram act is a sin deserving punishment in both this world and the hereafter. Major categories include pork, alcohol, usury (riba), adultery, and murder. Islamic jurisprudence identifies five rulings (ahkam); haram is the most severe prohibition.
فَرْض
Fard (Obligatory)
Fard is an obligatory religious duty in Islam whose performance is rewarded and whose neglect is sinful. The five pillars of Islam — shahada, salah, zakat, sawm, and hajj — are all fard. Fard is divided into fard ayn (individual obligation) and fard kifaya (collective obligation fulfilled when enough people perform it).
وَاجِب
Wajib (Necessary)
Wajib in Hanafi jurisprudence is an obligatory act slightly below fard in rank, established by probable (zanni) rather than definitive (qati) evidence. Neglecting it is sinful but less severe than neglecting fard. Examples include witr prayer, udhiyya (sacrifice), and sadaqat al-fitr. In Shafi'i, Maliki, and Hanbali schools, wajib and fard are synonymous.