يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَأْكُلُوا۟ ٱلرِّبَوٰٓا۟ أَضْعَـٰفًا مُّضَـٰعَفَةً ۖ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ 130
Translations
O you who have believed, do not consume usury, doubled and multiplied, but fear Allāh that you may be successful.
Transliteration
Ya ayyuha alladhina amanu la ta'kulu al-riba aḍ'āfan muḍā'afah wa-ittaqū Allāh la'allakum tuflihūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah explicitly prohibits Muslims from consuming riba (usury/interest), particularly emphasizing the multiplied forms of riba that were practiced during the pre-Islamic period where debts would compound many times over. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi note that while this verse specifically addresses excessive riba, the prohibition extends to all forms of riba regardless of amount, as confirmed by later Quranic passages and the Prophet's traditions. The ayah concludes with an encouragement to fear Allah as the means to attaining success (falah) in both worlds.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in Madinah during the period when Islamic legislation was being established for the Muslim community. It addresses a practice deeply embedded in pre-Islamic Arab commerce where creditors would multiply debts if debtors could not pay on time. The context of Surah Ali 'Imran deals with establishing Islamic principles of justice and righteous conduct among believers.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The greatest sin is to associate partners with Allah, then to disobey parents, then to bear false witness, and the sin of riba (usury).' (Reported in various hadith collections). Additionally, in Sahih Muslim, the Prophet cursed 'the one who consumes riba, the one who gives it, the one who writes it down, and the one who witnesses it,' stating they are all equal in sin.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that economic dealings must be rooted in justice and God-consciousness rather than exploitation; modern Muslims should understand that Islamic finance principles exist to protect the vulnerable and build a community based on equity rather than profit maximization at others' expense.