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:

MuSir I have a question for you.

In the present situation how can we avoid Riba?

(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:

In the present situation how can we avoid Riba?

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.

Almost all the direct forms or manifestations of giving and taking ‘riba’ are evident; like bank interest, etc., which one must absolutely abstain from taking or giving riba under any circumstances.

And even if one does not directly give or take ‘riba’, in this day and age, he would not be able to stay clear from it completely… as almost all the financial dealings of man are done through the present interest-based banking system. But if one stays away from directly giving or taking riba in these trying times, he will, Insha Allah, not be accountable for the deeds of others on the Day of Judgement.

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 3325 Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

The Prophet (saws) said: ‘A time is certainly coming to mankind when only the receiver of usury will remain, and if he does not receive it, some of its vapor (or dust) will reach him.’

Unfortunately, we live in those times today! The Prophet (saws) said that a time will come, when even if one tries his utmost to stay away from ‘riba’, the whole society and surroundings will be so much engrossed in ‘riba’, that some of its vapour or dust will reach this pious person.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s 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,

Burhan