Reading verse 2:272 to 2:280 we find that the issue discussed in these verses is, helping the poor deserving charity.
Explaining how to help a poor, Allah says " help them by way of charity and if you cannot help them by charity, then give them loan and charge no usury. Such people may not be able to pay back the loan in time. If so, give them more time or remit the loan as charity. Now this is the discourse that surrounds the word Al-Riba. The debtor being discussed here is the poor deserving charity. Study of these verses (2/272-280) tells us of the circumstances under which making money is prohibited?
Amazingly, every where in Qur'an, Al-Riba is contrasted with Charity. This obviously means that Al-Riba is haram where charity is called for.
Amazingly again, the Qur'an nowhere condemns the giver of usury. This is perhaps the givers of usury are the poor exploited to accept loans with usury. All these facts put together are sufficient to prove that Qur'an prohibits
charging of interest from the poor deserving charity.
An increase, gain or profit on commercial loans aimed at inflating resources does not fall in the purview of Al-Riba prohibited in Qur'an..
I may not be all correct but what sounds obvious deserve careful consideration. I would be obliged for guidance.
Muhammad Latif Chaudhery
Student of Qur'an
Cell 0321 402 1162 Phone 042-6520811
Email
quraan@wol.net.pk
PS:
The verses quoted are appended below for ready reference.
[2:272] You are not responsible for guiding anyone. GOD is the only one who guides whoever chooses (to be guided). Any charity you give is for your own good. Any charity you give shall be for the sake of GOD. Any charity you give will be repaid to you, without the least injustice.
[2:273] Charity shall go to the poor who are suffering in the cause of GOD, and cannot emigrate. The unaware may think that they are rich, due to their dignity. But you can recognize them by certain signs; they never beg from the people persistently. Whatever charity you give, GOD is fully aware thereof.
[2:274] Those who give to charity night and day, secr! etly and publicly, receive their recompense from their Lord; they will have nothing to fear, nor will they grieve.
[2:275] Those who charge usury are in the same position as those controlled by the devil's influence. This is because they claim that usury is the same as commerce. However, GOD permits commerce, and prohibits usury. Thus, whoever heeds this commandment from his Lord, and refrains from usury, he may keep his past earnings, and his judgment rests with GOD. As for those who persist in usury, they incur Hell, wherein they abide forever.
[2:276] GOD condemns usury, and blesses charities. GOD dislikes every disbeliever, guilty.
[2:277] Those who believe and lead a righteous life, and observe the Contact Prayers (Salat), ! and give the obligatory charity (Zakat), they receive their recompense from their Lord; they will have nothing to fear, nor will they grieve.
[2:278] O you who believe, you shall observe GOD and refrain from all kinds of usury, if you are believers.
[2:279] If you do not, then expect a war from GOD and His messenger. But if you repent, you may keep your capitals, without inflicting injustice, or incurring injustice.
[2:280] If the debtor is unable to pay, wait for a better time. If you give up the loan as a charity, it would be better for you, if you only knew