Postby cabdallah252 » Fri Mar 21, 2008 4:19 pm
Ribba is not Interest....
Ribba was common transaction that used to take place in the Arabic Peninsula before the rise of Islam, namely Riba Al Nasi, where a wealthy man would lend merchants in need of cash a sum of money in return for an agreed-upon markup to be paid in addition to the loan amount after a certain period of time, a practice which was condemned by the Quran in several instances.
We have to look at the underlying logic in banning such a practice. It was not banned simply because it entailed a fixed profit, because if we apply that principle, even renting property would be a SIN.
Whether you are renting a tangible commodity or the actual medium of exchange - money - the concept remains the same, because money is also a utility for which you have to pay.
Instead, riba was banned because it entailed deceit, coercion or monopoly and because the creditor did not have the system banks have today to ensure that the debtor has the capability of paying back the loan.
Interest makes a fair transaction because 100$ today and the same amount a year later do not have the same value..