An Important Warning Against Ribaa

This is a short rebuttal of a research written by Dr. Ibraahim bin Abdullah AnNaasir, in which he tried his best to show the permissibility of most types of Ribaa (usury and interest) transactions that have appeared in recent times in the numerous financial institutions of the world. Hence, we thought English speaking Muslims would benefit from this translated response by Shaikh Abdul-Aziz bin Abdullah bin Baz, one of the noted scholars of our time and a staunch supporter and defender of the Manhaj of the Righteous Predecessors (As-Salaf As-Saalih). Shaikh Ibn Baz's response is a refutation of the misguided effort of Dr. Ibraahim An-Naasir to allow Ribaa transactions. The Manhaj (way, method) of As-Salaf As-Saalih (meaning the Companions and the following two generations of Islam) has been blessed in our time by the presence of several noted scholars of Hadeeth and Islamic Jurisprudence (Filth). These scholars combine both vast knowledge in the religion and firm adherence to the Qur'an and the Sunnah according to the way the Salaf understood and implemented them. Shaikh Ibn Baz is one of these scholars and firmly advocates the Manhaj of the Salaf through his lectures, writings and rebuttals of misguided ideas and deviant opinions, such as this research. We ask Allah to reward our scholars and to raise high the flag of the Salaf and their Manhaj. This short response by Shaikh Ibn Baz that asserts the strict prohibition of all types of Ribaa transactions comes at a time when several so-called scholars are issuing Fatwas (religious decrees) allowing some and even most types of Ribaa. These false, deviant and erroneous Fatwas are especially welcomed by some Muslim communities and individuals who live in non-Muslim countries and who often end up imitating the ways of the Kuffaar (disbelievers) in the societies in which they live. Such people quickly embrace the misguided Fatwas that allow Ribaa, because they think that these Fatwas legalize and justify their indulging in the various types and forms of Ribaa that exist in the present time. I ask Allah to benefit these Muslims and the rest of the Muslim Ummah (nation) with this rebuttal so that they all refrain from indulging in Ribaa, in particular, and in all that Allah has forbidden for them, in general. I also ask Allah to bless the efforts of our scholars who surely face tremendous challenges in recent times, often defending the religion of Allah and His stated limits on several fronts at the same time. They defend the religion against various kinds of attacks by the enemies of Islam and the innovators in the religion. In particular, I ask Allah to grant His best rewards to Shaikh Abdul Aziz bin Baz, who wrote this rebuttal, Shaikh Muhammad Nasir ud-Din AlAlbani, Shaikh Muhammad bin Salih AlUthaimin and the rest of the scholars in general who follow the Qur'an, the Sunnah and the understanding of the Salaf As-Saalih. Aameen.