Can usury be explained by a Quranic verse or a Prophetic Hadith, and what does it mean?

Riba (usury/interest) linguistically means an increase. Technically, it is a specific increase for one of the contracting parties without an equivalent compensation. It is of two types:

1. Riba al-Duyun (interest on debts): This is an increase in the debt in exchange for an extension of the repayment period. This was common during the pre-Islamic era (Jahiliyyah) and was forbidden by the Qur'an.

2. Riba al-Buyu' (usury in sales): This occurs in the sale of riba-generating commodities (gold, silver, wheat, dates, salt, barley, and what is attached to them due to a shared underlying cause). It is divided into:

Riba al-Fadl: An increase in one of the two exchanged items when selling a riba-generating commodity of the same type (e.g., gold for gold), where equality is a condition.

Riba al-Nasi'ah: A delay in the receipt of one of the two exchanged items in the sale of riba-generating commodities that share the same underlying cause. If the types differ, an increase is permissible, but delaying receipt is not; rather, immediate possession must occur at the time of the contract.