What is the wisdom behind the prohibition of usury, even though those who engage in it see no harm in it?
Fakhr al-Din al-Razi mentioned five reasons for the prohibition of Riba (usury): 1. Riba is taking someone else's money without compensation, and a person's money has great sanctity. 2. Riba prevents people from engaging in earning, trade, and industry. 3. Riba leads to the discontinuation of kindness and loans among people. 4. Riba enables the rich to take additional money from the poor and weak. 5. Riba is forbidden by explicit text, and it is not a condition to know the reason (illa) for every legal ruling.
The statement that usurious loans are not harmful is false, as the harm occurs through the eradication of blessings, warring against Allah and His Messenger, the accumulation of wealth, taking people's money unjustly, and incurring Allah's wrath. Severe texts have been narrated concerning the prohibition of Riba and the clarification of its atrocity.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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