What is the interpretation of the noble verse: "O you who have believed, fear Allah and give up what remains [due to you] of interest, if you should be believers. And if you do not, then be informed of a war [against you] from Allah and His Messenger. But if you repent, you may have your principal - [thus] you do no wrong, nor are you wronged"?

Summary of the verses' interpretation:

"Fear Allah" (اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ): Protect yourselves from His punishment.

"And give up what remains [due to you] of interest" (وَذَرُوا مَا بَقِيَ مِنَ الرِّبا): Abandon the remnants of usury.

"If you should be believers" (إِنْ كُنْتُمْ مُؤْمِنِينَ): If you are truly believers, then this necessitates obeying Allah's commands and prohibitions.

"And if you do not, then be informed of a war from Allah and His Messenger" (فَإِنْ لَمْ تَفْعَلُوا فَأْذَنُوا بِحَرْبٍ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ): If you do not abandon usury, then be aware of a war from Allah and His Messenger. This verse indicates that consuming usury is a major sin. The indefinite nature of "war" (حرب) is for emphasizing its gravity, and its attribution to Allah and His Messenger further magnifies its seriousness.

"But if you repent, you may have your principal – [thus] you do no wrong, nor are you wronged" (وَإِنْ تُبْتُمْ فَلَكُمْ رُؤُوسُ أَمْوَالِكُمْ لا تَظْلِمُونَ وَلا تُظْلَمُونَ): If you repent from usury, you are entitled to your principal amounts. You do not wrong the creditors by demanding an increase, nor are you wronged yourselves by procrastination or reduction. This also indicates that, without repentance, their funds are permissible for those who take them, such as the imams and their representatives.