syntaxerrs

Ok. So hate is the new love?

Anyone watching Zcash? 👀 Is this retail?

GM 🌻

Why Islam Banned Interest (Riba): Story Behind the Law Pre-Islamic Context — The Catalyst Before Islam, Arabian trade (especially in Mecca) already had money-lending and interest. Wealthy clans would lend to poorer merchants or farmers at very high interest rates, often compounding the debt when people couldn’t repay — leading to slavery, family ruin, and class resentment. This system was called “Riba al-Jahiliyyah” (usury of the age of ignorance). It was a serious social problem. When Islam emerged in the 7th century, one of its main ethical missions was to correct injustices — especially exploitation of the poor by the rich. So the social abuse of lending practices was the catalyst that made Riba a moral issue first, and then a legal one. ⸻ 📜 2. Qur’anic Revelation — Gradual Prohibition The ban didn’t come all at once; it was revealed in stages over several years, much like the prohibition of alcohol. Stage Qur’anic Verses Message 1. Moral warning Surah al-Rum (30:39) Says that giving with interest brings no blessing — it’s spiritually empty. 2. Historical example Surah al-Nisa (4:161) Condemns Jews who practiced usury despite earlier prohibitions — introducing it as a moral failing. 3. Clear prohibition Surah Al-Imran (3:130) “O you who believe! Do not consume Riba, doubled and multiplied…” — forbids the exploitative doubling of debt. 4. Final command Surah al-Baqarah (2:275-279) Declares all forms of Riba unlawful and equates it with war against God and His Messenger. This progression shows that the law grew from moral outrage to divine command, responding to real economic suffering. ⸻ ⚖️ 3. Early Islamic Society — Formal Law After these revelations, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and later Caliphs (especially Umar ibn al-Khattab) codified the ban. Early Islamic jurists saw Riba as: •Unjust gain without labor or risk •Wealth transfer from poor to rich •Contradiction of social solidarity Thus, Riba prohibition became part of Sharia (Islamic law), embedded in both religious morality and economic regulation. ⸻ 🕋 4. Broader Historical Parallels Interestingly, the concept of banning usury wasn’t unique to Islam — it existed in: • Judaism (Torah: Deuteronomy 23:19–20 forbids interest among Israelites) • Christianity (Bible: Luke 6:34–35 — “lend expecting nothing in return”) • Greek & Roman thought (Aristotle called money-breeding “unnatural”; early Rome limited interest rates) But over time, Christianity relaxed its ban, while Islam maintained it as a core legal and ethical rule. ⸻ 5. Summary: The Catalyst and Legacy Factor Role Economic exploitation Money-lenders charging crushing debt — led to public resentment. Moral awakening Islam sought social justice and equality. Gradual revelation Four Qur’anic stages built public understanding before strict law. Prophetic leadership The Prophet’s enforcement and final sermon explicitly abolished all outstanding Riba. Legal codification Early Islamic jurists built an entire economic philosophy around fairness and asset-backed trade.