Refresh Your Imaan

Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “May Allah curse him who eats of usury (riba) or feeds it to another.” [Sahih Muslim] The prohibition regarding riba is for both accepting it (eating of it) as well as paying it (feeding another with it). “Curse (la’n)” means to put someone far from divine mercy. Riba is usually translated as “interest”. This includes both simple and compound interest. Dealing in riba is one of the kaba’ir (enormities) as it is accursed by Allah’s Messenger in the above hadith, and also carries the threat of punishment in the Hereafter in the words of Allah (subhana wa ta’ala): “O you who believe: fear Allah and forgo what remains of usury (riba) if you are believers. If you will not, then know of a declaration of war (against you) from Allah and His Messenger.” [Quran 2: 278-79] If Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) and His Messenger come armed to wage war against a person on the Day of Judgement, does he/she stand a chance? The prohibition regarding riba also e...

Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “Allah gives worldly things to those He loves and to those He does not love, but He gives eeman (faith) only to those He loves, so he who is given eeman by Allah, has been loved by Him.” [Ahmad, Bayhaqiy] The most priceless treasure on earth is eeman. This is the currency that will buy you eternal happiness and all the riches you want to keep forever. Thus, whoever is given the treasure of eeman is among the most beloved people to Allah (subhana wa ta’ala). If something is not in your share in this worldly life (e.g. car, house, nice clothes, good food), it makes no difference. The duration of this life compared to the life that starts after this, is so short, that it will be as though it never happened.   Material riches in this life could also be the lot of him/her who ends up for eternity in the Fire of Hell. Again, this life is so short compared to the Hereafter, that despite having every luxury in the world, a person who ends up...