Interest in the Quran has been mentioned in various Chapters. Learn the details below.
Bismillah irahman irrahim. With the name of God the most Gracious and merciful.
Interest means addition or growth. It is the extra amount that is taken on the loan’s principal amount.
Interest is mentioned Eight times (8) in the Holy Quran. However, the literal word “Riba” is used in the Quran for the expression of Interest.
Riba is an Arabic word. Another name of interest is Usuary.
Interest in the Quran: The Word Count
The subject of interest is brought up by the God Almighty Eight times (8) in different Chapters of the Holy Quran.
The order of the record is as shown in the table below.
| Chapter | Chapter no and Verse | Mention |
| 1. Al Baqarah | 2:275 | Three times |
| 2. Al Baqarah | 2:276 | One time |
| 3. Al Baqarah | 2:278 | One time |
| 4. Al Imran | 3:130 | One time |
| 5. Al Nisa | 4:161 | One time |
| 6. Al Rum | 30:39 | One time |
1) Surah Al Baqarah:
(Chapter 2, Verse 275)
ٱلَّذِينَ يَأْكُلُونَ ٱلرِّبَوٰا۟ لَا يَقُومُونَ إِلَّا كَمَا يَقُومُ ٱلَّذِى يَتَخَبَّطُهُ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنُ مِنَ ٱلْمَسِّ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّمَا ٱلْبَيْعُ مِثْلُ ٱلرِّبَوٰا۟ ۗ وَأَحَلَّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْبَيْعَ وَحَرَّمَ ٱلرِّبَوٰا۟ ۚ فَمَن جَآءَهُۥ مَوْعِظَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦ فَٱنتَهَىٰ فَلَهُۥ مَا سَلَفَ وَأَمْرُهُۥٓ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَمَنْ عَادَ فَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَٰلِدُونَ
“Those who consume interest will raise like those driven to madness by Satan’s touch; That is because they say: “Trade is no different than interest.” But Allah has permitted trading and forbidden interest. Whoever refrains—after having received warning from their Lord— may keep their previous gains, and their case is left to Allah. As for those who persist, it is they who will be the residents of the Fire. They will be there forever.”
2) Surah Al Baqarah:
(Chapter 2, Verse 276)
يَمْحَقُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلرِّبَوٰا۟ وَيُرْبِى ٱلصَّدَقَٰتِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ كَفَّارٍ أَثِيمٍ
“Allah has made interest fruitless and charity fruitful. And Allah does not like any ungrateful evildoer.”
3) Surah Al Baqarah:
(Chapter 2, Verse 278 & 279)
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَذَرُوا۟ مَا بَقِىَ مِنَ ٱلرِّبَوٰٓا۟ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ o .فَإِن لَّمْ تَفْعَلُوا۟ فَأْذَنُوا۟ بِحَرْبٍ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ ۖ وَإِن تُبْتُمْ فَلَكُمْ رُءُوسُ أَمْوَٰلِكُمْ لَا تَظْلِمُونَ وَلَا تُظْلَمُونَ o
“O you who have believed, fear Allah and give up what remains [due to you] of interest, if you should be believers.”
“If you do not, then beware of a war with Allah and His Messenger! But if you repent, you may retain your principal—neither inflicting nor suffering harm.”
4) Surah Al Imran:
(Chapter 3, Verse 130)
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَأْكُلُوا۟ ٱلرِّبَوٰٓا۟ أَضْعَٰفًا مُّضَٰعَفَةً ۖ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
“O believers! Do not consume interest, multiplying it many times over. And be mindful of Allah, so you may prosper.”
5) Surah Al Nisa:
(Chapter 4, Verse 161)
وَأَخْذِهِمُ ٱلرِّبَوٰا۟ وَقَدْ نُهُوا۟ عَنْهُ وَأَكْلِهِمْ أَمْوَٰلَ ٱلنَّاسِ بِٱلْبَٰطِلِ ۚ وَأَعْتَدْنَا لِلْكَٰفِرِينَ مِنْهُمْ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا
“And their taking interest despite its prohibition, and consuming people’s wealth unjustly. We have prepared for the disbelievers among them a painful punishment.”
6) Surah Al Rum:
(Chapter 30, Verse 39)
وَمَآ ءَاتَيْتُم مِّن رِّبًۭا لِّيَرْبُوَا۟ فِىٓ أَمْوَٰلِ ٱلنَّاسِ فَلَا يَرْبُوا۟ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَمَآ ءَاتَيْتُم مِّن زَكَوٰةٍۢ تُرِيدُونَ وَجْهَ ٱللَّهِ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُضْعِفُونَ
“Whatever loans you give, seeking interest at the expense of people’s wealth will not increase with Allah. But whatever charity you give, seeking the pleasure of Allah — it is they whose reward will be multiplied.”
(Translation Source: Saheeh International and the Clear Quran)
The Topic of Interest in the Quran:
Now as we know the word-count of ‘Interest/Riba’ in the Quran; It’s also important to Understand the Subject of Interest from Quranic Viewpoint.
To go through the Quranic verses individually (out of context) won’t provide the maximum benefit to the seeker.
In order to clearly understand Interest from Quranic perspective, one has to thoroughly study the second last Ruku of the 2nd Chapter of Holy Quran (Al Baqarah).
Interest is thematically discussed in the Second last Ruku of Al Baqarah. The Second last Ruku has 11 verses starting from 274 – 281.