The Names Of Riba: Riba Revisited, #6

By Nizar Abdulrahman Alshubaily

Riba has as many names as it has faces.

Why did our predecessors give it so many names?

Obsession? Fear?

Or were they simply trying to understand it better to avoid it?

And how did they come up with these wonderful names?

Al-Riba Al-Khafiyy = The Invisible Riba

Riba Al-Yadd = Riba of The Hand

How many are different names for the same Riba, and how many are truly different?

• Language: English
• Publisher: The Persuader Publishing
• Release date: Jun 10, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201095536

Book preview

In

Memory

Of

My

Parents

Also By The Author

Riba Revisited Series:

Riba In Mubadalah

Riba In Jewelry

Riba Complexity

Riba In Contracts

The Book Of Quotes

A Sale Is Like Riba

The Hadith Of Riba

Myths Of Riba

The Verses Of Riba

Essays In Islamic Finance Series:

Essays In Islamic Finance I

Essays In Islamic Finance II

Essays In Islamic Finance III

The Names Of Riba

Volume VI

Riba Revisited Series

Copyright © Nizar Abdulrahman Alshubaily, 2021

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopied, recorded, or otherwise, without prior written permission of the copyright holder, except for reference and citation, with proper acknowledgment.

Cover Page: Photo of Manuscript of Sahih Al-Bukhari courtesy of Alukah.net

EBOOK ISBN: 9798201095536

The Names Of Riba

Nizar Abdulrahman Alshubaily

A Compendium of

Names and Types

Of Riba

Volume VI

Riba Revisited Series

2021 

Introduction

Riba has many names, sometimes it is because of the type of Riba, other times it is the same type but has been called by other names, and sometimes it is given a name because of a special case.

Scholars may also use the names differently, when it is the same type that is intended. Or the same name can be given to two different types. This can cause confusion. I have tried my best to clarify these issues. The main ones with such confusion are Riba Al-Nasaa’ and Riba Al-Nasee’a. Both imply delay, but for some, there is actually a difference.

It is also the case that for some scholars what has been deemed as Riba is not, instead they view the prohibition for other reasons such as Gharar, such as Riba Al-Mukhabarah.

Overall, I have listed thirty names. Obviously some of them are the same but have different names, such as Riba Al-Buyu’, which is also called Riba Al-Sunnah, Riba Al-Hadith, and Al-Riba Al-Khafiyy (The Invisible Riba).

Some of the names are rarely used; however, it was relevant to list them to ensure completion.

Some names have been used by one school of jurisprudence and not the others, which can also add to the complexity of the situation.

Nizar Abdulrahman Alshubaily

June 2021

Hard Drive:Users:nizaralshubaily:Desktop:names1.jpg

Chapter One

Riba Al-Ajlan

Riba Al-Ajlan is where two items that should be exchanged equally have a difference in them such as Gold and Silver. This was mentioned by Al-Sarakhsi (Died Hijri 490) in Al-Mabsut based on a saying by Umar Bin Al-Khattab (RAA):

Abdulrahman bin Abi Layla said: I heard Umar (RAA) say: Do not sell a Dirham for Two Dirhams, that is Riba Al-Ajlan and what is intended by saying it is Riba Al-Ajlan, is Riba Al-Naqd, and this is a sign that Riba is two kinds, in Naqd (Cash/Immediate), and Nasee’a (Delay) (1)

This word is also mentioned by Ibn Abi Shaybah (Died Hijri 235) in his Musannaf, but from a different route of narrators:

Abu Bakr said: We were told by Wakie who said: Sufian reported from Ayyash Al-Ameri from Muslim bin Nathir Al-Sa’adi who said: Ali was asked about the Dirham against two Dirhams, and he said: Al-Riba Al-Ajlan. (2)

This is therefore a reference to the Riba of inequality, meaning Fadl but only in money that is immediately exchanged. The name seems to be from the route word ’Ajil, meaning to hurry or immediate. It is possible that the implication here is that the parties to the transaction were in a hurry to exchange money with inequality.

References

(1) Al-Sarakhsi, Al-Mabsut, (Beirut: Dar Al-Ma’rifa, 1989), Volume 14, Kitab Al-Sarf, p. 11.

(2) Ibn Abi Shayba, Al-Musannaf, (Riyadh: Dar Kunooz Eshbelia, 2015), Kitab Al-Buyu’ wa Al-Aqdiah, {363} Man Qal: Al-Thahab bil Thahab wa Al-Fiddah bil Fiddah, No. 23956, Volume 12, p. 381.

Chapter Two

Riba Al-Buyu’

(The Riba of Sales)

Riba Al-Buyu’ is called by other names, such as Riba Al-Hadith, Riba Al-Sunnah, and Al-Riba Khafiyy (The Invisible Riba), a term coined by Ibn Al-Qayyim (Died Hijri 751).

Let us first look at some of the Hadith by The Prophet (PEACE BE UPON HIM) mentioned in this regard:

[4054] 75 - (1584) It was narrated from Abu Sa’eed Al- Khudri that the Messenger of Allah (PEACE BE UPON HIM) said: Do not sell gold for gold except like for like, and do not give more of one and less of the other. Do not sell silver except like for like, and do not give more of one and less of the other. And do not exchange something to be given later for something to be given now."

[4063] 81 - (...) It was narrated that Ubadah bin As-Samit said: The Messenger of Allah (PEACE BE UPON HIM) said: Gold for gold, silver for silver, wheat for wheat, barley for barley, dates for dates, salt for salt, like for like, same for same, hand to hand. But if these commodities differ, then sell as you like, as long as it is hand to hand."

[4064] 82 - (1584) It was narrated that Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudri said: The Messenger of Allah (PEACE BE UPON HIM) said: Gold for gold, silver for silver, wheat for wheat, barley for barley, dates for dates, salt for salt, like for like, hand to hand. Whoever gives more or asks for more, he has engaged in Riba, and the taker and the giver are the same.

[40831 96 - (1594) Abu Sa'eed said: Bilal brought some good quality (Barni) dates and the Messenger of Allah (PEACE BE UPON HIM) said to him: Where are these from? Bilal said: "We had some poor- quality dates, so I sold