Usury and Instability in Social System According to Quran
In Verses 275 to 279 of Surah Al-Baqarah, the Quran strictly bans any kind of usury. The content of Verse 275, especially the sentence “Those who consume usury shall not rise up (from their tomb) except as he who rises in madness that satan has touched”, makes it clear that those swallowing usury are under the influence of satan’s temptations.
It also shows that a society where usury is a common practice suffers from an instable and unsteady state that can lead to various anomalies.
This imbalance causes the weakening of social benevolence, altruism and motivation to help others among the people of society and discourages them from doing useful economic activities.
It is narrated from Imam Reza (AS) who said that Riba leads to elimination of virtue, waste of properties, people losing motivation to lend money, and corruption and injustice.
So according to the eighth Infallible Imam (AS), Riba has the following consequences:
1- It destroys Marouf (virtue) as Riba is a major obstacle in the way of promotion of spirituality, self-sacrifice, and cooperation in society and reduction of people’s motivation to give loans. According to a Hadith, the reason why God has mentioned the ban on Riba in more than one verse of the Quran is because of how important it is for people not to abandon Marouf.
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2- Destruction and waste of properties. Riba causes properties and financial resources to be employed in matters other than fulfilling people’s needs. Verse 276 of Surah Al-Baqarah says: “God makes unlawful interest (Riba) devoid of all blessings,” and this blessing does not just refer to spiritual aspects but also worldly aspects.
3- Injustice and corruption in society: Unlawful interest intensifies poverty and inequality in society. Then one group of people would earn more every day, while others are always busy paying off debts.
4- Abandoning trade. According to Hadiths, Riba causes people to abandon trade and lawful businesses that the society needs.
