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Writer's pictureAslam Abdullah

Are usury and Interest Synonymous?



Are usury and interest synonymous? What makes one sinful in the eyes of God? If you lend $10000.00 to a friend to start a business and give you 50 percent of its profit, will you call it usury or profile?

If you buy goods for someone to start a business and share 60 percent of the share with you, will you call it usury or interest?

Is the difference between the two in the profit percentage, or in the greed that leads to higher profit without sharing the risks?

We use interest and usury in discussions about lending and borrowing. Are they synonymous or have different meanings, particularly in legal, historical, and ethical contexts?

  • Interest:

  •  A loan fee is a borrower's charge to a lender for using borrowed money. It is calculated as a percentage of the principal amount over a specific period and is considered a standard and accepted part of modern financial transactions.

  • Usury:

  •  Charging excessively high or unreasonable interest rates on loans is often deemed exploitative. Historically, it referred to any interest, but the definition evolved to focus on unfair rates that harm borrowers.

 Historical Context

  • In ancient times, all forms of interest were usury, as many religious and moral systems viewed charging for lending as unethical.

  • Significant religions like Christianity, Islam, and Judaism initially condemned all interests as usury.

  • Over time, economic necessity led to a distinction between fair (interest) and unfair (usury) lending practices.

Legal Distinctions

  • Interest: Most modern legal systems regulate interest, ensuring it remains within reasonable and enforceable limits, which vary by jurisdiction.

  • Usury: Usury laws cap the maximum permissible interest rate to protect borrowers from exploitation. Lending beyond these caps is considered illegal and can lead to penalties.

 Ethical Considerations

  • Interest: It is considered fair compensation for the lender's risk and opportunity cost, provided it is reasonable and transparent.

  • Usury: It is seen as unethical because it exploits borrowers, particularly those in vulnerable situations, by imposing excessive financial burdens.

Economic Implications

  • Interest is critical in modern economies, facilitating credit markets and enabling investment and consumption.

  • Usury harms economic stability, leading to debt traps, financial crises, and social inequalities.


6. Religious Perspectives

  • Interest:  Many modern interpretations of religious doctrines accept it under certain conditions.

  • Usury in most religious traditions is exploitative.

    • Islam prohibits all forms of interest (riba), equating it with usury.

    • Christianity and Judaism condemn usury but accept moderate interest.

Usury, which charges interest on loans, has been addressed differently across major religions, reflecting diverse ethical, social, and economic considerations. While some faiths condemn usury outright, others allow or regulate it under specific conditions.


Islam

  • Prohibition of Usury (Riba):

    • Usury (riba) is strictly prohibited in Islam, as outlined in the Quran and Hadith. It is exploitative and unjust, undermining social harmony and fairness.

    • The Quran states: "Those who devour usury will not stand, except as stands one whom the devil has driven to madness by his touch. That is because they say: Trade is just like usury, but Allah has permitted trade and forbidden usury." (Quran 2:275)

    • Islamic finance systems emphasize halal alternatives like profit-sharing (mudarabah), leasing (ijarah), and joint ventures (musharakah), avoiding fixed interest.

Christianity

  • Early Christianity condemned usury based on Biblical teachings. For example, the Old Testament warns against exploiting others through interest: "Do not charge your brother interest, whether on money or food or anything else that may earn interest." (Deuteronomy 23:19–20)

    • The New Testament emphasizes compassion and generosity in lending:

    •  "If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you?" (Luke 6:34–35)

    • During the Middle Ages, the Catholic Church forbade usury, equating it with sin. This stance softened in the modern era, where moderate interest is deemed acceptable within ethical boundaries.

Judaism

  • The Torah forbids Jews from charging interest on loans to fellow Jews but allows it when dealing with non-Jews: "You may charge a foreigner interest, but not a fellow Israelite, so that the Lord your God may bless you." (Deuteronomy 23:20)

    • This dual approach was historically practical, reflecting economic realities in diverse societies. Rabbinical interpretations emphasize ethical lending and protecting the vulnerable.

Hinduism

  • Hindu scriptures, including the Manusmriti, criticize excessive interest and exploitation: "A lender may stipulate interest at the rate of two percent per month. No lender shall demand interest higher than this, for it would lead to the ruin of borrowers." (Manusmriti 8.140)

    • However, modern interpretations justifies interest , with strict guidelines to ensure fairness.

Buddhism

  • Focus on Ethics:

    • Buddhism does not have explicit teachings on usury, but its emphasis on non-harm (ahimsa) and right livelihood discourages exploitative practices in financial dealings.

    • Lending with compassion and without causing undue burden aligns with Buddhist principles.

Sikhism

  • Sikhism discourages exploitative practices, including high-interest lending, as inconsistent with sewa (selfless service) and fairness.

    • The Guru Granth Sahib emphasizes economic justice and warns against greed in financial matters.


7. Confucianism

  • Confucianism does not explicitly prohibit usury but promotes moral conduct and fairness in economic activities.

    • Charging interest is acceptable if it aligns with societal harmony and mutual benefit.

Taoism

  • Alignment with Natural Harmony:

    • Taoism does not explicitly address usury. However, it values simplicity and balance and discourages exploitative practices that disrupt social or economic harmony.

Jainism

  • Jainism emphasizes ahimsa (non-violence) and fairness, discouraging exploitative financial practices, including excessive interest.

    • Lending should be guided by compassion and justice, avoiding harm to borrowers.

Zoroastrianism

  • Balanced Approach:

    • Zoroastrian texts do not explicitly forbid usury but encourage fairness and generosity in financial dealings, emphasizing the moral responsibility to help people in need without exploitation.


Modern Adaptations

  • Islam and Judaism have developed financial systems reflecting their teachings on usury, such as Islamic banking or kosher lending.

  • In many societies, religious principles on usury have evolved into broader ethical concerns, influencing modern regulations against predatory lending and excessive interest rates.

While interpretations and practices vary, most religions view usury as a moral issue, emphasizing fairness, compassion, and social responsibility in lending. These teachings' ethical concerns resonate with modern efforts to regulate exploitative financial practices.

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