Translation of the Meanings of the Noble Qur'an - English Translation - Dr. Waleed Bleyhesh Omary * - Translations’ Index
Translation of the meanings
Ayah: (275) Surah: Al-Baqarah
ٱلَّذِينَ يَأۡكُلُونَ ٱلرِّبَوٰاْ لَا يَقُومُونَ إِلَّا كَمَا يَقُومُ ٱلَّذِي يَتَخَبَّطُهُ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنُ مِنَ ٱلۡمَسِّۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمۡ قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّمَا ٱلۡبَيۡعُ مِثۡلُ ٱلرِّبَوٰاْۗ وَأَحَلَّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡبَيۡعَ وَحَرَّمَ ٱلرِّبَوٰاْۚ فَمَن جَآءَهُۥ مَوۡعِظَةٞ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦ فَٱنتَهَىٰ فَلَهُۥ مَا سَلَفَ وَأَمۡرُهُۥٓ إِلَى ٱللَّهِۖ وَمَنۡ عَادَ فَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلنَّارِۖ هُمۡ فِيهَا خَٰلِدُونَ
(275) ˹While˺ Those who devour usury[489] will only rise up in a way similar to he who is touched by the devil[490]. That for saying: “Trade and usury are the same”; Allah has made trade lawful, and He made usury unlawful. Whoever gets a warning from His Lord and detests[491], for him what is gone is gone, and Allah will decide His case[492]. Whoever backtracks[493], these are the company of the Fire, therein they abide forever[494].
[489] Ribā, a recurrent theme in the Qur’an, is a financial transaction in which the lender loans money out and in return gets the principal capital plus interest. Whereas giving out money in charity is strongly encouraged, as seen in these ayas, usury is considered one of the seven cardinal sins (al-sabʿ al-mūbiqāt) in Islam, because it cuts against the grain of the true Believing spirit as expounded in the Qur’an; essentially, it entails exploitation of the economically vulnerable by the strong and resourceful.
[490] The image given here, of a person possessed by the devil staggering while standing and walking unsteadily as they are resurrected for the Day of Judgement, is meant to repulse people from such transactions. It is also a just requital because it mimics their insatiable lust for money in this life making them declare lawful what is not, thus twisting the laws ordained by God (cf. al-Ṭabarī, Ibn ʿAṭiyyah, Ibn Kathīr, al-Saʿdī).
[491] Halts dealing in such a transaction.
[492] Judging by his intentions and motives. (al-Ṭabarī, Ibn Kathīr, al-Baghawī)
[493] Goes back to dealing in usury knowing how sinful it is. (al-Ṭabarī, Ibn Kathīr, al-Baghawī)
[494] Rebellious, sinning Believers will not stay in Hellfire indefinitely. Instead, they will abide in it for a very long period of time and for as long as it takes to cleanse them of their sins. (Ibn ʿAṭiyyah, al-Saʿdī)
[490] The image given here, of a person possessed by the devil staggering while standing and walking unsteadily as they are resurrected for the Day of Judgement, is meant to repulse people from such transactions. It is also a just requital because it mimics their insatiable lust for money in this life making them declare lawful what is not, thus twisting the laws ordained by God (cf. al-Ṭabarī, Ibn ʿAṭiyyah, Ibn Kathīr, al-Saʿdī).
[491] Halts dealing in such a transaction.
[492] Judging by his intentions and motives. (al-Ṭabarī, Ibn Kathīr, al-Baghawī)
[493] Goes back to dealing in usury knowing how sinful it is. (al-Ṭabarī, Ibn Kathīr, al-Baghawī)
[494] Rebellious, sinning Believers will not stay in Hellfire indefinitely. Instead, they will abide in it for a very long period of time and for as long as it takes to cleanse them of their sins. (Ibn ʿAṭiyyah, al-Saʿdī)
Arabic explanations of the Qur’an:
Translation of the meanings
Ayah: (275) Surah: Al-Baqarah
Translation of the Meanings of the Noble Qur'an - English Translation - Dr. Waleed Bleyhesh Omary - Translations’ Index
Translation of the meanings of the Noble Qur’an into English - in progress - translated by Dr. Walid Bleihesh Al-Omari.