When Politics Stinks Like A Decayed Fish, part IV

What Would Be The Consequences Of Eliciting Disadvantaged people's money?

By Ali Al-Hail

ccun.org, October 25, 2008

 
   The US great depression, resulted from the financial crash of 1929-1934 occurred, amongst other reasons because banks unfairly, charged needy people riba, as in God's terms, according to Holy Qur'an, which means in English usury, or interests, and accumulated interests or mounted up interests that, resulted from the former in certain cases. Other lesser crashes that, emerged in different times after the huge, and infamous one more or less, came about because of the same reasons i.e., charging riba.
 
   The West, due to past experiences, and this ongoing financial crisis, has no choice, but to follow God's guidelines, as regard to usury, interests, and built up interests. God, is naturally, more aware of humans' welfare and wellbeing, than humans themselves, because God created them in the first place. This is a scientific fact, regardless of what other people believe.
 
   The West long, diverted themselves from the basic instinct, upon which God created  humans. The way out of this mess is to go back to instinct i.e., God's teaching in the Holy Qur'an. 
 
   In God's terms banks that, exploit people's needs, by charging them interests, eat greedily people's money, "that they took riba (Usury) though they were forbidden, and that they devoured men's substance wrongfully-we have prepared for those among men who reject faith a grievous punishment (Holy Qur'an 4:16.)
 
   God, describes banks, and individuals that, take advantage of needy people as, fallen under the devil's, and evil's impact. Thus, evil disillusion financial institutions, wealthy individuals, and groups that, charging riba (usury, interests, accumulated or amassed interests), is as same as purchasing and selling within fair trade and performing commerce. God warns that, such an action is an obvious breach of humans' instinct. It's rather a violation of God's laws and subsequently, of humans' makeup. Therefore, crises are bound to materialize, "Those who charge riba (Usury) are in the same position as those controlled by the Devil's influence. This is because they claim that riba (Usury) is the same as commerce. However, God permits commerce, and prohibits riba. Thus, whoever heeds this commandment from her\his Lord, and refrains from riba, she\he may keep her\his past earnings, and his judgment rests with God. As for those persist in riba, they incur Hell, wherein they abide for ever" (Holy Qur'an 2: 257.)
 
   The reason, God cautions in the strongest terms lending banks, and well-off individuals, not to charge desperate people riba, is that, they would use the money to eat, to feed their families, or to purchase a roof over their heads. As such, charging them interests, and accumulated interests, would undoubtedly, worsen their humane situation. It would make them feel as they are prisoners to these banks, and indebted to them for as long as they would live. God appeals to these rich banks, not to pressurize the borrower, or charging her\him riba (interests, which is in this case get amassed up to more interests), when the borrower is unable to pay. God demands  lenders to become patient and tolerant, and to wait till the borrower would be ready to pay. God, threatens those who persist on violating God's rules as regard to charging disadvantaged people riba, (usury, interests, and accumulated interests) with a war. This is a serious threat, and ought to be taken so. The recurrent crisis is seen to be a feature of this God's war, "God condemns riba, and blesses charities. God dislikes every disbeliever, guilty. Lo! Those who believe and do good works and establish worship and pay the poor-due, their reward is with their Lord and there shall no fear come upon them neither shall they grieve. O you who believe, you shall observe God and refrain from all kinds of riba, if you are believers. If you do not, then expect a war from God and his messenger. But if you repent, you may keep your capitals, without inflicting injustice, or incurring injustice. If the debtor is unable to pay, wait for a better time. If you give up the loan as a charity, it would be better for you, if you only knew" (Holy Qur'an 2:120.)
 
   In God's terms "O you believe, you shall not take riba, compounded over and over.", is a reference to annual interests, charged by lending banks, and accumulated interests over the 25-30 years, " compounded over and over."  Also, the verse refers to more accumulated interests, as a drastic penalty measure, in case the poor borrower would not be competent to pay in due time, Observe God that you may succeed" (Holy Qur"an3:130.)
 
   Since people, rich and poor, are bound to die anyway, anyhow, rich people (represented by lending banks), ought to (if not must), remember before it's too late that, eliciting poor, needy, and deprived people's money is not going to do them any good. While alive in this temporary life, this 'stolen' money would bring them bad news in one way or another. Perceivably, the latter is clearly, shown almost on a daily basis allover the globe both, individually, and collectively, "And for practicing riba, which was forbidden, and for consuming the people's money illicitly. We have prepared for the disbelievers, among them painful retribution" (Holy Qur'an 4:161.)
 
    Therefore, rich people (represented by lending banks), whose wealth was fundamentally, founded upon riba, and on poor people's money ought to (if not must), consider these facts, and should begin to give up riba, and think seriously, of giving charities away for God, so their life would with God's consent, improve in every direction, "The riba that is practiced to increase some people's wealth, does not gain anything at God. But if people give to charity, seeking God's pleasure, these are the ones who receive their reward many fold" (Holy Qur'an 30: 39.)      

                              
 Professor, Dr. Ali Al-Hail, Professor of Mass Communication, Twice Fulbright

Award Winner, Fulbright Visiting Scholar, Vice-President Of Qatar Fulbright Group, CSR Award Judge and Board Member of AUSACE, ASC, IABD, NEBAA, BEA, IMDA and EAJMC American Associations.

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