Page 68 - Solution, the values of the Qurʼan

66 SOLUTION THE VALUES OF THE QUR'AN

driven mad by satan's touch. That is because they say, 'Trade is the same as
usury.' But Allah has permitted trade and He has forbidden usury. Whoever
is given a warning by his Lord and then desists, can keep what he received
in the past and his affair is Allah's concern. But all who return to it will be
the Companions of the Fire, remaining in it timelessly, for ever. (Surat al-
Baqara: 275)
In another verse, it is stressed that usury does not bring prosperity to
man:
Allah obliterates usury but makes charity grow in value! Allah does not
love any persistently ungrateful wrongdoer. (Surat al-Baqara: 276)
To improve living standards, stability and order are essential in all
domains of social life. This also holds true for the economy. Believers are
those who should assume the responsibility of providing solutions. In this
respect, nobody has the time to lose waiting for others to take the
initiative. That is because Allah gave this responsibility to every believer.
To fulfill it, one primarily needs to communicate the religion and the
blessings that the religion adds to one's life.
The members of a community having a sincere faith that possessions,
unlike usury, spent for the good of people will bring prosperity, will

spend the part of their possessions they do not need for a good cause
without hesitation. The benefits of such a system are evident to society.
However, people should not see such a system as unattainable. The way
to prevent this is to teach people the Qur'an.
It is also important to stress that, in the type of social life that is guided
by the Qur'an and the Sunnah people strive not only to protect their own
welfare, but for the welfare of the public since the values of Islam demand
co-operation, solidarity and unity.
Being prohibited by Allah from doing so, people do not violate one
another's rights. No one tries to unlawfully take others' possessions or
rights. No one commits fraud in measuring and weighing. In a society
living by the Qur'an, injustice is never allowed. Consequently, usury-
ridden relations end. The wealthy do not exploit the poor and people do
not attempt unlawfully to take other's portions.