The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 1) — Page 430
CH. 2 AL-BAQARAH or listened to it or him; he permitted, or allowed him. means, he knew the thing; or he became informed or apprised of it. means, he made him to know the thing; or he notified or announced it to him. (adhdhana) or (ta'adhdhana) means, he made known or notified or announced (Lane). → (war) is from. They say i. e. he despoiled him of his wealth and property, leaving him without anything. (hariba) means, he became greatly angry, or wrathful. means, war; hostilities (Aqrab). PT. 3 commerce is possible without interest. This is not correct. There is no natural relation between trade and interest. The latter has become unconsciously associated with the former, as Western countries have based their commercial system on credit. If this had not been so, commerce would not have been dependent upon interest. Only a few hundred years ago, Muslims were responsible for a large part of the world's commerce, and yet they carried it on without interest. They used to borrow money even from the poorer classes by way of partnership | رؤس (your original sums) رؤس اموالكم is the plural of meaning: (1) head; (2) the upper or higher part or end of a thing; (3) chief or leader of a society. means, the first day of the month. The word also signifies the thing itself; as they say i. e. this is an independent هو قسم برأسه ,means رأس المال. species in itself the original sum without interest; principal; capital. The Arabs say i. e. he lent me a loan of ten عشرة برؤسها pieces of money without interest (Aqrab & Lane). Commentary: The verse declares that the taking of interest is tantamount to waging war against God. It may be inferred from this that those among Muslims who lend money at interest, should be boycotted by the rest of the community. History bears testimony to the fact that such Muslim States as borrowed or lent money at interest were ruined. loans, and the commerce carried on by them thus contributed directly to the welfare of those classes. Interest is not at all essential for commerce, but as commerce is now being carried on, on the basis of interest, it appears as if without interest it would come to a standstill. No doubt, a change in the system would at first be inconvenient but the system of commerce depending upon interest can certainly be discarded. Interest is, in fact, a leech which is fast sucking away the blood of humanity, especially of the lower and middle classes. Even the upper classes are not entirely secure against its poison, but they are deriving a false enjoyment from it like the proverbial leopard who ate away his own tongue by rubbing it against a rough stone, foolishly thinking it to be the blood and flesh of another animal. Unfortunately those who are willing to forego it are too weak to withstand the force of the current It is often objected that no trade or system. 430