The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 4) — Page 598
PT. 21 CH. 30 AR-RŪM as 40. "Whatever you pay interest that it may increase the وَمَا أَتَيْتُم مِّنْ رَّبَّانِيَرْبُوَاْ فِي أَمْوَالِ النَّاسِ فَلَا يَرْبُوا عِنْدَ اللهِ وَمَا أَتَيْتُمُ wealth of the people, it does not increase in the sight of Allah; مِنْ زَكوة تُرِيدُونَ وَجْهَ اللَّهِ فَأُولَيكَ but whatever you give in Zakah هُمُ الْمُضْعِفُوْنَ seeking the favour of Allah-it is these who will increase their wealth manifold. 3018 اللهُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُمْ ثُمَّ رَزَقَكُمْ ثُمَّ It is Allah Who has created. 41 you, and then He has provided يُمِيْتُكُمْ ثُمَّ يُحْيِيكُمُ هَلْ مِنْ for you; then He will cause you شُرَكَابِكُمْ مَّنْ يَفْعَلُ مِنْ ذَلِكُمْ مِنْ b شَيْءٍ سُبْحَنَهُ وَتَعَلَى عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ to die, and then He will bring you to life. Is there any of your so-called partners who can do any of these things? Glorified be He and exalted above that which they associate with Him. 3019 "2:276; 3:131. 2:29; 22:67; 40:69; 45:27. 3018. Commentary: In this verse a contrast has been made between Zakāh and interest which institution, according to some people, can help the poor improve their economic condition. By Zakāh Islam seeks to improve the miserable lot of the poor, at the same time safeguarding their dignity and self- respect, while the institution of interest not only does not better the economic condition of the poor but on the contrary tends actually to make the rich richer and the poor poorer. The vast disparity of wealth between different sections of human society, as a result of which a large majority grovels in grinding indigence and penury and a tiny section rolls in unmeasured wealth, is 2512 inevitably due to the institution of interest. It is on cooperative basis as taught by Islam and not by the giving and taking of interest that the wealth of a community can increase, and it is to this important economic truth that the verse under comment refers. 3019. Commentary: Before closing the subject of the Unity of God dealt with in the previous several verses, the Surah summarizes the arguments which support it. They are: (a) God is our Creator; (b) He is our Sustainer and Provider; and (c) He possesses complete control over life and death. These are the three very essential attributes that the Supreme Being Who commands and demands our worship must and does possess.