Difference Between Buying and Selling and Usury

In fact, Islam protects human rights. Starting from religion, wealth, life, honor, and so on. In Islam, wealth is not put aside, it is even an urgent matter. Islam does not turn a blind eye to injustices in the form of wealth. Based on this, one of the forms of injustice towards property is usury. Allah Story said,

And Allah has permitted trade and prohibited usury.

“Allah has permitted buying and selling and prohibited usury.” (QS. Al-Baqarah: 275)

To some extent, you need to know about the differences between buying and selling and the practice of usury. Can buying and selling be the same as usury? Of course the answer that comes to mind is that you can’t. Because nash-nash The Qur’an explains this. Among them is the verse above which clearly shows the difference between usury and buying and selling.

Once upon a time, the Arabs Jahiliyah considers there is no difference between the practice of usury and ordinary buying and selling. According to them, the two are the same. As told in the Qur’anul Karim, Allah Story said,

People who eat usury will not be able to stand up except as people who are thrown by Satan will stand up because of his touch. This is for you because they say, “Selling it is just like usury.” And Allah has permitted buying and selling and prohibited usury.

“People who consume usury cannot stand but stand like a person possessed by a devil because he is crazy. This is because they say that buying and selling is the same as usury. In fact, Allah has permitted buying and selling and prohibited usury.” (QS. Al-Baqarah: 275)

In the Fathul Qadir mentioned by Al-Imam Ash-Syaukani may Allah forgive him,

What was most commonly done in pre-Islamic times was that when the debt due date arrived, the person in debt would say to the person in debt: Will you pay it off or will you pay it back? If he does not pay it, he increases the amount of debt and postpones the term for a while.

“The most common habit among the Jahiliyah community is that when the debt is due, the lender will say to the borrower, ‘Do you want to pay the debt now or increase the debt?’ If he does not pay his debt, then a certain amount of assets will be added to the debt he is responsible for, and the payment date will be delayed until a certain time.”

This is a form of usury transaction Ignorance which is prohibited in Islamic law.

The difference between buying and selling and usury

As has been mentioned, there are differences between buying and selling and usury, and buying and selling and usury are not the same. The following is the difference between buying and selling and usury [1]:

– Buying and selling is legally valid and a person will get a reward if he is honest in his buying and selling; while the law of usury is haram and the perpetrator will incur sin. As a Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said,

Buying and selling is permissible as long as they do not separate, so if they are honest and truthful, then they will receive blessings in their sale, and if they lie and hide the blessings of their sale, then they are entitled to blessings in their sale.

“The seller and buyer have the right to khiyar as long as they have not separated. If both are honest and explain to each other (the condition of the goods), then both of them will be blessed with the sale. However, if both lie and hide (the defects), then the blessing of the sale and purchase will be erased for both.” (HR. Muslim)

– Buying and selling is exchanging goods for a nominal price; while usury is an addition to the nominal amount when payment is due and there is an inability to pay.

– Buying and selling is an exchange of benefits based on the willingness of both parties; while usury is a form of exploiting rich people for the needs and inability of poor people to repay and often there is no willingness or satisfaction on the part of the borrower.

In usury, in general it is rich people who have a bigger role, while borrowers come from poor people. If usury were permitted, then rich people would arbitrarily take the property of poor people.

– Profits in buying and selling are rewards for effort and hard work in trading, selling, etc. Meanwhile, profits in usury are rewards for time only; thus having no recognized successor syar’i (such as goods or benefits), as well as without effort and without hard work.

– Sellers and traders can profit and can lose; Meanwhile, the profit for usury perpetrators is certain and guaranteed, and can even continue to increase over time and does not require work. So this will become a habit that damages society. Ibn Assyria said,

That the abuse of usury prevents people from going through difficulties in earning a living; Because if the owner of the money is used to taking usury, then it will be easier for him to earn a living. If it spreads to humans, the benefits of creation will cease. Because world interests can only be achieved through trade, industry and architecture.

“Indeed, in the practice of usury there is something that prevents humans from taking the trouble of working and trying to earn an income. Because if the owner of property is accustomed to taking usury, then it becomes easier for him (not to bother in) earning a living. If this becomes widespread among humans, it will lead to the termination of various benefits for creatures; because the benefits of the world will not be orderly except with trade, industry and development.” (At-Tahrir wat Tanwir)

– Buying and selling is general in nature and covers all types of goods, while usury at this time is basically related to money alone, and stands on the principle of making money from money, which is contrary to the purpose of money as a tool for evaluating goods.

– Buying and selling fulfills human needs, while usury exploits humans; even usury perpetrators sometimes create needs, then exploit them.

– Buying and selling encourages prosperity and revives the economy, while usury destroys the economy.

– Usury causes disputes, hatred, envy and enmity between people. This is not found in buying and selling, because the origin of buying and selling is a fair exchange, and there is a demand for the maximum possible balance and justice between value and goods.

God bless.

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Depok, 29 Rajab 1447/ 18 January 2026

Writer: Muhammad Zia Abdurrofi

Article Muslim.or.id

Footnote:

[1] Difference between buying and selling and usury

Reference:

• Ibn ʿAshuhRMuhammad al-Ṭāhir. At-Taḥrīr wa at-Tanwīr. Accessed via Al-Baḥit is al-Qur’ānī.
• Asy-SyawkaniMuhammad ibn ʿAlī. Fatḥ al-Qadir al-Jāmiʿ Bayna Fannay ar-RiwAYes wa ad-DirAthis minute ʿIlm at-TafsIR. Accessed via Al-Baḥit is al-Qur’ānī.
• Oh my god. Al-Farqu bayna al-Bayʿ cakeA. https://www.alukah.net/sharia/0/80541/