Tafseer al-Saharawi by Muhammad Metwalli al-Sha'rawi

Verse#275

Those who devour interest will not rise but like a person possessed by the devil and demented. That
is because they say, ‘Trade is the same as usury.’ But Allah has permitted trade, and He has
forbidden usury. Whoever is given advice by his Lord and then desists, may 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, forever. (Chapter 2: Verse 275)

On the Day of Judgement, each group of sinners will be distinguished by its specific sin.

Allah says:

The sinners will be recognized by their marks and seized by the forelock and their feet. (55:41)

People who have neglected their prayers will have their distinguishing mark, so will those who did
not pay their Zakat almsgiving.

What is the mark of those who deal with usury and interest?

God answers, “but like a person possessed of the devil and demented.”

So, they will appear possessed, frantic, and tormented by the devil.

Allah wants to present usury to us in a repulsive manner, so he describes the condition of those who
deal in usury not only in the hereafter, but also in this world. Perhaps the word that stands out the
most in the verse is “devour.”

Eating is one of the essential needs of life, but “devouring” is something beyond what is needed for
sustenance. So is usury and interest, they are a transgression beyond what is needed for healthy
economic life.

Allah says: ‘Those who devour interest will not rise but like a person possessed by the devil and
demented.’

The words: ‘Satan’ and ‘the devils’ refer to the disobedient Jinn. The Jinn have believers just like
humans have believers, and the Jinn have disbelievers known as the devils who spread corruption
just as disbelieving people. We believe in the devils, not because we can see them, but because God
informed us of their existence. Matters that you can see, hear or touch do not require belief. Belief is
only in matters of the unseen, such as the angles and the devils. God gives us a mental image of the
devils.

Allah used this metaphor so your mind would imagine the ugliest most repulsive thing possible. In
other words, God left it to each one of us to imagine the vilest scene. Devil is hideous foul creature.
This brings us back to the verse.

God says: “Those who devour interest will not rise but like a person possessed by the devil and
demented.”

To be possessed and demented is to act frantically irrational. This is because any human who has
contact with the devil is harmfully afflicted.
God says: Indeed, some men from the humans would seek the protection of some men from the
jinn, thus only adding to their vileness. (72:6)

As if any contact with a devil would throw the human off balance. You are probably wondering: How
is this all related to usury? We answer that just as this unnatural contact between a human and a
devil creates chaos, so is dealing with usury. It throws all economic affairs into frantic chaos.

Allah created us and gave each a talent different from others. I cannot survive without the talents of
the many people around me. This is how the economy thrives. We trade talents, and we all enjoy the
fruits of our work. Some areas are rich in oil and minerals, while other areas have fertile land and
livestock. Allah created earth to be enjoyed by all.

He says: “He laid out the earth for all living creatures” (55:10)

So it is the earth –the entire earth- for all, with no borders, walls, or restrictions. Borders cause a
massive imbalance between demand and supply. Some people are drowning in resources, while
others are starving. Keep in mind that goods and talents are what directly benefits us, while money
cannot. Money is just a medium of exchange. In other words, true benefit and value come from the
goods and services that you have, whether food, drink, or clothes; not from money.

Usury enriches the rich and plunges the poor deeper into poverty. Money is transferred from the
poor to the rich, not in exchange for goods, services, or talent; rather, it is in exchange for more debt
and poverty. This leads to corruption and the widespread of evil.

God says: “Those who devour interest will not rise but like a person possessed of the devil and
demented. That is because they say, ‘Trade is the same as usury.’ But Allah has permitted trade
and He has forbidden usury.”

It is fascinating to watch the same countries that exported the interest usury-based banking system
to the entire planet resort to zero interest policies when they run into trouble. This is not done to
comply with the Lord’s teachings, but it is done because they see it as the best way to bring the
financial life back into balance.