Assalamu'alaikum warahmatullahi wabarokatuh.
I want to ask about cash loans at national conventional banks or village business cooperative funds. Does that include usury or not, Ustadz?
ANSWER
Owing usury today at the bank has three disadvantages:
1. Since borrowing, you have been subject to usury.
2. If you pay late, you will be fined.
3. If you want to pay off more quickly, you will be subject to a penalty.
In fact, riba debt today is more jahiliyyah than usury debt in the jahiliyyah era.
Ibn Kathir Rahimullah when explaining the following verse on usury,
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آَمَنُوا لَا تَأْكُلُوا الرِّبَا أَضْعَافً ا مُضَاعَفَةً وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
"O you who believe, do not consume usury in doubles and fear Allah so that you will get good luck." (QS. Ali Imran: 130)
Ibn Kathir Rahimahullah said, "In this verse, Allah forbids believers to indulge in usury and consume usury in large multiples.
Just like the ignorant people in the past, when it was due, it would be said, "Do you want to be paid or will you get usury (interest)." If the debt is paid on time, it means there is no interest. However, if it is not paid when it is due, the debt will grow (increase) due to a delay in payment.
There are also those who say that the debt will be increased in terms of amount. That's what happens every year. So it is said that riba is multiplied because it starts with something a little and continues to increase and increase." (Tafsir Al-Qur'an Al-'Azhim, 2:419)
Let creditors (parties who have bills from other parties) make things easier for people who have difficulty paying off debts. The convenience provided may be given a delay until you have property. Another convenience could be giving charity by paying off debt or canceling part of it.
Allah Ta'ala said,
And if it is hardship, then a return to ease, and that you give alms is better for you, if you knew.
“And if (the person who owes it) is in trouble, then give him respite until he is free. And giving in charity (some or all of the debt) is better for you, if you only knew.” (QS. Al-Baqarah: 280).
From one of the companions of the Prophet sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam, Abul Yasar, he sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam said,
مَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يُظِلَّهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فِى ظِلِّهِ فَلْ يُنْظِرْ
"Whoever wants to receive the protection of Allah 'azza wa jalla, let him give a grace period for people who have difficulty to pay off their debts or even waive their debts." (HR. Ahmad, 3: 427. Shaykh Syu'aib Al-Arnauth said that this hadith is authentic)
Ibnu Katsir said, be patient with difficult people who have difficulty paying off debts. (Tafsir Al-Qur'an Al-'Azhim, 2: 287).
On the same page, Ibnu Katsir also stated that do not be like the Jahiliyah people, where when the debt is due, it is said to the party who owes the debt (debtor), "Pay it off. Otherwise, your debt will grow.”
If you are told to be patient, you cannot charge usury. Riba in the past, as exemplified by Ibnu Katsir, was when you were unable to pay off when it was due then there was usury.
In today's usury, interest (riba) is charged from the start of lending and if it is late there is a fine.
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(Answered by Ustadz Very Setiyawan, Lc., S.Pd.I., MH)
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