What Is the Prohibition of Interest (Riba) in Islamic Finance?

The concept of charging or paying interest has long been central to most conventional financial systems. However, in Islamic finance, the practice known as riba—broadly interpreted as usury or unjust increases on loans—is firmly forbidden by Sharia law. The term “riba” stems from Arabic, meaning “increase” or “excess,” emphasizing the idea of illegitimate gain from […]