With Islamic banking gradually becoming a more influential factor in the West, an analysis of the concept of riba – a definition of which is not given in the Qur’an – is long overdue. This text presents readers with various interpretations of this Islamic economic concept – generally perceived as ‘interest’. Thomas provides a framework for understanding riba by examining:linguistics classical judicial analysis the historical context modern economics. Including contributions from prominent international scholars, the book fills a gap in the existing literature and will be welcomed by academics and professionals with an interest in Islamic studies, economics and legal history.
Introduction 1. Riba in Lisa Al Arab 2. In the Shadow of Deuteronomy 3. The Juridical Meaning of Riba 4. An Overview of the Sharia'a Prohibition of Riba 5. The Modern Debate over Riba in Egypt 6. Why has Islam Prohibited Interest 7. An Attempt to Understand the Economic Wisdom (Hikma) in the Prohibition of Riba 8. What is Riba. Appendix: The Challenges in Pakistan
'The volume is a useful reference for anyone wishing to understand the Koranic roots of the prohibition of interest, and of how this evolved in the four main schools of Islamic law.' - Middle Eastern Studies
Paul Morris, William Shepard, Paul Trebilco, Toni Tidswell, New Zealand) Morris, Paul (Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand) Shepard, William (Associate Professor, retired, formerly University of Canterbury, New Zealand) Trebilco, Paul (University of Otago, Australia) Tidswell, Toni (Curtin University