<p>&nbsp;</p> <p class="MsoNormal">A grave matter I myself have overlooked for many years, and I am certain others have done so also, is the issue of usury or interest.&nbsp;</p> <p class="MsoNormal">We all know and have probably used the cliche 'we saved the best (or most important) 'til last'..</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Did you know that the last verse to be revealed was the one pertaining to usury :</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 6.67 Narrated by Ibn Abbas&nbsp;<strong><em>The last Verse (in the Qur'an) revealed to the Prophet was the Verse dealing with usury (i.e. Riba).</em></strong></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">There are many ahadith regarding the severity of usury; the most popular:</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 3327 Narrated by Abdullah ibn Mas'ud<strong><em>The Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) cursed the one who accepted usury, the one who paid it, the witness to it, and the one who recorded it.</em></strong></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><strong><em><br> <br> </em></strong></p> <p class="MsoNormal">We live in a society where usury or interest is common practice. However, our duty regarding usury is simple, as demonstrated by the following hadith:</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">&nbsp;Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 5.159 Narrated by Abu Burda&nbsp;<strong><em>When I came to Medina, I met Abdullah bin Salam. He said, "Will you come to me so that I may serve you with Sawiq (i.e. powdered barley) and dates, and let you enter a (blessed) house that in which the Prophet entered?" Then he added, "You are in a country where the practice of Riba (i.e. usury) is prevalent; so if somebody owes you something and he sends you a present of a load of chopped straw or a load of barley or a load of provender then do not take it, as it is Riba."</em></strong></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p> <p class="western" style="line-height: 0.32cm;"><span style="color: #0000ff;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong><span style="background: #ffffff;">What should I do with any interest?</span></strong></span></span></span></p> <p class="western" style="line-height: 0.32cm;"><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br></span></span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">It is important that you dispose of any interest immediately.</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br></span></span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p> <p class="western" style="line-height: 0.32cm;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">Please read the following advice for further guidelines </span></span></span></span></p> <p class="western" style="line-height: 0.32cm;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">-&nbsp;</span></span></span></span><a href="http://qa.sunnipath.com/issue_view.asp?id=367"><span style="color: #3b5998;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">http://qa.sunnipath.com/issue_view.asp?id=367</span></span></span></span></span></a></p> <p class="western" style="line-height: 0.32cm;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: &#39;lucida grande&#39;, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;"><br></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 12px; background-color: #ffffff;">Please note: It is permissible to give your interest to charity without </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 12px; background-color: #ffffff;">the intention of reward</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: &#39;lucida grande&#39;, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 12px; background-color: #ffffff;">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &amp;amp;amp;amp; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: red; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Act Now</span></strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">What I am imploring you all to do, is to get out your bank account statements, log in to your Internet banking and spare no more than half an hour to see what interest you've earned on your money this year and donate it via this page.&nbsp;</p> <p class="MsoNormal">If interest on your bank accounts is unavoidable, we encourage you to donate it as soon as it is incurred, whether it is monthly, quarterly or yearly.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: &amp;amp;amp;amp; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #99cc00; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Where will my money go?</span></strong></p> <p class="MsoNormal">All money donated through this page will go to Rahma (Mercy) - www.rahmamercy.org.uk; a charity that has been undertaking unique projects in reconstruction, humanitarian and development work, with Muslims in the Balkans, since 1999.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Rahma (Mercy) has a 100% donation policy, so please be rest assured, every penny that you donate will go to those in need.&nbsp;</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><strong><em><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &amp;amp;amp;amp; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #005300; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">&ldquo;Allah will deprive usury of all blessing, but will give increase for deeds of charity: for He loves not creatures ungrateful and sinner.&rdquo;</span></em></strong><strong><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &amp;amp;amp;amp; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #005300; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">&nbsp;&nbsp;(Qur&lsquo;an, 2: 276)</span></strong><span style="font-size: 12pt;">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><em>For more information on this campaign, or the work Rahma (Mercy) do, please e-mail contact me - &nbsp;sarah@rahmamercy.org.uk or follow us on&nbsp;<a href="http://www.facebook.com/officialrahmamercy"><span style="color: blue;">facebook</span></a></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p>