Riba Only On Consumable Items
I want to add a few statements/questions: Assumptions: riba on non-consumables is not haram. I would like to add to the discussion that, although it might be a matter of personal judgment/principles, the nature of the item being rented out matters as much as the categorization of the loan. If interest/rent is being charged on what Islam defines as basic necessities and rights of human beings, even if they’re non-consumable, it has to be haraam. But then again, the state is responsible for providing basic rights and necessities for its subjects* And if the state is unable to provide enough basic necessities to its people, the reason is likely to be, in a capitalist society, rationing of basic necessities is done according to wealth. So the very idea of a capitalist society (privately-owned organizations) that controls basic necessities such as basic housing, appropriate nutritional products, and good enough education and other means to progress in the society despite lack of currency/money, seems to perpetuate the system of interest. You see nutrition, education, and shelter are basic human rights needed to progress in society. Are we going to differentiate both the taking of loans for either haram or halal on the basis of one thing being a consumable and the not being? In my opinion, it’s the state that is at fault when it fails to provide these things. The consequence is always manipulation of the market by private organizations. I’ve rambled enough here are my questions: Does anyone here agree and can back it up with more sound logic that, if the state (policy-making leadership) is unable to provide basic rights, there is no way to escape the concept of interest? Either in the way of consumable or non-consumable goods? Is the onus of the riba then on the state because individuals do not possess the ability to work and produce as much as an elected state body is supposed to? Can it be backed up in Islam that unless basic human rights are fulfilled by the state, individuals should strive for negating it, but not be responsible solely for the burden of the charging riba? Because it kind of makes sense. *is this backed up in Quran/Ahadith? Another question: Ghamdi Sb makes the distinction between consumable and non-consumable interest but he has only the backed-up concept of non-consumable interest (stated as rent) from a Hadith. Wouldn’t it help to state the concept of consumable interest specifically being mentioned as riba, or even be mentioned at all in relation to riba in Hadith or Quran, or in any Abraham religions for that matter? Unless a reference to that is there, it leaves the whole topic open to extremely wide interpretations, one of which I find the strongest is Ghamdi Sb’s.