Transliteration:( Yaaa ayyuhal lazeena aamanut taqul laaha wa zaroo maa baqiya minar ribaaa in kuntum mu'mineen )
"O you who believe! Fear Allah [740] and leave what remains (due to you) of interest [741], if you are believers [742]."
From this part of the verse, two important principles emerge:
Piety (taqwa) — being God-conscious and avoiding what displeases Allah — should be the ultimate goal of every believer.
Faith precedes piety. Just as Wudu is a prerequisite for Salah, Iman (faith) is the foundation upon which taqwa is built. Without true belief, piety has no firm ground.
Before interest was prohibited, if interest was due on a debtor and part of it remained unpaid, then after prohibition, that portion would not be reclaimed. However, no further interest could be demanded going forward.
This principle also applies in other similar cases:
If a non-believer had interest dues before accepting Islam, he would no longer be held responsible for those payments after embracing Islam.
Similarly, if a person accepted Islam with six or seven wives, he would now be required to retain only four, separating the rest as per Islamic law.
Such examples show how Shariah nullifies prior obligations upon conversion and how rulings can be inferred from this verse.
This verse makes it clear that interest-based dealings are the hallmark of non-believers, not of those who truly believe.
It is unlawful for believers to imitate non-believers, especially in religious, cultural, or economic practices that contradict Islam.
Adopting such acts is close to apostasy (Kufr), particularly when done with acceptance or reverence.
Examples of forbidden imitation include:
Wearing cross threads like Hindus,
Leaving a patch of hair unshaved on top of the head (in religious imitation),
Bowing to the cross as done by Christians.
Thus, abandoning interest-based dealings is not just a financial reform — it is a test of one’s true faith and piety.
The tafsir of Surah Baqarah verse 277 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Baqarah ayat 276 which provides the complete commentary from verse 276 through 277.
(2:278) Believers! Have fear of Allah and give up all outstanding interest if you do truly believe.
There is no commentary by Abul Maududi available for this verse.
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