Bukhari

Hadith Commentary:
In this hadith, the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) has warned us about the trial of wealth.
We should thoroughly investigate the means of livelihood.
We should choose lawful (halal) means for earning, but unfortunately, at this time we are faced with such circumstances that the distinction between halal and haram has disappeared.
We are obsessed only with accumulating wealth, whereas in the Qur’an and hadith, great importance has been given to lawful (halal) sustenance.
In one hadith it is stated:
“A time will come upon the people when all of them will be involved in consuming usury (riba); if anyone tries to avoid it, even then its dust will surely reach him.”
(al-Mustadrak lil-Hakim: 11/2)
After mentioning this hadith, Imam Hakim (rahimahullah) says:
If the hearing (sama‘) of Hasan al-Basri from Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (radi Allahu anhu) is established, then this narration is authentic; otherwise, due to being disconnected (munqati‘), it is weak.
‘Allamah al-Albani (rahimahullah) has mentioned it in Da‘if al-Jami‘ al-Saghir.

Hadith Commentary:

Rather, the intention will be to accumulate wealth by any means, from wherever it may be obtained and in whatever manner, whether it is permissible (halal) or impermissible (haram) according to the Shariah.

In one hadith, it is mentioned that a time will come when whoever does not consume usury (riba) will still be affected by its dust.

That is, he will be involved in usurious transactions as an agent, ruler, or witness.

With the implementation of today’s false systems, these calamities are becoming so widespread that they require no further elaboration.

Hadith Commentary:
(1)
It was a custom in the Age of Ignorance (Jahiliyyah) that when the term of a loan expired, if the debtor paid back the loan, well and good; otherwise, the term would be extended and its interest would also be increased. Every year this would be done, until the amount of interest would become many times greater than the principal. Allah, the Exalted, has prohibited this. The clarification of compound interest is to express its abhorrence and repulsiveness, which they used to commit, such that by lending one dirham, they would collect many dirhams in return.

(2)
The relevance of this hadith to the chapter heading is that the usurer, after consuming manifold interest, does not care whether he is consuming what is lawful or filling his belly with what is unlawful.

(3)
The real purpose of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) is to warn the Ummah that a time will come when the epidemic of usury (riba) will become widespread, and remaining safe from it will be extremely difficult. O Allah, protect us from it. Ameen.

(1) By establishing this chapter, the purpose of the Imam rahimahullah is to instill eagerness to avoid doubtful matters in earning, because when a person does not avoid doubts but rather falls prey to them, then becoming involved in doubtful things drags him towards the prohibitions (the things Allah ta‘ala has forbidden).

(2) This blessed hadith is an open miracle of the Prophethood and Messengership of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, that the prediction which he sallallahu alayhi wa sallam made in his blessed era is being fulfilled exactly as stated today.

(3) This blessed hadith also proves that in any era, the lawful (halal) will never be completely eliminated from the entire world; rather, it will remain present somewhere or another. Therefore, it is necessary for every Muslim to strive for lawful earning (kasp halal). When he is sincere in seeking the lawful, Allah ta‘ala will surely help him.

(4) The essence of all these points is that people’s sole objective will become wealth—acquiring wealth from wherever it may be found. There will be no distinction between lawful and unlawful. Today, this is generally the atmosphere in our country. Every person, every institution, every group, every organization considers the acquisition of wealth as the primary objective. The matter of lawful and unlawful comes afterwards. Even religious institutions and organizations are not demonstrating any particular caution—except those whom Allah wills.