Al-Matalib al-'Aliyah 1371 — Usury (riba)

Ishaq narrated through Abd al-Samad bin Abd al-Warith, Zayd bin Murrah Abu al-Mu'alla and Abu Sa'id al-Raqashi that Ikrimah, the freed slave of Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both), came to Basrah, and we sat in his gathering in the Friday mosque. He said: "Will you not stop this elder of yours, that is, al-Hasan bin Abi al-Hasan (al-Hasan al-Basri)? He claims that the hand-to-hand sale people make of silver for silver and gold for gold in cash is unlawful, whereas I testify that Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) declared it lawful." Abu Sa'id said: I said to him: "Woe to you! Do you not know that (once) I was sitting at the head of Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) and you were sitting at his feet, when a man came and stood by you. I asked: What do you need? He said: I want to ask Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) about selling gold for gold. I said: Go (and ask), for his view is that there is no harm in it. (Hearing this) Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) removed the turban from his face, then sat up and said: 'Astaghfirullah' (I seek forgiveness from Allah). By Allah! I used to think that anything Muslims trade hand to hand is only lawful. (But later) I heard from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar and Sayyiduna Umar bin al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with them); they had preserved from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) on this matter what I had not memorised. 'Wa astaghfirullah' (And I seek forgiveness from Allah)."