The Meaning of Riba al-Fadl and Riba al-Nasi’ah

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Riba al-Fadl means usury consisting of an increase and excess (without a term), that is, an excess that occurs in a hand-to-hand exchange of two items of the same kind, such as: a person sells two dirhams for one dirham, or two dinars for one dinar, or two sa’ of dates for one sa’ of dates. This is riba al-fadl. Riba al-Nasi’ah (that is, usury due to a term or credit) takes the form of delaying the taking of possession of an item which must be taken into possession. For example, if a person sells dates for dates, then it is necessary that they be equal and that they be taken into possession before the parties separate. And if a person sells dates for barley, it is also necessary to take possession of them before the parties separate from each other. If possession is delayed, this will be the first form, meaning that in an equal sale of dates for dates, there will be riba al-nasi’ah because of the delay. Likewise, if there is a sale of dates for barley and possession is delayed, there will also be riba al-nasi’ah. Sometimes riba al-fadl and riba al-nasi’ah occur together, and this form is when a sale of dates is for dates but there is no equality and possession is also delayed: the excess causes riba al-fadl and the delay causes riba al-nasi’ah. Riba al-nasi’ah is precisely this: when dealing with items in which usury applies, delaying the handing over of possession, which is required before the parties separate from each other. And fadl means making an excess in items in which equality is a condition.