Question

Please provide a reference for the following narration:

“At the end of times people will change the name of usury and make it permissible.”

Answer

I have not come across a Hadith with this exact wording.

However, Ibn Qayyim (rahimahullah) has cited Ibn Battah (rahimahullah) to have recorded a (mursal) narration on the authority of Imam Awza’I (rahimahullah) that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) has mentioned: “A time will come upon people wherein they will attempt to make riba (usury) permissible through trade.”

(Tahdhibus Sunan, under Hadith: 3317 vol. 5, pg. 107; Also see, Al-Ajwibatul Mardiyyah, vol. 1, pg. 214)

Furthermore, a similar narration has been recorded which mentions khamr (wine) instead of riba (usury).

Sayyiduna Abu Umamah (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reported that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:

“The nights and days will not perish [i.e., The day of judgement will not come] until a group from among my Ummah will drink wine; referring to/calling it by other than its name.”

(Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith: 3384; Also see: Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith: 4020, Sahih Ibn Hibban, Hadith: 4949, and Targhib, Hadith: 3505)

And Allah Ta’ala knows best.

Answered by: Mawlana Farhan Shariff

Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar