The most fundamental aspect of Shariah compliance is the prohibition of any form of usury, or riba6 . Any amount in a contract of loan or debt – regardless of size – that exceeds the principal is riba. Such contracts are prohibited by the Quran, regardless of whether the loan is taken for the purpose of consumption or for some production activity. This indicates that any forms of receiving or paying interest are not allowed, because Islam defines all forms of interest as usury. The rationale behind the prohibition of interest in Islam suggests an economic system.
