Riba

Riba (Arabic: ربا‎ ribā, IPA: [ˈrɪbæː]) can be roughly translated as "Usury". Riba is forbidden in Islamic economic jurisprudence (fiqh) and considered as a major sin. Simply, unjust gains in trade or business, generally through exploitation.

While the term "Riba" is often equalised as "Interest" by many, the Qur'an actually described "Riba" as a general term, that is not only limited to as a financial term. An excerpt from Surat Al-Baqarah from Ayah 275 stated:

ذَٰلِکَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَالُوا إِنَّمَا الْبَیْعُ مِثْلُ الرِّبَا ۗ وَأَحَلَّ اللَّهُ الْبَیْعَ وَحَرَّمَ الرِّبَا

They say: 'buying and selling is but a kind of usury' - while God has made buying and selling lawful and usury unlawful.

"Ribaa"/"رِّبَا" is pronounced and written similary to "Rabbi"/"رَبِّ", that means "Lord"/"Caretaker"/"Master". Implying that an unwilling Debt Bondage is a form of Riba.

There are two types of riba discussed by Islamic jurists: an increase in capital without any services provided and speculation (Maisir), which is prohibited by the Qur'an, and commodity exchanges in unequal quantities, also prohibited in the Qur'an.