Riba al-Nasi'ah
ربا النسيئة
Pronunciation: REE-bah an-nah-SEE-ah
Riba of delay: any increase charged for time on a debt, which is what modern interest is.
Definition
The increase a lender receives for giving the borrower time, whether set at the start of a loan or added when payment is late. This is the riba the Qur'an condemns directly (2:275-279) and the one that corresponds to interest on loans, credit cards, bonds, and savings accounts.
The prohibition applies regardless of rate, purpose, or whether the borrower is rich or poor, and it covers both charging and paying the increase. It is distinguished from riba al-fadl, the riba of unequal exchange in spot trades of like commodities.
Related Terms
Ribaربا
Interest or usury - the most strictly prohibited practice in Islamic finance.
Riba al-Fadlربا الفضل
Riba of excess: unequal exchange of the same ribawi commodity, such as gold for gold or dollars for dollars.
Qard Hasanقرض حسن
A benevolent, interest-free loan where only the principal is repaid - the only fully permissible loan in Islam.
Daynدين
Debt: a fixed obligation owed by one party to another, which Islamic law protects but forbids trading for profit.
Ghararغرر
Excessive uncertainty or ambiguity in a contract - one of the three major prohibitions in Islamic finance.
Haramحرام
Prohibited under Islamic law - in finance, includes interest-based products and investments in prohibited industries.
Compare Related Products
See how Riba al-Nasi'ah is used in real Shariah-compliant financial products available in Canada
Stay Updated
Get halal finance updates, new provider alerts, and expert insights
No spam ever. Unsubscribe in one click.
Riba al-Nasi'ah (ربا النسيئة) - Riba of delay: any increase charged for time on a debt, which is what modern interest is. The increase a lender receives for giving the borrower time, whether set at the start of a loan or added when payment is late. This is the riba the Qur'an condemns directly (2:275-279) and the one that corresponds to interest on loans, credit cards, bonds, and savings accounts.
- Riba of delay: any increase charged for time on a debt, which is what modern interest is.
- Category: Prohibitions
- Related: Riba, Riba al-Fadl, Qard Hasan, Dayn, Gharar, Haram
- Compare related Shariah-compliant products on HalalWallet
Source: HalalWallet (halalwallet.ca)
How to cite this page
Preferred format (HTML):
For time-sensitive claims (rates, fees, province availability), please verify directly with the provider's official documentation and note the retrieval date.
Sources and review process
This page is reviewed against HalalWallet editorial standards and source documentation.
Reviewed by: HalalWallet Editorial Team
Last reviewed: 2026-10-01
Editorial Team, HalalWallet
Independent halal finance research
Reviewed quarterly and updated for major content changes.