We live in an era where everything is fast and instant. It is no wonder that the enthusiasm to find ways to make money is increasing. More and more people are competing to find loopholes to get “maximum profit, minimal capital.” But in the midst of this euphoria, we rarely ask one important thing: “Is the wealth I earn halal?”
The problem is, sometimes the way to make money looks very tempting. It’s not complicated, the results are fast, and it seems legal. But unfortunately, not everything that looks legitimate in the eyes of humans is also legitimate in the eyes of Allah ﷻ. In fact, it could be a path that is forbidden according to sharia even though it is neatly packaged under the pretext of “business,” “investment,” or “golden opportunity.”
The Prophet ﷺ has warned about this. He said:
«يَأْتِي عَلَى النَّاسِ زَمَانٌ لَا يُبَالِي الْمَرْءُ بِمَا أَخَذَ الْمَالَ، أَمِنَ الْحَلَالِ أَمْ مِنَ الْحَرَامِ»
“There will come a time when man will not care where he gets his money wealth, whether from what is halal or from what is haram.” (HR. Bukhari)
Sounds scary, right? But that is the reality. In the midst of the rapid flow of information and easy access to the economy today, we are increasingly challenged to fortify ourselves with knowledge and piety, especially about wealth.
Well, this article wants to invite you to have a light but serious chat. Let’s discuss together: what are the ways to make money that are prohibited by Islam? Because it’s not just the results that are important, but the process must also be straight and clean. Let’s start slowly, so that we can digest it together.
1. Usury in Debt
Talking about usury, it seems like we have heard it very often. But to be honest, many people still don’t understand what it looks like in everyday life. One of the most widely used but clearly haram ways to make money is usury in debt. Or in fiqh terms, it is called riba nasi’ah.
Well, this type of usury occurs when there is an additional or premium due to delayed payment. So, for example, you borrow a million, but have to return 1.2 million because the installment is two months late—well, that’s usury. Even if we say “that’s normal, it’s to compensate for the delay in payment,” usury is still usury.
Islam is not playing around with this. In the Qur’an, Allah ﷻ has openly prohibited usury, even giving very serious threats:
ٱلَّذِينَ يَأْكُلُونَ ٱلرِّبَوٰا۟ لَا يَقُومُونَ إِلَّا كَمَا يَقُومُ ٱلَّذِى يَتَخَبَّطُهُ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنُ مِنَ ٱلْمَسِّ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّمَا ٱلْبَيْعُ مِثْلُ ٱلرِّبَوٰا۟ ۗ وَأَحَلَّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْبَيْعَ وَحَرَّمَ ٱلرِّبَوٰا۟ ۚ
“Those who consume usury cannot stand except as one who is possessed by a devil stands because of the pressure of insanity. That is because they say, ‘Indeed, buying and selling is like usury.’ Whereas Allah has permitted buying and selling and forbidden usury…” (QS. Al-Baqarah: 275)
See how this verse shows that making money through usury is not only a sin, but also leads the mind and heart astray. Even scholars of interpretation say, people who are accustomed to usury are like they can no longer think straight, because their hearts are constantly being eroded by sin.
Even more terrifying, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ once said:
«لَعَنَ ٱللَّهُ آكِلَ ٱلرِّبَا وَمُوكِلَهُ وَشَاهِدَيْهِ وَكَاتِبَهُ، وَقَالَ: هُمْ سَوَاءٌ»
“Allah curses the one who consumes usury, the one who gives usury, its witnesses, and its recorder.” (Narrated by Muslim)
So, it is not only those who profit from usury who are subject to its sin. Even those who write the transactions are cursed. It’s really scary, isn’t it?
In fact, there are so many halal alternatives that we can take to develop our wealth. There are sharia-compliant sales and purchases, there are partnerships (mudharabah, musyarakah), and there are sharia-compliant leases. But if we still insist on making money through usury, it’s the same as intentionally opening the door to Allah’s curse.
That’s why it’s really important for us to be more careful before taking out a loan or investment. Check the agreement, make sure there are no elements of interest or penalties. Because usury today is often wrapped up in cool terms like “margin,” “late fee,” or “administration fee,” even though in the end it’s usury too.
Also read: Smart Money Management Tips For Homemakers
2. Usury in Buying and Selling (Riba Fadhal)
If the previous one was usury in debt, now we will discuss usury in buying and selling, or what is commonly known as usury fadhal. Well, this is a form of usury that is often not realized, especially for those who like to trade or exchange usurious goods.
So, usury fadhal is an addition in a barter transaction between two similar usurious goods, but not balanced in terms of measurement, weight, or quality. For example, exchanging 10 grams of gold for 12 grams of gold, even though they are both precious metals. Well, it could be entering the realm of usury.
Even though with the naked eye we think: “Isn’t it mutually beneficial?” But Islam gives a different standard. Because in the view of sharia, making money by exploiting ignorance or inequality of value in exchange is a form of injustice.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ firmly said:
“الذَّهَبُ بِالذَّهَبِ، وَالْفِضَّةُ بِالْفِضَّةِ، وَالْبُرُّ بِالْبُرِّ، وَالشَّعِيرُ بِالشَّعِيرِ، وَالتَّمْرُ بِالتَّمْرِ، وَالْمِلْحُ بِالْمِلْحِ، مِثْلًا بِمِثْلٍ، سَوَاءً بِسَوَاءٍ، يَدًا بِيَدٍ، فَإِذَا اخْتَلَفَتْ هَذِهِ الْأَصْنَافُ فَبِيعُوا كَيْفَ شِئْتُمْ، إِذَا كَانَ يَدًا بِيَدٍ”
“(Exchanging) gold for gold, silver for silver, wheat for wheat, barley for barley, dates for dates, and salt for salt, must be the same measure, balanced, and done in cash. If they are different types, then trade as you like, as long as it is done in cash.” (Narrated by Muslim)
This means, if you want to exchange gold for silver, you may. But it must be directly handed over, without any one-sided excess. If not, then it is usury.
In the modern world, this form of usury often occurs in gold or foreign exchange (forex) transactions, two things that are now increasingly easy for anyone to access via online platforms.
For example:
Someone buys 10 grams of gold for 10 million, but the payment is postponed for two weeks. Or someone exchanges 1,000 USD for rupiah, but the agreed exchange rate applies for the next day, not immediately at the time of the contract. Well, this is already included in the category of usury fadhal and usury nasi’ah at the same time, because it is not cash.
Scholars agree that gold and silver in this hadith also include money and other valuable assets such as foreign exchange. So, in buying and selling gold or forex trading, the contract must be cash and equivalent if the type is different. If it is a different type (for example, USD to IDR), the value may be different, but it must still be cash (spot trading).
Unfortunately, in the field, many are trapped in speculative forex or buying and selling gold with an installment system without direct handover. This is a form of making money that is prohibited, even though it looks sophisticated or economically profitable.
After all, what’s the point of making a big profit if it’s not halal in the end?
So be careful, okay? Don’t let us slip into making money through ways that seem ordinary, but are actually weird in the eyes of sharia.
If our intention is to be blessed, don’t just look at the profit. But we also have to see whether it’s halal or haram. Because Allah ﷻ has promised, that which is haram, even though it looks tempting, will eventually cause disaster. But what is halal, even though it’s slow, God willing, is full of blessings.
Also read: Financial Management at the Time of Muhammad ﷺ
3. Making Money Through Gambling
Just think about this: you put one hundred thousand into an application that claims to give you one million just by guessing the football score, playing digital slots, or clicking lucky spin. Not tired, not working, but you can “make money”. Very interesting, right?
But that’s where the problem lies. Gambling is a fast way that is forbidden in Islam to make money. Whether it’s in a modern form like online games, digital casinos, betting on football scores, to prize coupons that are actually tricks, all fall into the category of maysir.
Islam not only forbids it because it’s “unproductive”, but because there are elements of excessive speculation, uncertainty, and one-sided profit. This clearly harms some parties and enriches others unfairly.
Allah ﷻ is very firm in His words:
“يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِنَّمَا ٱلْخَمْرُ وَٱلْمَيْسِرُ وَٱلْأَنصَابُ وَٱلْأَزْلَـٰمُ رِجْسٌۭ مِّنْ عَمَلِ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنِ فَٱجْتَنِبُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ”
“O you who believe! Indeed, wine, gambling, sacrifices to idols, and drawing lots with arrows are impure, among the deeds of Satan. So avoid them so that you may be successful.” (QS. Al-Mā’idah: 90)
Isn’t it very clear? It is even categorized as a practice of Satan.
A contemporary example?
- Playing online slots for the jackpot.
- Joining a telegram group that contains guessing football scores using real money.
- Buy “products” in the marketplace that only contain the opportunity to enter a lottery.
All of that is not just a game. It is a forbidden way to make money. You can make a profit once or twice, but is the blessing comparable? Especially if it is used as a source of regular income.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ once said:
“منْ أَكَلَ مَالًا بِغَيْرِ حَقٍّ فَإِنَّمَا يَأْكُلُ فِي بَطْنِهِ نَارًا”
“Whoever eats up the wealth of others in an unlawful way, then he has indeed filled his belly with hellfire.” (HR. Bukhari & Muslim)
It’s really scary, right?
So, if you’re still thinking “Ah, just for fun, who knows, maybe it’ll bring you luck”, you better stop. We’re not just talking about halal and haram, but about the safety of souls and the blessings of life.
Also read: Start up Burning Money to Grow, Until When?
Khatimah: Having Many Wealth Does Not Necessarily Mean Blessings
Up to this point, we have discussed three ways of making money that are forbidden by Islam: usury in debt, usury in buying and selling (including gold and foreign exchange), and gambling. Each seems to have its own appeal. But all of that, although it can increase your balance in an instant, can actually be the cause of Allah’s wrath and the loss of blessings in life.
Islam does not forbid us from being rich. In fact, being rich can be a wide path to heaven if the wealth is halal, used for good, and not oppressive. But if you make money through haram paths, then not only the world will be affected, the afterlife can also bite your fingers.
That’s why, it’s important for us not only to seek wealth, but also to understand the path. Because Allah ﷻ is Most Just. Wealth that is sought in a good way, Allah will surely bless. But if we play cunningly, take advantage of loopholes, or even deliberately go through haram paths, then be prepared to face the consequences.
Hopefully this article can be a reflection and reminder, especially for those of us who are struggling to earn a living. Don’t let our good intentions be tarnished by wrong methods. Come on, let’s learn together to make money that is halal, clean, and full of blessings.
Also read: The Importance of Time Management in Islam
Let’s Visit, Zeed and join for halal investment with Zeed.
References:
Al-Qur’an Al-Karim. Accessed from https://tafsirweb.com
Al-Bukhari, Muhammad bin Ismail. Sahih al-Bukhari. Accessed from https://www.hadits.id/hadits/bukhari
Muslim, Abu al-Husain. Sahih Muslim. Accessed from https://www.hadits.id/hadits/muslim.
Triono, Dwi Condro. Islamic Economic Philosophy. Yogyakarta: Irtikaz, 2017.
