Will you explain the hadith “A time is certainly coming to mankind when only the receiver of usury (interest) will remain, and if he does not receive it, some of its dust will reach him”?

Dear Brother / Sister,

“A time is certainly coming to mankind when only the receiver of usury (interest) will remain, and if he does not receive it, some of its dust will reach him.” (Abu Dawud, Kitabul Buyu', 3331)

“O ye people! Eat of what is on earth, Lawful and good; and do not follow the footsteps of the evil one, for he is to you an avowed enemy.” (al-Baqara, 2/168) When the verse above was recited in the presence of the Prophet (pbuh), Sa’d b. Abi Waqqas said,

“O Messenger of Allah! Pray to Allah so that He will make me among those whose prayers will be accepted.” Thereupon, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said,

“O Sa’d! Get your food from halal so that your prayer will be accepted. I swear by Allah, in whose hand the life of Muhammad is, that if a person puts a haram morsel into his stomach, his deeds will not be accepted for forty days, and if someone’s body grows bigger due to any haram and interest (usury), fire is better than his earnings from haram and interest.” [Ibn Kathir, 1/183 (the interpretation of the verse in question: hadith no:4691), Tabarani, Awsat, 7/256]

The hadith is as follows in Bukhari: 

“O Sa’d! Make sure your food is clean and halal so that you will become a person whose prayers are accepted. Otherwise, if a person puts a haram morsel into his stomach, his wishes will not be accepted for forty days. Those who feed on haram are cleaned by fire.” (Bukhari, Buyu)

The hadith narrations stating that the worship of a person who eats or wears from haram earnings will not be accepted are weak. (see Zaynul-Iraqi Takhriju Ahadithil-Ihya/together with Ihya/, II/90) Worship being not accepted mentioned in the hadith does not mean that “the worship will be invalid”. It means “there will be no thawab”. That is, it is not necessary to perform those deeds of worship again.

What is meant by dust of usury (interest) reaching those who do not receive interest is that a person will be exposed to the effects of interest due to the widespread use of interest in the society even if he does not want interest. They will not be held responsible since they do not intend to receive interest. 

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