This document discusses the Islamic prohibition of riba (usury or interest). It defines riba as any excess or increase charged over the principal amount in a loan or exchange. The Quran and hadiths clearly prohibit both types of riba - riba an-nasiyah (cash loans with interest) and riba al-fadl (barter transactions involving an excess). Several Quranic verses and authentic hadiths are cited as evidence of the prohibition. Scholars agree that riba is haram (prohibited) whether occurring in an Islamic or non-Islamic land. Taking interest from banks also constitutes riba an-nasiyah and is therefore haram. Muslims should avoid keeping