رِبًا

Full Definition

رِبًا , or رِبًوا , [for it is often thus written, and generally thus in the copies of the Kur-án,] with the short ا accord. to the pronunciation best known, [which implies that it is also pronounced رِبَآءٌ ,] An excess, and an addition: an addition over and above the principal sum [that is lent or expended]: but in the law it signifies an addition obtained in a particular manner: [i. e. usury, and the like; meaning both unlawful, and lawful, interest or profit; and the practice of taking such interest or profit:] it is in lending, or in buying and selling, and in giving: and is of two kinds; unlawful, and lawful: the unlawful is any loan for which one receives more than the loan, or by means of which one draws a profit; [and the gain made by such means:] and the lawful is a gift by which a man invites more than it to be given to him, or a gift that he gives in order that more than it may be given to him; [and the addition that he so obtains:] [it generally means] an addition that is obtained by selling food [&c.] for food [&c.], or ready money for ready money, to be paid at an appointed period; or by exchanging either of such things for more of the same kind: or the taking of an addition in lending and in selling: [it is said to be] i. q. عِينَةٌ: [but although رِبًا and عِينَةٌ are both applicable sometimes in the same case, neither of them can be properly said to be generally explanatory of the other, or syn. therewith: رِبَا النَّسِيْئَةِ is a term specially employed to signify profit obtained in the case of a delay of payment: and رِبَا الفَضْلِ to signify profit obtained by the superior value of a thing received over that of a thing given:] the dual of رِبًا or رِبًوا is رِبَوَانِ and رِبَيَانِ; the former being agreeable with the original; the ى in the latter being because of the imáleh occasioned by the preceding kesreh. See an ex. near the beginning of the first paragraph of this art. رُبْيَةٌ , thus pronounced by the Arabs, but by the relaters of a trad., in which it occurs, رُبِّيَّةٌ , or, as some say, رُبَيَّةٌ , as though this were the dim. of رُبْيَةٌ, is a dial. var. of رِبًوا [or رِبًا]; and by rule should be رُبْوَةٌ: or, accord. to Z, رُبّيَّةٌ may be of the measure فُعُّولَةٌ from الرِّبَا. [See also رَمَآءٌ, in art. رمى.]

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Lane's Arabic-English Lexicon

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