416 glossary
Rashìdùn:the four Rightly Guided Caliphs, who were the companions and the
immediate successors of the Prophet: Abù-Bakr (632–34), Umar ibn al-Khattàb
(63444), Uthmàn ibn Affàn (644–56) and Ali ibn Abi Tàlib (656–61).
Al-Khilafah al-Rashìdah: the Rightly Guided Caliphate, the caliphate of the
Rashìdùn caliphs, which is the most highly esteemed caliphate in Muslims’ mind
as the only caliphate associated with righteousness and highly spiritual values.
The Rightly Guided Caliphate covered the years from 632 to 661.
Ra"s al-Màl (plural ru"aùs al-amwàl):equity capital or the loan principle. The
Qur"àn states in addressing the issue of Ribà, “if you repent you have the right
to your capital sums (principal), Ru"aùs Amwalikum,” (Qur"àn 2:275). This empha-
sises that there is no differentiation in the Qur"àn between charging interest and
usury.
Ribà: interest. An increase, which in a loan transaction or in exchange of a com-
modity, accrues to the owner (lender) without giving an equivalent counter value
or recompense in return to the other party. It covers interest both on commer-
cial and consumer loans, and is prohibited according to Sharì"ah. See the Qur"ànic
verse in Ra"s al-Màl. The Qur"àn states, “Believers, have fear of God and waive
what is still due to you from Ribà, if your faith be true; or be warned of war
declared against you by God and His Messenger. If you repent, you have the
right to your capital sums (principal),Ru"aùs Amwalikum, suffering no loss and
causing loss to none” (Qur"àn, 2:275–279).
Ribàal-Qur"àn: Ribàwhich has been stipulated in the Qur"àn. It is referred to
in various terms which are used interchangeably. These are:
Loan Ribà,referring to it as being related to monetary loans,
Ribàal-Jahiliyyah:referring to Jahiliyyah as being the period before Islam, the
period of ignorance,
Ribàal-Duyùn,also Ribàal-Qurùd:duyun and qurùd means loans,
Ribàal-Nasì"a: meaning Ribàassociated with the payment period.
Ribàal-Buyù"(Commodity Ribà): the Ribàthat has been stated in the Sunnah,
not in the Qur"àn. It might arise as a result of exchanging commodities: (a) with
or (b) without, a delayed period. This Ribàis divided into two types:
(a) Ribàal-fadle:Ribàthat results from an increase in quantity in the exchange
an object, of a commodity, with another object of the same type, of same com-
modity, with an immediate delivery for an increase in quantity. For example
exchanging gold for gold, or wheat for wheat immediate delivery.
(b) Ribàal-Nasì"a:Ribàthat results from an increase in quantity in the exchange
of an object, of a commodity, with another object of the same type or another,
same or another commodity, with a delayed delivery, future delivery. For exam-
ple, exchanging gold for gold or wheat for wheat for future delivery.
Riddah:apostasy. No sooner had the Prophet been declared dead than several
tribes revolted and rebelled against the payment of Zakàh. The revolt, which
seemed to have been triggered by the death of the Prophet, did not necessarily
imply a return to paganism, although some claimed false prophethood, but it
aimed essentially to break away from the control of the Medìnah government.
The apostasy was brought back under control by Caliph Abù-Bakr in 633 A.C.
Ruq"a:an order of payment.
Saba": biblical Sheba. The most dominant of the four kingdoms in the south of
the pre-Islamic Arabia. The Sabaean period extended from about 750 B.C., or
1500 B.C. according to some, to 115 B.C.