Riba removes blessing from wealth
“A person needs to live within his or her means and avoid debt unless a person really needs it.”
Riba and unnecessary debt remove barakah from wealth and harm individuals and society, so Muslims should avoid interest, repay debts, seek halal alternatives, and support others through charity and interest-free loans.
The khutbah in 7 steps
- Contrasts earlier generations’ apparent financial barakah with modern household financial strain.
- Explains riba as a system that widens inequality, burdens the poor, and removes blessing from wealth.
- Warns about the spiritual and worldly consequences of unpaid or unnecessary debt.
- Encourages halal financial alternatives, living within one’s means, and avoiding conventional interest.
- Presents relieving debt and offering qard hasana as major forms of charity.
- Explains how riba destroys barakah and brings worldly hardship and punishment in the hereafter.
- Concludes with prayers for halal income, debt relief, barakah, and oppressed Muslims.
In the khateeb's words
“There is no concept in Islam Of making money off of your own wealth and money That's not the purpose of wealth Right? Burdening the poor with debt”
“Imam ibn Hajar rahimahullah comments And says this is why a person needs to live within his or her means And avoid debt unless a person really needs it”
“One of the best forms of charity and sadaqah Is what? If you relieve someone of their debt Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala will relieve that person Of their worries On the day of judgment”
“One of the top reasons of Muslim marriage failures In this country Is starting off with financial debt With financial stress”
For the dinner table
The khutbah explains that wealth is not just about how much money we have, but whether it carries barakah, or blessing. It warns that riba, or interest, can burden the poor, widen inequality, and remove blessing from money. We are encouraged to live within our means, avoid debt unless necessary, repay what we owe, and seek halal financial options. The khateeb also reminds us that helping someone out of debt and offering an interest-free loan can be acts of great charity. The family takeaway is to ask Allah for halal income and use our wealth to make life easier for others.
- What is one way our family can live within our means this week?
- How could we use our money to help someone else?
- What makes a financial choice feel truly halal and responsible?
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