The Arabic word for "Usury" Usury is explicitly and clearly prohibited as a major sin in the Quran, as well as The Prophet's TraditionsSunnah Most modern scholars agree that fixed rate interest from financial institutions (e g banks, brokerage houses, etc ) is the same as Usury, and is thus not permissible for a Muslim to give nor receive Interest
This term literally means an increase or addition Technically it denotes any increase or advantage obtained by the lender as a condition of the loan Any risk-free or "guaranteed" rate of return on a loan or investment is riba Riba, in all forms, is prohibited in Islam In conventional terms, riba and "interest" are used interchangeably