[UltraSane]

reasonable interest rates aren't exploitation. Business Loans serve a critical role in economic activity by putting free cash to more productive use.

[za3faran]

All interest is usury in Islamic Law (and the laws before it such as Christianity and Judaism). There are ways to to put free cash into productive use without exploitation.

[UltraSane]

I understand and I disagree. Interest isn't always "exploitation". A 5% loan isn't exploitation and it is very stupid to ban such things.

[za3faran]

I think it's easy to look around us to see why it makes complete sense to prohibit it.

[UltraSane]

If going by the very poor economic performance of Muslim countries I would say interest is a very good thing if limited to reasonable interest rates and fair bankruptcy laws.

[za3faran]

Correlation vs causation (post WWI colonization comes to mind, that continues to this day). Historically, there was a period of time when there were no poor people left to take Zakat, everyone paid their share, and no usurious transactions permitted.

[UltraSane]

Historically, there was a period of time when there were no poor people left to take Zakat, everyone paid their share, and no usurious transactions permitted.

When was this?