The Prohibition of Means of Usuary
Islam did not prohibit anything except for a clear underlying reason, or a benefit which will be realized by the people. And pursuant to its prohibition, it prohibited the means which pave the way for it, in order to close the road that leads to it.
For instance, the sale known as ‘Al-‘Inah, in Arabic, is prohibited in Islam. Its format is as follows:
A commodity is sold for a specific price, with the payment delayed until a fixed date. Then the original owner buys back the commodity for a reduced price. Now he has cash in his hand and he owes the buyer an additional sum of money. This transaction has the appearance of a sale of a commodity, but it is in reality a loan on interest.
The indication that this transaction is Haram is the Hadith of the Prophet (SAW) :
“When you buy and sell using the Al-‘Inah format and took hold of the tails of cattle and become content with agriculture and abandon Jihad in the way of Allah, Allah will impose disgrace upon you and He will not remove it from you until you return to your religion.”
(Ahmad and others)