前文讨论了慈善的伦理及其在社会中的作用；本段则转向金钱流通中黑暗的一面，即高利贷，或用伊斯兰的术语来说，即利息（ribā）。慈善意味着给予、慷慨、净化、增长、合作与社会互助，而高利贷则象征吝啬、贪婪和自我膨胀。
The preceding passage discussed the ethics of charity and its role in society; the present passage deals with the opposite, dark side of the circulation of money, namely, usury, or to use the Islamic term, ribā. While charity denotes giving, generosity, purification, growth, cooperation and mutual social welfare, usury signifies stinginess, greed and self-aggrandizement.
慈善是指在不期望任何回报或偿还的情况下施舍自己的财产，而高利贷则是在所欠的钱款之外另行索取费用，这种费用通常是借款人用血汗钱支付的，无论他是否因这笔贷款而获利。
Charity is giving of one’s wealth without any expectation of recompense or repayment, while usury is the exaction of a charge over and above money owed, which is usually paid for out of the sweat and blood of the borrower, regardless of whether he profits as a result of the loan or not.
或许值得注意的是，这一章在谈及慈善这一令人愉悦的主题之后，紧接着便论述高利贷，以此突显两者之间的鲜明对比，以及它们对个人和社会所产生的不同影响。
It is perhaps significant that the sūrah should discuss usury immediately after dealing with a pleasant subject such as charity, in order to highlight the sharp contrast between the two, and their effects on people and society.
在《古兰经》中，没有任何其他问题像高利贷那样受到如此强烈的谴责和斥责；也没有任何行为像它那样受到更严厉的警告，并描述了可怕的厄运。真主在智慧上是无限的。因为高利贷曾是蒙昧时代最普遍的罪恶之一，而它的大部分破坏性的方面，直到我们现代社会才被更好地认识。只有在今天，借着人类广泛遭受苦难的情况，我们才能体会《古兰经》为何如此坚决地打击这种邪恶行为。今天，我们比伊斯兰教出现之前的阿拉伯人更有条件理解这些原则背后的真主智慧，以及伊斯兰教适合用于组织人类社会。在当今世界，我们已经掌握了所需的一切迹象和证据，足以解释并印证《古兰经》的经文。
No other issue has been condemned and denounced so strongly in the Qur’ān as has usury; nor has any practice come in for stronger warnings, spelling out fearful doom. Infinite is God in His wisdom. For, although it was one of the most pervasive evils during the pre- Islamic Dark Ages, most of its destructive aspects have only become better known in our modern society. Only today, in the light of widespread human suffering, can we appreciate the reasons behind the Qur’ān’s determined onslaught on this evil practice. Today, we are better placed than even the people of pre-Islamic Arabia to understand God’s wisdom underlying these principles, and the suitability of Islam for the organization of human society. In today’s world, we have all the signs and evidence we need to explain and confirm the words of the Qur’ān.
我们可以看到,以高利贷为基础的金融体系给世界带来了何等的祸患与苦难,也看到它对现代社会的道德、宗教、健康和经济实力造成了潜移默化的破坏。正如《古兰经》所说,我们正在目睹一场由神启示的战争,针对那些执意违抗神关于各种伪装形式的高利贷禁令的个人、团体、民族和国家。
We can see what havoc and what misery a usury-based financial system has brought upon the world, as well as the insidious destruction it has caused to the morals, religion, health and economic strength of modern society. As the Qur’ān says, we are witnessing a divinely-inspired war against all individuals, groups, nations and states that persist in defying God’s commands concerning the practice of usury in its various disguises.
第十八章所讨论的经文，确立了为主而施舍财物的基本原则。这些原则是真主为穆斯林社群所选定的伊斯兰社会与经济制度的重要组成部分。它为全人类提供了可以效法并从中受益的典范。它被呈现为一种与邪恶而不人道的高利贷制度相对立的替代方案。
The passage discussed in Chapter 18 laid down the basic principles for giving to charity, for the sake of God, as an important part of the Islamic social and economic system God has chosen for the Muslim community. It serves as a model for the rest of mankind to emulate and enjoy. It is presented as an alternative to a wicked and inhumane system based on usury.
因此，我们拥有两种截然不同的社会经济体系：伊斯兰体系与以高利为基础的非伊斯兰体系。它们建立在完全不同的价值体系和世界观之上。两者永远无法调和，因为每一方都朝着与另一方完全相反的方向前进，并追求不同的目标。
We, thus, have two contrasting socio-economic systems: the Islamic system and the usury-based un-Islamic system. They are based on totally different value systems and views of the world. They can never be reconciled, as each leads in a completely opposite direction to the other and aims to achieve different ends.
伊斯兰所倡导的经济制度，与其对人生的整体看法一样，建立在一个根本理念之上：真主是创造者，是一切存在之物毋庸置疑的主宰。真主与人类立下约定，并把某些职责和义务托付给人，让他在大地上承担。真主还为人提供了工具、物质资源和方法，使他能够行使自己的权柄和自由意志。真主与人所立之约的首要条件是：人应当依照真主的律法而生活和行事。只有依照真主律法所进行的行为、道德、交易或宗教活动，才是被认可且有效的。以强迫方式施加此类活动被拒斥，并被视为不义而加以谴责。真主是终极的统治者和裁决者，世俗的人类权威源自对真主律法和生活准则的遵循，而人类通过与真主所立的约定受其约束。
The economic system Islam advocates, like its overall view of life, is based on the fundamental concept that God is the Creator and the undisputed master of all that exists. God has struck a deal with mankind and delegated to man certain duties and responsibilities on earth. He provided him with the tools, the materials and the means by which he can exercise his authority and freewill. The main proviso of God’s covenant with man is that man should live and behave according to God’s laws. Only actions, morals, dealings or religious activities conducted according to God’s law will be sanctioned and valid. The imposition of such activities by duress is rejected and condemned as injustice. God is the ultimate ruler and arbiter, and temporal human authority is derived from adherence to His law and code of living, to which human beings are bound by their covenant with Him.
真主与人所立之约中的另一条规定是：信士必须关心彼此的福祉，并分享真主为他们所有人所赐予的财富。这并不意味着马克思主义意义上的公有制，而是负责任且受规范的私有制。有财者应与无财者分享，所有人都同样须寻求工作，依其能力谋生。社会中没有能力的成员不应依赖他人而生活，也不应成为社群的负担。为支撑这一社会福利制度，伊斯兰教设立了天课（zakāt），作为富裕者必须履行的固定义务，并鼓励不设限制的自愿施舍。
Another provision of God’s covenant with man stipulates that believers must look after one another’s welfare and share the benefits of what God has provided for all of them. This does not mean common ownership in the Marxist sense, but responsible and regulated private ownership. Those who have should share with those who have not and all are equally required to seek work and earn their living according to their ability. No capable member of society should live off someone else or become a burden on the community. To support this system of social welfare, Islam has set up zakāt as a fixed obligation on the well- off and encouraged voluntary charity without limits.
真主也劝诫人们要保持中道，避免奢侈浪费和挥霍享乐的生活。这样才能使财富得到合理运用，并有足够的结余用于缴纳天课以及捐助慈善事业。
God has also advised man to seek moderation and avoid lavish spending and extravagant living. This would ensure sensible employment of wealth and a surplus of funds for the payment of zakāt and a contribution to charitable causes.
穆斯林被要求投资自己的钱财，谋求财富的增长与发展，但须通过审慎而合法的途径，不得剥削他人，也不得侵犯他人的权利。此外，不得以任何方式扰乱社会中资本与财富公正、健康的流通。《古兰经》强调，财富“不应只在你们中的富人之间流转”。（59:7）
Muslims are required to invest their money and seek the growth and development of their wealth, by scrupulous and legitimate means, without exploiting others or encroaching on their rights. Besides, it is not allowed to try to pervert, in any way, the fair and healthy circulation of capital and wealth in society. The Qur’ān stresses that wealth “should not be left to circulate only among the rich of you.” (59:7)
真主还命令人们意图与行为都要诚实，目的与手段都要正当。祂制定了在财富的投资与发展中应当遵守的规则与伦理，以免损害个人的良知与道德，或破坏社会的生活与福祉。这些原则是依照伊斯兰的整体人生哲学与世界观而确立的，并与真主和人类所立之约的条件相一致，这一盟约支配着人在今世的一切行为与活动。
God has also enjoined honesty of intention and action and the integrity of ends and means. He has laid down rules and ethics that should be observed in the investment and development of wealth so as not to compromise the conscience or morals of the individual, or undermine the life and welfare of the community. These principles are laid down in accordance with Islam’s overall philosophy of life and worldview, and in line with the terms and conditions of God’s covenant with man that governs the whole range of human actions and activities in this world.
由此可见，高利贷作为一种经济工具，与伊斯兰教的根本理念直接相悖，因为它建立在完全否定真主的角色之上，并且抛弃了神圣生活准则所奠基的一切原则与宗旨。
Thus we can see that usury as an economic instrument conflicts directly with the very basic concepts of Islam, because it is based on the total rejection of God’s role and the dismissal of all the principles and aims on which the divine code of living is founded.
高利贷或以利息为基础的制度，预设了神的旨意与人类生活之间的彻底割裂，由此导出这样的结论：人是这个世界的绝对主人，不受任何对神的责任约束，也没有遵守神的教导或命令的义务。它还意味着，人在积累、享用和使用财富方面是自由的，在这方面他对神没有任何义务，对他人也毫无责任可言；即便在此过程中成千上万乃至数百万人受苦，也无关紧要。
A usurious or interest-based system assumes a total divorce between the divine will and human life, leading to the conclusion that man is the absolute master of this world, not bound by any responsibility towards God or any obligation to respect His teachings or commands. It also implies that man is free as to how he accumulates, enjoys and uses wealth, and that in this regard he has no obligation whatsoever towards God or, indeed, any liability to others; it would not matter if thousands or millions of people were to suffer in the process.
当然，人定法有时会介入以限制这种自由，例如设定利率上限或禁止某些欺诈和非法行为，但这通常是出于权宜之计和大众习俗的考虑，而非依据更高神圣权威所确立的原则。
Of course man-made laws may occasionally intervene to curb this freedom by setting the rates of usury or banning certain fraudulent and illegal practices, but this is usually dictated by expediency and popular convention rather than by considerations of the principle laid down by a higher divine authority.
建立在高利贷（ribā，利息）之上的体系，基于一个错误的观念：不论采取何种手段，积累并享用财富都是人生的终极目标。这也解释了由此产生的那种不顾后果、恶性竞逐赚钱以及挥霍浪费的现象。
A usury-based system is founded on the erroneous concept that the accumulation and enjoyment of wealth, regardless of the means, is the ultimate objective of human life, which explains the resulting reckless and vicious rush for money-making and prodigality.
这样的制度只会给个人、社会和国家带来苦难与痛苦,而受益的仅是少数放债人。它破坏社会的道德与心理结构,造成财富分配和经济发展的失衡,并且正如当前所发生的那样,导致权力与影响力集中在少数贪婪、不择手段、心怀恶意的个人和机构手中,无论是在国内还是国际层面。这些人攫取最大利益,却不尊重、也不顾及人的价值与人的劳动。
Such a system brings nothing but misery and suffering upon individuals, communities, and nations, while it benefits only a few moneylenders. It undermines the moral and psychological fabric of society and creates a detrimental imbalance in the distribution of wealth and economic development, leading, as it is doing at present, to the concentration of power and influence in the hands of a few greedy, unscrupulous, and malevolent individuals and institutions, at national and international level, that reap the highest benefits but have no respect or regard for human values and human effort.
这些强大的个人和机构不仅控制着世界经济和国际财富,还在其他多个领域拥有巨大影响力,旨在提升自身在世界上的作用和地位。由于他们毫无节操、缺乏原则,并且轻视宗教和道德,破坏宗教信仰、助长道德败坏、淫乱和过度消费便符合他们的利益。他们为自身谋利而操纵世界经济,在世界各地人为制造并煽动周期性的经济危机,并将经济和工业生产从全球的共同利益转向能让他们获得最大优势、控制国际财富的领域。
These powerful individuals and institutions not only control the world economy and international wealth, but they also wield enormous influence in several other walks of life with the aim of enhancing their role and position in the world. Since they are unscrupulous and unprincipled and look with disdain on religion and morality, it is to their advantage to undermine religious belief and encourage moral degradation, promiscuity and excessive spending. They manipulate the world economy for their own benefit, manufacturing and fuelling regular economic crises in various parts of the world and diverting economic and industrial production away from the common world interest to areas that will give them the greatest advantage and control of international wealth.
这种灾难性的局面，又因这些强大的金融中心和集团的成功而进一步恶化。它们凭借在政治、经济、媒体和娱乐界的强大影响力，制造了一种普遍流行的神话：高利贷是经济中一个良好而自然的组成部分，没有它就不会有经济繁荣与增长。有人声称，以利息为基础的经济制度，是现代西方文明取得巨大成就和进步的原因；而那些呼吁废除高利贷的人，则被说成是不切实际的空想家和理想主义者，其动机源于道德和宗教方面的考虑，并且一旦有机会，就可能败坏整个现代经济体系。更有甚者，那些基于上述理由批评以利息为基础的经济制度的人，反而遭到实际上正是这一制度受害者的人们的嘲笑。世界经济也是高利贷制度的另一个受害者，它被国际高利贷者强行引入了歧途。因此，世界经济周期性地遭受人为操纵的危机，以确保其所有利益都被这些高利贷者攫取，而非由全人类共享。
This catastrophic situation has been further exacerbated by the success of these powerful finance centres and groups, through their strong influence in the political, economic, media and entertainment worlds, to create the universal popular myth that usury is a good and natural aspect of the economy, without which there would be no economic prosperity or growth. It has been alleged that an interest- based economy is the one responsible for the tremendous achievements and progress of modern Western civilization, and that those calling for the abolition of usury are unrealistic dreamers and idealists motivated by moralistic and religious considerations that are capable, if given the chance, of corrupting the whole modern economic system. What is more is that those who criticize the interest- based economic system on these grounds are ridiculed by people who are in reality victims of this very system. Another victim of the system of usury is world economy which is forcibly set on the wrong course by international usurers. Thus, it suffers periodic, stage-managed crises to ensure that all its benefits are reaped by such usurers, rather than by humanity as a whole.
一些西方经济学家已经认识到，纯粹从经济角度看，高利贷制度是一种威胁。该制度的一位主要批评者，博士
Some Western economists have recognized the fact that a usurious system is a threat, from the purely economic point of view. One leading critic of the system, Dr.
沙赫特博士曾任德国中央银行行长，他在1953年于大马士革的一次演讲中指出：如果进行一种无限的数学运算，就能证明世界上所有流动货币的总和最终会落入少数高利贷者手中，因为放贷的高利贷者在每笔交易中都会获利，而借款人则可能获利，也可能亏损。从逻辑上讲，货币最终必然会归于那些始终稳赚不赔的人。如今，大部分资本实际上受控于数千人；而向银行借款的地主、工业家、农民和商人，以及工人和普通消费者，不过是为资本的占有者和控制者谋利而劳作的人。
Schacht, a former Governor of the German Central Bank, in a speech given in 1953 in Damascus, said that with an infinite mathematical operation it would be possible to show that the total sum of all liquid money in the world ends up in the hands of a few usurers, because a usurer-lender gains in every deal while the borrower is equally liable to gain or lose. Logically, therefore, money will ultimately end up with the one who always gains. The majority of capital today is under the real control of a few thousand people; while landlords, industrialists, farmers and traders who borrow from the banks, as well as workers and ordinary consumers, are no more than labourers working for the benefit of those in possession and control of capital.
这并不是以高利贷为基础的经济制度的全部问题。资本家一方与从事商业和工业的人一方之间的关系，建立在相互猜疑、纷争和怨恨之上。放款人竭力通过放贷谋取最大利益，因此倾向于收紧货币供应，抬高借贷成本。这最终导致经济放缓、失业率上升，以及个人购买力下降。工业贷款随之减少，这又迫使放款人降低借贷成本，于是新一轮增长与繁荣开始，但接着又导致另一次衰退，使借款人和消费者承受更多苦难。正是这种繁荣与萧条的恶性循环，造成了周期性的国际经济危机。
That is not all that is wrong with a usury-based economy. The relationship between capitalists on the one hand, and those working in commerce and industry on the other, is based on mistrust, strife and resentment. Moneylenders try to make maximum gains by lending their money, and therefore favour a squeeze on the money supply to cause a rise in the cost of borrowing. This eventually leads td a slowdown in the economy, a rise in unemployment, and a fall in /the purchasing power of the individual. This creates a fall in industrial loans which, in turn, forces the moneylenders to reduce the cost of borrowing, and a new cycle of growth and prosperity begins, only to lead to another recession and more misery for borrowers and consumers. It is this vicious circle of boom and bust that brings about the regular international economic crises.
在这样的经济体系中，每一位消费者都会间接地为放贷者支付一部分货物价格。工业家和商人把借贷的额外成本转嫁到消费者身上，提高货物和服务的价格，从而将负担尽可能分散到最广泛的人群中。政府为资助公共项目而借债，也要靠不断提高、加在有收入群体身上的税收来偿还，这样成本又一次分摊到大量民众身上。
In such an economy, every consumer pays part of the price of goods to the moneylenders albeit indirectly. Industrialists and traders take the extra cost of borrowing out of consumers’ pockets by raising the prices of goods and services, thus spreading the burden over the widest possible area. Government borrowing to finance public projects is also met by ever-rising taxes imposed on the earning sections of the population, spreading the cost again over large numbers of people.
这导致了殖民主义的兴起，并且至今仍是世界上战争与冲突的根本原因。
This led to the rise of colonialism, and remains the root cause of war and conflict in the world today.
在考察伊斯兰对高利贷（riba）的态度时，我们必须牢记若干基本事实。
When considering the Islamic attitude to usury, we must bear in mind a number of essential facts.
伊斯兰的教义与伦理，正如我们所见，与高利贷经济完全相悖。穆斯林国家官方“教士”所作的一切裁决，以及为证明高利贷可以纳入伊斯兰体系而提出的种种论证，都不过是骗人耳目、旨在欺骗公众的虚伪之辞。
The teachings and ethics of Islam, as we have seen, are in total conflict with a usurious economy. All the rulings, issued by the official ‘clergy’ in Muslim countries, and the arguments advanced to show that usury may be accommodated into the Islamic system, are pure humbug aimed at deceiving the public.
高利贷制度是加在全人类身上的一场祸害，不仅在伦理和宗教上如此，在经济和实践层面同样如此。尽管它许诺的繁荣具有欺骗性，但它制造不幸，并限制了社会和谐与稳定的成长。
The usury system is a curse on all humanity, not only ethically and religiously, but also economically and practically. It is a system that creates unhappiness and restricts the growth of harmony and stability in society, despite its deceptive promise of prosperity.
道德与实践的考量紧密相连，不可分割。人在其一切行为中都受真主之约的约束；他在此世负有使命与责任，并将在后世为自己的行为接受清算。伊斯兰经济制度必须建立在道德与伦理原则之上。这些原则并非可有可无的附加之物，人们的生活中不能缺少它们。
Moral and practical considerations are inextricably linked. In all his actions, man is governed by the terms of God’s covenant; he is here with a mission and a responsibility and will have to account for his actions in the hereafter. An Islamic economic system must be built on moral and ethical principles. Such principles are not a merely desirable addition that can be done without in people’s life.
建立在高利贷基础上的经济体系,必然会侵蚀个人的道德与伦理品格、他们的情感以及相互帮助的意愿。它助长贪婪、自私、淫欲和投机。在现代世界,它为人类所知的最邪恶、最具腐蚀性的投资形式打开了大门,例如毒品交易、色情制品和卖淫业,这些都是为了追求有保障的天文数字般的利润。借来的钱不是用于服务人类,而是用于最大化利润,无论交易的性质如何,也无论实现利润的手段是什么。
A usury-based economic system is bound to undermine the moral and ethical character of individuals, their feelings and their desire to help each other. It encourages greed, selfishness, lechery and speculation. In the modern world, it has opened the gates for the most sinister and corrupting forms of investment ever known, such as the drug trade, pornography, prostitution, all in pursuit of guaranteed astronomical profits. Borrowed money is not used in the service of humanity but for maximizing profit, regardless of the nature of the trade or the methods by which that profit is realized.
伊斯兰是一种全面的生活方式。其经济制度完全不需要高利贷，并以消除高利贷的方式组织社会生活。与此同时，它维持着社会中经济、社会和人类发展的平衡与进步。
Islam is a comprehensive way of life. Its economic system completely discounts the need for usury and organizes the social life of the community in such a way as to eliminate usury altogether. At the same time it maintains the balance and progress of economic, social and human development in society.
在伊斯兰教中，并不需要废除或取消现有的经济和金融机构，例如银行和商业公司。这些机构在现代经济发展中发挥着至关重要的作用。伊斯兰教可以对这些机构进行改革，使它们依照伊斯兰教所规定的健全而有益的规则和制度运作。
Under Islam, there is no need for the abolition or removal of existing economic and financial institutions, such as banks and commercial companies, which play a vital role in modern economic development. Islam can reform these institutions and enable them to function along the sound and constructive rules and regulations it lays down.
首先，穆斯林必须认识到，真主至高无上禁止某种对人类生命的延续与保全至关重要的事物，这在概念上是不可能的。同理，任何本质上败坏的行为，也绝不可能对人类生活的组织与进步不可或缺。一个真正相信真主是生命、世界的创造者、保全者与主宰者的穆斯林，不可能设想真主会禁止任何至关重要的事物，或规定任何卑劣或淫秽的事物。人们广泛相信高利贷式经济与金融体系的原因，可以追溯到无知，以及资本主义和放贷集团与机构有计划地展开的可憎宣传。这些势力持续对各国政府、国际政治组织以及私营和公共媒体与信息机构施加无处不在的影响。
Most importantly, Muslims must realize that it is a conceptual impossibility that God Almighty should prohibit something that is vital for the perpetuation and preservation of human life. By the same token, no practice that is inherently corrupt could ever be essential for the organization and progress of human life. A Muslim who truly believes in God as the creator, preserver and controller of life and the world cannot conceive that God would forbid anything that is vital, or prescribe anything that is vile or obscene. The reasons for widespread belief in usury-based economic and financial systems can be traced to ignorance and the obnoxious propaganda systematically waged by capitalist and money lending lobbies and institutions. These continue to exert their pervasive influence on governments, international political organizations, and private and public media and information establishments.
国际经济和金融体系不可能离开高利贷而存在或运转，这种说法纯属谎言，是大企业和国际既得利益集团所维持的、骇人听闻的谎言。无高利贷的经济体曾经存在，并且运行得非常成功。若要在今天复兴这些经济体，需要决心，需要至少由世界上的穆斯林国家共同开展、经过周密考虑的国际努力，以重新点燃人们对世界未来稳定、繁荣、幸福，以及真正和平与公正的希望。
The claim that the international economic and financial systems cannot exist or function without usury is simply a myth and a monstrous lie sustained by big business and international vested interests. Usury-free economies have existed and performed very successfully. To revive them today requires determination and a concerted, well-considered international effort by at least the Muslim countries of the world, in order to revive some hope of future stability, prosperity, happiness and real peace and justice in our world.
超出本注释的范围，无法详细讨论伊斯兰制度的具体实施方法。我们只需进一步考察伊斯兰是如何成功根除那种可憎的高利贷行为的。
It is beyond the scope of this commentary to discuss in detail the practical methods of implementing the Islamic system. We will only look more closely at how Islam succeeded in the eradication of that abominable practice of usury.