Riba al-Fadl (Excess)

**Definition:** Increase in one of two usurious items of the same type. **Example:** A person buys 1,000 sa' of wheat for 1,200 sa' of wheat, and they exchange in the same session. The 200 sa' increase has no compensation - it is riba. **Ruling:** Islamic law has prohibited riba al-fadl in six items: 1. Gold 2. Silver 3. Wheat 4. Barley 5. Dates 6. Salt **If one of these six is sold for its same type, increase and excess between them is prohibited.** **Evidence:** - **Hadith of Abu Sa'id al-Khudri رضي الله عنه:** The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Gold for gold, silver for silver, wheat for wheat, barley for barley, dates for dates, salt for salt - like for like, hand to hand. Whoever gives more or takes more has engaged in riba; the taker and giver are equal" [Bukhari & Muslim] **Analogous Items:** What shares the 'illah (cause) of these six items is also prohibited. **The 'Illah:** Measurement by volume (kayl) and weight (wazn). So excess is prohibited in everything measured by volume or weight.