Criticism of Contemporary Justifications about the Difference between Natural Interest and Usury from the Perspective of Islamic Economists

Some Muslim economists have tried to prove that natural interest is different from usury and is therefore approved in Islam. Thus، they conclude that there is no basic difference between capitalism and Islamic economy. They believe that lack of natural interest curtails the mechanism of allocation of sources. In addition، the added value in the lease and other Islamic contracts can’t be explained. Thus، legitimacy of the difference in the price of sale on credit is a reason for legitimacy of the value of money in time and the rate of natural interest in Islamic economy. This study aims at reviewing and criticizing the above said viewpoint. The main hypothesis in this study is that there is no basic difference between natural interest and usury. The result approves the above mentioned hypothesis. Also، the lease contract is different from usury contract in nature and the reason for difference in price of credit sale is the interval between the purchase and sale، not time preference.