AOA Good to see this topic has elicited considerable intelligent discussion In essence "RIBA" is "Unfair Dealings".. Making a profit / benefits from other people misery.. and/or Exactly. It is as you have stated RIBA is NOT about interest.. How is it very hard to grasp this very simple concept??? You would think it would be very simple but unfortunately it is exactly the opposite. If you as Bank or another institution lend me X amount and I use this to set up a business and make y amount of profit and fraction of the profit to pay back the initial loan & interest. Who has been harmed? Both you and I have benefited As for the so called 'islamic mortgage'... Unfortunately the so called Islamic mortgage is nothing more than a fraud. I actually pointed this out to the representative of one of these institutions at a large Muslim gathering. It is my opinion that so called Islamic Mortggage is actually Riba, in that they are taking ungair advantage of individuals who do not understand what Riba is. Educate the people that they should get the mortgage with Most favorable terms and conditions to them. Lowest cost of fund. interest or without interest Hence the name... Mortgage A and Mortgage B has identical T&C. For $100 property, Mortgage A with 'islam' brand ask you to repay in total $140 in five years. For $100 property, Mortgage B with 'interest' of 0.5% a year ask you to repay in total $102.5 in five years. Definitely choose Mortgage B!! Agreed The fact that Muslims continue to assert that ribaa is interest and thus endorse these form-over-substance sharia lending products is evidence as to how the actual wording of the Quran is continuously ignored. As the Quran states, Muslims will treat the Quran as a "discarded thing". Well summarised. I'll waste no more time. & then Islam is a social environment . Regards