With Islamic banking gradually becoming a more influential factor in the West, an analysis of the concept of riba – a definition of which is not given in the Qur’an – is long overdue. This text presents readers with various interpretations of this Islamic economic concept – generally perceived as ‘interest’. Thomas provides a framework for understanding riba by examining:

• linguistics

• classical judicial analysis

• the historical context

• modern economics

Including contributions from prominent international scholars, the book fills a gap in the existing literature and will be welcomed by academics and professionals with an interest in Islamic studies, economics and legal history.