Educational Method of the Noble Qur’an in Changing People’s Behavior in the Age of Revelation through the Verses on Usury (Riba) Prohibition from Sunni and Shi’ite Perspective

Abstract

The influence of the Qur’anonculture in the age of revelation and changing people’s behavior back then has been one of the important and challenging issues among commentators and Qur’anic scholars. It is even a more serious matter when it comes to some subjects such as Prohibition of usury and usury devouring as some people get enriched by its unfair interest and it is not easy to restore this process. It is essential to study verses of the Noble Qur’an as well as Sunni and Shi’ite viewpoints in order to achieve results in this research. The obtained results reveal that the educational method of the holy Qur’an is based on gradual practice along with conveying behavioral tranquility to the addressees. In this method, the subject is dealt with step by step, and finally it is announced by giving emphatic commands, imperatives and prohibitions to the addressee. Ban on usury and devouring it is also announced this way and various stages are considered for that. Accordingly, the noble Qur’an starts to familiarize people with this subject using the gradual educational method and then it continues the procedure until ultimate prohibition. Undoubtedly, the educational method of the holy Qur’an on imposing a ban on usury, usury devouring, and many other issues has been unique and not commonplace until then.

Keywords

• education
• the noble qur’an
• behavior
• age of revelation (nuzul)
• usury (riba)
• sunni and shi’ite