| Answer:   As you have rightly 
    pointed out, interest is forbidden in Islam. The basic reason is that the 
    rights of the borrower and lender are not protected on equal grounds. While 
    the lender is ensured a safe return, the borrower is not and the lender is 
    least bothered with it. This makes the contract an unethical one. 
    However, there is another way 
    out for a person who does not want to earn money through interest (neither 
    does he want to enter into a profit and loss agreement but wants to earn 
    money through lending: The contract between the lender and the borrower 
    should be made on the basis that the lender gives an undertaking to the 
    borrower that he will be entitled to a percentage share in the profit only 
    if the borrower earns profit on the investment made.   |