Press Release
Has not the Government of Sudan Repent from Fighting Against Allah by Devouring the Forbidden Riba?
(Translated)

Sudan and the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development signed a loan agreement worth 200 million dollars for the construction of a power station in Al-Baqir area south of Khartoum with a capacity of 350 MW. A statement issued by the Fund revealed that the loan repayment period is 30 years, with a grace period of seven years and an annual interest (Riba) rate 2%. The signing ceremony of the loan agreement was held in the Moroccan capital Rabat. (Sudan Tribune, 18/4/2017).

The 2% interest mentioned in the above news is a Haram riba-based interest, and the punishment of the one who legalizes riba is known in the Deen by necessity. Allah Almighty has declared war on him, and who can bear Allah’s war?! Allah (swt) says:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آَمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَذَرُوا مَا بَقِيَ مِنَ الرِّبَا إِنْ كُنْتُمْ مُؤْمِنِينَ * فَإِنْ لَمْ تَفْعَلُوا فَأْذَنُوا بِحَرْبٍ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَإِنْ تُبْتُمْ فَلَكُمْ رُءُوسُ أَمْوَالِكُمْ لا تَظْلِمُونَ وَلا تُظْلَمُونَ

“O you who have believed, fear Allah and give up what remains [due to you] of interest, if you should be believers. And if you do not, then be informed of a war [against you] from Allah and His Messenger. But if you repent, you may have your principal - [thus] you do no wrong, nor are you wronged.” [Al-Baqarah: 278-279].

The boldness of this regime has reached a great amount, in making Halal what Allah has made Haram. It has taken many riba-based loans which has reflected on the lives of people with suffering and misery and did not solve the problems of the people, but worsened their situation. Where is Merowe Dam, which was constructed with riba money, and was said that it will supply the country's electricity and even export it. The result was that we were deceived. This dam did not produce tenth of what was said about it, and the country still needs electricity despite the loss of billions of dollars?! And Allah Almighty says:

(يَمْحَقُ اللَّهُ الرِّبَا وَيُرْبِي الصَّدَقَاتِ)

“Allah destroys interest and gives increase for charities. And Allah does not like every sinning disbeliever.” [Al-Baqarah: 276].

Where is the loan for the construction of 22 schools in the south, which the Speaker of Parliament Ahmed Tahir then said about it: “If the loan was purely based on riba, it is permissible for us to allow it for the sake of the benefit”?! They have made benefit a religion and a Lord instead of Allah, so they prohibit by it things which Allah has made them lawful and they made lawful things which Allah has prohibited!!

Did not the Government of Sudan notice the crushing, destruction and extinction of blessings from the projects that are established on riba? Did not it see the collapse of the economy, the spread of poverty and the fall of the pound against all foreign currencies, as a result of the application of the capitalist system based on legalizing usury? It was narrated that Jabir said:

«لَعَنَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم آكِلَ الرِّبَا وَمُؤْكِلَهُ وَكَاتِبَهُ وَشَاهِدَيْهِ وَقَالَ هُمْ سَوَاءٌ»

“Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) cursed the accepter of usury (Riba) and its payer, and one who records it, and the two witnesses, and he said: They are all equal”. (Narrated by Muslim).

We in Hizb ut Tahrir Wilayah Sudan warn the government of Allah's wrath and the violation of His sanctities. It must repent from its reckless conduct, respond to its Lord, give up riba, and renounce the capitalist system that defies Allah and His Messenger and sucks the blood of the poor. And it must establish the provisions of Allah (swt), in a state that pleases Allah Almighty, Khilafah "Caliphate" Rashidah on the method of the Prophethood which alone is capable to maintain the economy, and apply the provisions of Allah, the Lord of the servants. The Almighty says:

(فَمَنِ اتَّبَعَ هُدَايَ فَلا يَضِلُّ وَلا يَشْقَى * وَمَنْ أَعْرَضَ عَنْ ذِكْرِي فَإِنَّ لَهُ مَعِيشَةً ضَنْكًا وَنَحْشُرُهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ أَعْمَى)

“Then whoever follows My guidance will neither go astray [in the world] nor suffer [in the Hereafter]. And whoever turns away from My remembrance - indeed, he will have a depressed life.” [Ta-Ha: 123-124]

Ibrahim Othman (Abu Khalil)
Official Spokesman of Hizb ut Tahrir in Wilayah Sudan