Riba Resistance

Raw and unedited commentary from the sidelines for the Muslim Bitcoin Summit in Dallas, Texas. This late-night, firehose episode features the first time the Riba Resistance production team met up in person. Enjoy insights from the team about the Summit and the future of Bitcoin Majlis and the Digital Hijra movement. 

In this final episode, we cast a vision for what it means to make a financial hijrah away from fiat systems and toward a more sound and ethical form of money through Bitcoin. We walk through practical steps Muslims can begin today: stacking sats, eliminating interest-based debt, and building alternative economic communities rooted in Islamic values. From how Bitcoin strengthens families and empowers small businesses, to its profound implications for zakat distribution and the deepening of iman, we explore how monetary integrity touches every dimension of Muslim life. The season closes with a simple reminder: knowledge without action is incomplete. We must encourage each other to become Bitcoin educators in our networks, forming Majlis-style circles where Muslims can learn, support one another, and walk this path together.

This guest interview episode features Ashik Usman, the author of Bitcoin is Halal, a groundbreaking children’s book that bridges Islamic ethics and modern financial literacy. The conversation explores why early financial education matters and how complex topics like inflation, Riba, and Bitcoin can be taught to young minds in ways that are accessible, engaging, and Islamically grounded. We also tackle the growing concerns around digital IDs and AI-driven systems, and how parents can raise children who are financially aware, critically thinking, and spiritually anchored in an increasingly surveilled and automated world. Ultimately, this episode focuses on equipping Muslim families with tools to educate their children both intellectually and spiritually while helping them recognize and respond to economic injustice. Check out more from Ashik Usman:Website: https://www.ashikusmanbooks.com/X: https://x.com/weareblockchainNostr: npub18z533j9gxhnlkqukp75wnd5mjv5njqkaj07atslnrk2dp9rxsp0q6650l4

In this guest interview episode featuring Muaawiyah “Abu Yoosuf” Tucker, we explore why Muslims cannot meaningfully resist riba if they outsource custody of their wealth to third-party institutions. Abu Yoosuf breaks down the concept of Bitcoin self-custody, explaining the difference between hot and cold wallets and why your private keys and seed phrase are the ultimate proof of ownership. Spiritual parallels are drawn between financial responsibility and the concept of vicegerency (khilafah), highlighting personal accountability in wealth management. He also shares practical guidance, including wallet recommendations and essential operational security habits, helping listeners take confident steps toward genuine financial independence. Whether you’re new to Bitcoin or looking to deepen your understanding of its alignment with Islamic principles, this episode offers both theological grounding and practical tools for action. Check out more from Muaawiyah “Abu Yoosuf” Tucker:X/Twitter: https://x.com/c_hashreviewYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BTCDividedByZeroNostr: npub1h34n29f3wqvcht0jyhnd36jxcdmljyqjv4vdjfrd69nhxhrdvvnsgwr4h0

Halal labels can’t purify haram systems. Safdar Alam is the former Global Head of Islamic Structuring at JPMorgan and our guest for this fifth episode of Riba Resistance. We discuss how Islamic finance has failed to produce truly riba-free solutions and critique the superficial application of fiqh to deeply flawed financial models. Is Bitcoin a solution? Safdar doesn’t shy away from the uncomfortable truth: if the architecture is rotten, repainting the walls is not reform. Bitcoin isn’t just on the table — it may be the only exit. Check out Safdar’s website: https://safdaralam.com/Follow Safdar on X: https://x.com/SafdarAlam

This episode cuts through the hype and confusion to explain what Bitcoin actually is. We unpack Bitcoin as a scarce, decentralized form of digital gold secured by real work, real energy, and transparent rules. As we break down mining, nodes, and proof-of-work, we reflect on what it means to build a monetary system rooted in accountability rather than manipulation. More importantly, we explore how Bitcoin’s design reflects Islamic principles of honest labor, transparency, and true ownership through self-custody. In doing so, we draw a sharp line between Bitcoin and the thousands of altcoins driven by marketing, insiders, and manipulation—highlighting what makes BTC fundamentally different.

In this episode, we break down how fiat money actually works—and why inflation functions as a tool of wealth extraction rather than an economic accident. We explore money supply expansion as a deliberate policy choice, its intrinsic connection to riba, and why inflation amounts to legalized theft with fiat currency as slow-motion robbery. The conversation traces how this system quietly erodes generational wealth, with particular harm to Muslim communities, while also examining the broader geopolitical consequences of fiat-based monetary power.

In this episode, we define Riba, clarifying that it goes beyond simple interest or usury to encompass a broader system of unjust gain. We explore the severe condemnation of riba in the Qur’an and Hadith, highlighting why it is considered a major moral and spiritual violation in Islam. The discussion then outlines the wisdom behind its prohibition, examining its damaging social, economic, and spiritual effects. Finally, the episode begins to connect these harms to the role of riba within modern fiat money systems, setting the stage for a deeper exploration in future episodes.

Money isn’t just a tool for buying things—it’s a social technology that shapes how we behave, interact, and organize our societies. In this episode, we dive into competing theories of money and explore the crucial distinction between fiat currency and sound money principles. What happens when money can be created at will versus when it’s anchored to something scarce and tangible? The choice isn’t neutral—it has profound implications for economic stability, wealth distribution, and social cohesion. Whether you’re interested in economics, theology, or simply understanding the forces shaping our world, this conversation challenges conventional thinking about what money is and what it should be.