Tafsir of Al Imran 3:130-132

"O you who have believed, do not consume usury, doubled and multiplied."

This is a prohibition against usury, accompanied by a rebuke for the practice they were engaged in—namely, doubling it. When a debt reached its maturity, a man among them would increase the term, and in doing so, a small amount would consume the debtor's entire wealth.

"And fear the Fire, which has been prepared for the disbelievers."

Abu Hanifa (may Allah have mercy on him) used to say: "This is the most terrifying verse in the Qur'an." This is because Allah has threatened the believers with the Fire prepared for the disbelievers if they do not fear Him by avoiding His prohibitions.

He reinforced this with what followed: linking the believers' hope for His mercy to their devotion to obeying Him and His Messenger.

Whoever contemplates this verse and its likes will not delude himself with empty greed or false hopes regarding Allah Almighty. Regarding the mention of "perhaps" (laʿalla) and "it may be" (ʿasā) in such contexts—even if people say what they say—it is not hidden from the insightful, intelligent person how subtle the path of piety is, how difficult it is to attain the pleasure of Allah, and how rare it is to reach His mercy and reward.