وَإِنْ كَانَ ذُو عُسْرَةٍ فَنَظِرَةٌ إِلَى مَيْسَرَةٍ وَأَنْ تَصَدَّقُوا خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ ﴿۲۸۰﴾ وَاتَّقُوا يَوْمًا تُرْجَعُونَ فِيهِ إِلَى اللَّهِ ثُمَّ تُوَفَّى كُلُّ نَفْسٍ مَا كَسَبَتْ وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ ﴿۲۸۱﴾ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا تَدَايَنْتُمْ بِدَيْنٍ إِلَى أَجَلٍ مُسَمًّى فَاكْتُبُوهُ وَلْيَكْتُبْ بَيْنَكُمْ كَاتِبٌ بِالْعَدْلِ وَلَا يَأْبَ كَاتِبٌ أَنْ يَكْتُبَ كَمَا عَلَّمَهُ اللَّهُ فَلْيَكْتُبْ وَلْيُمْلِلِ الَّذِي عَلَيْهِ الْحَقُّ وَلْيَتَّقِ اللَّهَ رَبَّهُ وَلَا يَبْخَسْ مِنْهُ شَيْئًا فَإِنْ كَانَ الَّذِي عَلَيْهِ الْحَقُّ سَفِيهًا أَوْ ضَعِيفًا أَوْ لَا يَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ يُمِلَّ هُوَ فَلْيُمْلِلْ وَلِيُّهُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَاسْتَشْهِدُوا شَهِيدَيْنِ مِنْ رِجَالِكُمْ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُونَا رَجُلَيْنِ فَرَجُلٌ وَامْرَأَتَانِ مِمَّنْ تَرْضَوْنَ مِنَ الشُّهَدَاءِ أَنْ تَضِلَّ إِحْدَاهُمَا فَتُذَكِّرَ إِحْدَاهُمَا الْأُخْرَى وَلَا يَأْبَ الشُّهَدَاءُ إِذَا مَا دُعُوا وَلَا تَسْأَمُوا أَنْ تَكْتُبُوهُ صَغِيرًا أَوْ كَبِيرًا إِلَى أَجَلِهِ ذَلِكُمْ أَقْسَطُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ وَأَقْوَمُ لِلشَّهَادَةِ وَأَدْنَى أَلَّا تَرْتَابُوا إِلَّا أَنْ تَكُونَ تِجَارَةً حَاضِرَةً تُدِيرُونَهَا بَيْنَكُمْ فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ أَلَّا تَكْتُبُوهَا وَأَشْهِدُوا إِذَا تَبَايَعْتُمْ وَلَا يُضَارَّ كَاتِبٌ وَلَا شَهِيدٌ وَإِنْ تَفْعَلُوا فَإِنَّهُ فُسُوقٌ بِكُمْ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَيُعَلِّمُكُمُ اللَّهُ وَاللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ ﴿۲۸۲﴾
﴾280﴿ Wa in kaana zoo 'usratin fanaziratun ilaa maisarah; wa an tasaddaqoo khairul lakum in kuntum ta'lamoon
﴾281﴿ Wattaqoo yawman turja'oona feehi ilal laahi summa tuwaffaa kullu nafsim maa kasabat wa hum laa yuzlamoon
﴾282﴿ Yaa ayyuhal lazeena aamanoo izaa tadaayantum bidaiynin ilaa ajalimmusamman faktubooh; walyaktub bainakum kaatibum bil'adl; wa laa yaaba kaatibun ai yaktuba kamaa 'allamahul laah; falyaktub walyumlilil lazee 'alaihil haqqu walyattaqil laaha rabbahoo wa laa yabkhas minhu shai'aa; fa in kaanal lazee 'alaihil haqqu safeehan aw da'eefan aw laa yastatee'u ai yumilla huwa falyumlil waliyyuhoo bil'adl; wastash hidoo shaheedaini mir rijaalikum fa il lam yakoonaa rajulaini farajulunw wamra ataani mimman tardawna minash shuhadaaa'i an tadilla ihdaahumaa fatuzakkira ihdaahumal ukhraa; wa laa yaabash shuhadaaa'u izaa maadu'oo; wa laa tas'amooo an taktuboohu sagheeran awkabeeran ilaaa ajalih; zaalikum aqsatu 'indal laahi wa aqwamu lishshahaadati wa adnaaa allaa tartaabooo illaaa an takoona tijaaratan haadiratan tudeeroonahaa bainakum falaisa 'alaikum junaahun allaa taktuboohan; wa ashidooo izaa tabaaya'tum; wa laa yudaaarra kaatibunw wa laa shaheed; wa in taf'aloo fa innahoo fusooqum bikum; wattaqul laaha wa yu'allimu kumul laah; wallaahu bikulli shai'in 'Aleem
﴾280﴿ And if the debtor is in hardship, then grant him time until ease. But if you remit it as charity, that is better for you, if you only knew.
﴾281﴿ And fear the Day when you will be returned to Allah. Then every soul will be fully repaid for what it has done, and they will not be wronged.
﴾282﴿ O you who have believed, when you deal with one another in a transaction involving debt for a fixed term, then write it down. And let a scribe write between you with justice. Let no scribe refuse to write as Allah has taught him, so let him write. And let the one upon whom the debt is bear the responsibility of dictating, and let him fear Allah, his Lord, and not reduce anything from it. But if the one upon whom the debt is is of limited understanding, or weak, or unable to dictate himself, then let his guardian dictate with justice. And bring to witness two men from among you. But if there are not two men, then a man and two women from those whom you approve as witnesses—so that if one of them forgets, the other can remind her. And let not the witnesses refuse when they are called. And do not be weary of writing it down—whether it is small or large—for its specified term. That is more just in the sight of Allah and stronger as evidence and more likely to prevent doubt—unless it is an immediate transaction you conduct among yourselves, then there is no blame upon you if you do not write it. And have witnesses when you conduct business. And let no harm be done to the scribe or the witness. But if you do so, it is a grave disobedience in you. And fear Allah, and Allah teaches you. And Allah is Knowing of all things.
[280] In this is the teaching of good character: if the debtor is poor, then grant him time until he is able to repay, or forgive the debt for him entirely—this will be counted as charity.
[281] In this is a teaching of noble character: if the debtor is poor, then give him time until he is able to repay, or forgive the debt entirely for him—this will be considered charity.
[282] This verse is known as the verse of debt, and it contains nearly twenty-five legal rulings in Islamic jurisprudence.
It is the longest verse in the entire Quran.
The main objective is to conduct financial transactions in a way that prevents conflict and ensures wealth is earned through lawful means, so it may be spent in the path of Allah.
“When you deal with debt (إِذَا تَدَايَنْتُمْ)” – debt-based transactions are of three kinds:
1. Lending with interest (which is forbidden),
2. Salam – paying in advance for a good to be delivered at a future date (requires a fixed term),
3. Giving a Qard Hasanah (benevolent loan) – here too, setting a deadline is necessary.
“With justice (بِالْعَدْلِ)” – this implies that the scribe should be a just, knowledgeable, and religious Muslim.
“As Allah has taught him (كَمَا عَلَّمَهُ)” – this indicates that the ability to write is a gift from Allah and a form of religious knowledge.
“Of limited understanding (سَفِيهًا)” – refers to someone who squanders his wealth foolishly.
“Or weak (أَوْ ضَعِيفًا)” – physically weak and unable to dictate.
“Or unable to dictate himself (أَوْ لَا يَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ يُمِلَّ هُوَ)” – due to being mute or lacking the language skills.
“His guardian (وَلِيُّهُ)” – refers to an authorized agent or interpreter who speaks on his behalf.
“From those whom you approve (مِمَّنْ تَرْضَوْنَ)” – implies the witnesses should be righteous and trustworthy.
“Lest one of them forgets (أَنْ تَضِلَّ)” – women have been given a supportive role in testimony due to natural differences in emotional sensitivity and memory, as clarified in the sayings of the Prophet (May Allah bless him and give him peace).
Hence, two women stand in place of one man to support each other in case of forgetfulness.
“More likely that you will not doubt (وَأَدْنَى أَلَّا تَرْتَابُوا)” – shows that following these commands avoids confusion and conflict.
“Let no harm be done (وَلَا يُضَارَّ)” – has two meanings depending on the verb form:
Active form: The scribe or witnesses should not cause harm by demanding high payment.
Passive form: They should not be harmed by being forced to work without fair compensation.
This verse emphasizes justice, clarity, and mutual responsibility in financial dealings, safeguarding the rights of all parties involved.