The Holy Quran 2:282 — Surah Al-Baqarah

Arabic text

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِذَا تَدَايَنتُم بِدَيْنٍ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى فَٱكْتُبُوهُ ۚ وَلْيَكْتُب بَّيْنَكُمْ كَاتِبٌۢ بِٱلْعَدْلِ ۚ وَلَا يَأْبَ كَاتِبٌ أَن يَكْتُبَ كَمَا عَلَّمَهُ ٱللَّهُ ۚ فَلْيَكْتُبْ وَلْيُمْلِلِ ٱلَّذِى عَلَيْهِ ٱلْحَقُّ وَلْيَتَّقِ ٱللَّهَ رَبَّهُۥ وَلَا يَبْخَسْ مِنْهُ شَيْـًٔا ۚ فَإِن كَانَ ٱلَّذِى عَلَيْهِ ٱلْحَقُّ سَفِيهًا أَوْ ضَعِيفًا أَوْ لَا يَسْتَطِيعُ أَن يُمِلَّ هُوَ فَلْيُمْلِلْ وَلِيُّهُۥ بِٱلْعَدْلِ ۚ وَٱسْتَشْهِدُوا۟ شَهِيدَيْنِ مِن رِّجَالِكُمْ ۖ فَإِن لَّمْ يَكُونَا رَجُلَيْنِ فَرَجُلٌ وَٱمْرَأَتَانِ مِمَّن تَرْضَوْنَ مِنَ ٱلشُّهَدَآءِ أَن تَضِلَّ إِحْدَىٰهُمَا فَتُذَكِّرَ إِحْدَىٰهُمَا ٱلْأُخْرَىٰ ۚ وَلَا يَأْبَ ٱلشُّهَدَآءُ إِذَا مَا دُعُوا۟ ۚ وَلَا تَسْـَٔمُوٓا۟ أَن تَكْتُبُوهُ صَغِيرًا أَوْ كَبِيرًا إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلِهِۦ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ أَقْسَطُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ وَأَقْوَمُ لِلشَّهَـٰدَةِ وَأَدْنَىٰٓ أَلَّا تَرْتَابُوٓا۟ ۖ إِلَّآ أَن تَكُونَ تِجَـٰرَةً حَاضِرَةً تُدِيرُونَهَا بَيْنَكُمْ فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ أَلَّا تَكْتُبُوهَا ۗ وَأَشْهِدُوٓا۟ إِذَا تَبَايَعْتُمْ ۚ وَلَا يُضَآرَّ كَاتِبٌ وَلَا شَهِيدٌ ۚ وَإِن تَفْعَلُوا۟ فَإِنَّهُۥ فُسُوقٌۢ بِكُمْ ۗ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۖ وَيُعَلِّمُكُمُ ٱللَّهُ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌ

Translation

O you who have Imaan! When you contract a debt for a fixed period (of time) then write it down. Let a scribe (someone who can write) write down the transaction between you with fairness. No scribe should refuse to write (when he is asked to do so). As Allaah has taught him (to write), so should he write. Let him on whom the debt is (binding, i.e. the debtor) dictate (the terms of the contract). He should fear Allaah his Rabb and should not reduce anything of it (he should not understate the amount he is owing). If the one on whom the debt is (binding) is low in understanding, or weak (too young, too old or ill) or unable to dictate (because of a handicap or inability to speak the language), then his guardian should dictate (the contract) with fairness (with justice). Call to witness (the contract) two persons from your men. If there are not two men, then (it will suffice to use) one man and two women from those whom you approve as witnesses (people who are honest and trustworthy) so that if the one (woman) should err (forget), the other may remind her. The witnesses should not refuse (to state what they witnessed) when called (to do so). Do not be reluctant in recording debts, be they small or large with (record of) their fixed terms (the date when the debt is due should be recorded). This (recording of debts) is more just in the sight of Allaah, stronger as evidence and the best way to avoid doubt between you; (it is therefore best to record all transactions) unless it is a cash transaction (the goods of) which you transfer amongst yourselves (on the spot). In that case (when the transaction is cash) there is no sin on you if you do not record it. Have witnesses when you sell to each other (this and the command to record transactions are not obligatory but preferable). Let no harm (difficulty) come to the scribe or to the witness. If you do (harm them), then it is indeed a grave sin on you (Similarly, the scribe and the witness should also not cause harm to the creditor or to the debtor). Fear Allaah (by fulfilling His commands), Allaah shall teach you (what is good for you in all matters). Allaah is the Knower of all things.

Tafsir (excerpt) — التفسير الميسر

يا من آمنتم بالله واتبعتم رسوله محمدًا صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا تعاملتم بدَيْن إلى وقت معلوم فاكتبوه; حفظًا للمال ودفعًا للنزاع. ولْيقُم بالكتابة رجل أمين ضابط، ولا يمتنع مَن علَّمه الله الكتابة عن ذلك، ولْيقم المدين بإملاء ما عليه من الدَّيْن، وليراقب ربه، ولا ينقص من دينه شيئا.

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