2:282 Al-Baqara (The Cow)

هذه آية الدين، وهي أطول آيات القرآن، وقد اشتملت على أحكام عظيمة جليلة المنفعة والمقدار، أحدها: أنه تجوز جميع أنواع المداينات من سلم وغيره، لأن الله أخبر عن المداينة التي عليها المؤمنون إخبار مقرر لها ذاكرا أحكامها، وذلك يدل على الجواز، الثاني والثالث أنه لا بد للسلم من أجل وأنه لا بد أن يكون معينا معلوما فلا يصح حالا ولا إلى أجل مجهول، الرابع: الأمر بكتابة جميع عقود المداينات إما وجوبا وإما استحبابا لشدة الحاجة إلى كتابتها، لأنها بدون الكتابة يدخلها من الغلط والنسيان والمنازعة والمشاجرة شر عظيم، الخامس: أمر الكاتب أن يكتب، السادس: أن يكون عدلا في نفسه لأجل اعتبار كتابته، لأن الفاسق لا يعتبر قوله ولا كتابته، السابع أنه يجب عليه العدل بينهما، فلا يميل لأحدهما لقرابة أو صداقة أو غير ذلك، الثامن: أن يكون الكاتب عارفا بكتابة الوثائق وما يلزم فيها كل واحد منهما، وما يحصل به التوثق، لأنه لا سبيل إلى العدل إلا بذلك، وهذا مأخوذ من قوله: { وليكتب بينكم كاتب بالعدل } التاسع: أنه إذا وجدت وثيقة بخط المعروف بالعدالة المذكورة يعمل بها، ولو كان هو والشهود قد ماتوا، العاشر: قوله: { ولا يأب كاتب أن يكتب } أي: لا يمتنع من منَّ الله عليه بتعليمه الكتابة أن يكتب بين المتداينين، فكما أحسن الله إليه بتعليمه، فليحسن إلى عباد الله المحتاجين إلى كتابته، ولا يمتنع من الكتابة لهم، الحادي عشر: أمر الكاتب أن لا يكتب إلا ما أملاه من عليه الحق، الثاني عشر: أن الذي يملي من المتعاقدين من عليه الدين، الثالث عشر: أمره أن يبين جميع الحق الذي عليه ولا يبخس منه شيئا، الرابع عشر: أن إقرار الإنسان على نفسه مقبول، لأن الله أمر من عليه الحق أن يمل على الكاتب، فإذا كتب إقراره بذلك ثبت موجبه ومضمونه، وهو ما أقر به على نفسه، ولو ادعى بعد ذلك غلطا أو سهوا، الخامس عشر: أن من عليه حقا من الحقوق التي البينة على مقدارها وصفتها من كثرة وقلة وتعجيل وتأجيل، أن قوله هو المقبول دون قول من له الحق، لأنه تعالى لم ينهه عن بخس الحق الذي عليه، إلا أن قوله مقبول على ما يقوله من مقدار الحق وصفته، السادس عشر: أنه يحرم على من عليه حق من الحقوق أن يبخس وينقص شيئا من مقداره، أو طيبه وحسنه، أو أجله أو غير ذلك من توابعه ولواحقه، السابع عشر: أن من لا يقدر على إملاء الحق لصغره أو سفهه أو خرسه، أو نحو ذلك، فإنه ينوب وليه منابه في الإملاء والإقرار، الثامن عشر: أنه يلزم الولي من العدل ما يلزم من عليه الحق من العدل، وعدم البخس لقوله { بالعدل } التاسع عشر: أنه يشترط عدالة الولي، لأن الإملاء بالعدل المذكور لا يكون من فاسق، العشرون: ثبوت الولاية في الأموال، الحادي والعشرون: أن الحق يكون على الصغير والسفيه والمجنون والضعيف، لا على وليهم، الثاني والعشرون: أن إقرار الصغير والسفيه والمجنون والمعتوه ونحوهم وتصرفهم غير صحيح، لأن الله جعل الإملاء لوليهم، ولم يجعل لهم منه شيئا لطفا بهم ورحمة، خوفا من تلاف أموالهم، الثالث والعشرون: صحة تصرف الولي في مال من ذكر، الرابع والعشرون: فيه مشروعية كون الإنسان يتعلم الأمور التي يتوثق بها المتداينون كل واحد من صاحبه، لأن المقصود من ذلك التوثق والعدل، وما لا يتم المشروع إلا به فهو مشروع، الخامس والعشرون: أن تعلم الكتابة مشروع، بل هو فرض كفاية، لأن الله أمر بكتابة الديون وغيرها، ولا يحصل ذلك إلا بالتعلم، السادس والعشرون: أنه مأمور بالإشهاد على العقود، وذلك على وجه الندب، لأن المقصود من ذلك الإرشاد إلى ما يحفظ الحقوق، فهو عائد لمصلحة المكلفين، نعم إن كان المتصرف ولي يتيم أو وقف ونحو ذلك مما يجب حفظه تعين أن يكون الإشهاد الذي به يحفظ الحق واجبا، السابع والعشرون: أن نصاب الشهادة في الأموال ونحوها رجلان أو رجل وامرأتان، ودلت السنة أيضا أنه يقبل الشاهد مع يمين المدعي، الثامن والعشرون: أن شهادة الصبيان غير مقبولة لمفهوم لفظ الرجل، التاسع والعشرون: أن شهادة النساء منفردات في الأموال ونحوها لا تقبل، لأن الله لم يقبلهن إلا مع الرجل، وقد يقال إن الله أقام المرأتين مقام رجل للحكمة التي ذكرها وهي موجودة سواء كن مع رجل أو منفردات والله أعلم. الثلاثون: أن شهادة العبد البالغ مقبولة كشهادة الحر لعموم قوله: { واستشهدوا شهيدين من رجالكم } والعبد البالغ من رجالنا، الحادي والثلاثون: أن شهادة الكفار ذكورا كانوا أو نساء غير مقبولة، لأنهم ليسوا منا، ولأن مبنى الشهادة على العدالة وهو غير عدل، الثاني والثلاثون: فيه فضيلة الرجل على المرأة، وأن الواحد في مقابلة المرأتين لقوة حفظه ونقص حفظها، الثالث والثلاثون: أن من نسي شهادته ثم ذكرها فذكر فشهادته مقبولة لقوله: { فتذكر إحداهما الأخرى } الرابع والثلاثون: يؤخذ من المعنى أن الشاهد إذا خاف نسيان شهادته في الحقوق الواجبة وجب عليه كتابتها، لأن ما لا يتم الواجب إلا به فهو واجب، والخامس والثلاثون: أنه يجب على الشاهد إذا دعي للشهادة وهو غير معذور، لا يجوز له أن يأبى لقوله: { ولا يأب الشهداء إذا ما دعوا } السادس والثلاثون: أن من لم يتصف بصفة الشهداء المقبولة شهادتهم، لم يجب عليه الإجابة لعدم الفائدة بها ولأنه ليس من الشهداء، السابع والثلاثون: النهي عن السآمة والضجر من كتابة الديون كلها من صغير وكبير وصفة الأجل وجميع ما احتوى عليه العقد من الشروط والقيود، الثامن والثلاثون: بيان الحكمة في مشروعية الكتابة والإشهاد في العقود، وأنه { أقسط عند الله وأقوم للشهادة وأدنى ألا ترتابوا } فإنها متضمنة للعدل الذي به قوام العباد والبلاد، والشهادة المقترنة بالكتابة تكون أقوم وأكمل وأبعد من الشك والريب والتنازع والتشاجر، التاسع والثلاثون: يؤخذ من ذلك أن من اشتبه وشك في شهادته لم يجز له الإقدام عليها بل لا بد من اليقين، الأربعون: قوله: { إلا أن تكون تجارة حاضرة تديرونها بينكم فليس عليكم جناح ألا تكتبوها } فيه الرخصة في ترك الكتابة إذا كانت التجارة حاضرا بحاضر، لعدم شدة الحاجة إلى الكتابة، الحادي والأربعون: أنه وإن رخص في ترك الكتابة في التجارة الحاضرة، فإنه يشرع الإشهاد لقوله: { وأشهدوا إذا تبايعتم } الثاني والأربعون: النهي عن مضارة الكاتب بأن يدعى وقت اشتغال وحصول مشقة عليه، الثالث والأربعون: النهي عن مضارة الشهيد أيضا بأن يدعى إلى تحمل الشهادة أو أدائها في مرض أو شغل يشق عليه، أو غير ذلك هذا على جعل قوله: { ولا يضار كاتب ولا شهيد } مبنيا للمجهول، وأما على جعلها مبنيا للفاعل ففيه نهي الشاهد والكاتب أن يضارا صاحب الحق بالامتناع أو طلب أجرة شاقة ونحو ذلك، وهذان هما الرابع والأربعون والخامس والأربعون والسادس والأربعون أن ارتكاب هذه المحرمات من خصال الفسق لقوله: { وإن تفعلوا فإنه فسوق بكم } السابع والأربعون أن الأوصاف كالفسق والإيمان والنفاق والعداوة والولاية ونحو ذلك تتجزأ في الإنسان، فتكون فيه مادة فسق وغيرها، وكذلك مادة إيمان وكفر لقوله: { فإنه فسوق بكم } ولم يقل فأنتم فاسقون أو فُسّاق. الثامن والأربعون: - وحقه أن يتقدم على ما هنا لتقدم موضعه- اشتراط العدالة في الشاهد لقوله: { ممن ترضون من الشهداء } التاسع والأربعون: أن العدالة يشترط فيها العرف في كل مكان وزمان، فكل من كان مرضيا معتبرا عند الناس قبلت شهادته، الخمسون: يؤخذ منها عدم قبول شهادة المجهول حتى يزكى، فهذه الأحكام مما يستنبط من هذه الآية الكريمة على حسب الحال الحاضرة والفهم القاصر، ولله في كلامه حكم وأسرار يخص بها من يشاء من عباده.

هذه الآية الكريمة أطول آية في القرآن العظيم وقد قال الإمام أبو جعفر بن جرير حدثنا يونس أخبرنا ابن وهب أخبرني يونس عن ابن شهاب قال حدثني سعيد بن المسيب أنه بلغه أن أحدث القرآن بالعرش آية الدين وقال الإمام أحمد حدثنا عفان حدثنا حماد بن سلمة عن علي بن زيد عن يوسف بن مهران عن ابن عباس أنه قال لما نزلت آية الدين قال رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - "إن أول من جحد آدم عليه السلام إن الله لما خلق آدم مسح ظهره فأخرج منه ما هو ذار إلى يوم القيامة فجعل يعرض ذريته عليه فرأى فيهم رجلا يزهر فقال أي رب من هذا؟ قال هو ابنك داود قال أي رب كم عمره؟ قال ستون عاما قال رب زد في عمره قال لا إلا أن أزيده من عمرك وكان عمر آدم ألف سنة فزاده أربعين عاما فكتب عليه بذلك كتابا وأشهد عليه الملائكة فلما احتضر آدم وأتته الملائكة قال إنه قد بقي من عمري أربعون عاما فقيل له إنك قد وهبتها لابنك داود قال ما فعلت فأبرز الله عليه الكتاب وأشهد عليه الملائكة" وحدثنا أسود بن عامر عن حماد بن سلمة فذكره وزاد فيه "فأتمها الله لداود مائة وأتمها لآدم ألف سنة". وكذا رواه ابن أبي حاتم عن يوسف بن أبي حبيب عن أبي داود الطيالسي عن حماد بن سلمة. هذا حديث غريب جدا وعلي بن زيد بن جدعان في أحاديثه نكارة وقد رواه الحاكم في مستدركه بنحوه من حديث الحارث بن عبدالرحمن بن أبي وثاب عن سعيد المقبري عن أبي هريرة ومن رواية أبي داود بن أبي هند عن الشعبي عن أبي هريرة ومن طريق محمد بن عمرو عن أبي سلمة عن أبي هريرة ومن حديث تمام بن سعد عن زيد بن أسلم عن أبي صالح عن أبي هريرة عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فذكره بنحوه. فقوله "يا أيها الذين آمنوا إذا تداينتم بدين إلى أجل مسمى فاكتبوه" هذا إرشاد منه تعالى لعباده المؤمنين إذا تعاملوا بمعاملات مؤجلة أن يكتبوها ليكون ذلك أحفظ لمقدارها وميقاتها وأضبط للشاهد فيها وقد نبه على هذا في آخر الآية حيث قال "ذلكم أقسط عند الله وأقوم للشهادة وأدنى أن لا ترتابوا" وقال سفيان الثوري عن ابن أبي نجيح عن مجاهد عن ابن عباس في قوله "يا أيها الذين آمنوا إذا تداينتم بدين إلى أجل مسمى فاكتبوه" قال أنزلت في السلم إلى أجل معلوم وقال قتادة عن أبي حسان الأعرج عن ابن عباس قال أشهد أن السلف المضمون إلى أجل مسمى أن الله أحله وأذن فيه ثم قرأ "يا أيها الذين آمنوا إذا تداينتم بدين إلى أجل مسمى". رواه البخاري وثبت في الصحيحين من رواية سفيان بن عيينة عن ابن أبي نجيح عن عبدالله بن كثير عن أبي المنهال عن ابن عباس. قال: قدم النبي - صلى الله عليه وسلم - المدينة وهم يسلفون في الثمار السنة والسنتين والثلاث فقال رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - "من أسلف فليسلف في كيل معلوم ووزن معلوم وأجل معلوم" وقوله "فاكتبوه" أمر منه تعالى بالكتابة للتوثقة والحفظ فإن قيل فقد ثبت في الصحيحين عن عبدالله بن عمر قال: قال رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - "إنا أمة أمية لا نكتب ولا نحسب" فما الجمع بينه وبين الأمر بالكتابة فالجواب أن الدين من حيث هو غير مفتقر إلى كتابة أصلا لأن كتاب الله قد سهل الله ويسر حفظه على الناس والسنن أيضا محفوظة عن رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - والذي أمر الله بكتابته إنما هو أشياء جزئية تقع بين الناس فأمروا أمر إرشاد لا أمر إيجاب كما ذهب إليه بعضهم قال ابن جريج من ادان فليكتب ومن ابتاع فليشهد وقال قتادة ذكر لنا أن أبا سليمان المرعشي كان رجلا صحب كعبا فقال ذات يوم لأصحابه هل تعلمون مظلوما دعا ربه فلم يستجب له؟ فقالوا وكيف يكون ذلك؟ قال رجل باع بيعا إلى أجل فلم يشهد ولم يكتب فلما حل ماله جحده صاحبه فدعا ربه فلم يستجب له لأنه قد عصى ربه. وقال أبو سعيد والشعبي والربيع بن أنس والحسن وابن جريج وابن زيد وغيرهم كان ذلك واجبا ثم نسخ بقوله"فإن أمن بعضكم بعضا فليؤد الذي ائتمن أمانته" والدليل على ذلك أيضا الحديث الذي حكي عن شرع من قبلنا مقررا في شرعنا ولم ينكر عدم الكتابة والإشهاد قال الإمام أحمد حدثنا يونس بن محمد حدثنا ليث عن جعفر بن ربيعة عن عبدالرحمن بن هرمز عن أبي هريرة عن رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - أنه ذكر أن رجلا من بني إسرائيل سأل بعض بني إسرائيل أن يسلفه ألف دينار فقال ائتني بشهداء أشهدهم قال كفى بالله شهيدا قال ائتني بكفيل قال كفى بالله كفيلا قال صدقت فدفعها إليه إلى أجل مسمى فخرج في البحر فقضى حاجته ثم التمس مركبا يقدم عليه للأجل الذي أجله فلم يجد مركبا فأخذ خشبة فنقرها فأدخل فيها ألف دينار وصحيفة معها إلى صاحبها ثم زجج موضعها ثم أتى بها البحر ثم قال اللهم إنك قد علمت أني استسلفت فلانا ألف دينار فسألني كفيلا فقلت: كفى بالله كفيلا فرضي بذلك وسألني شهيدا فقلت كفى بالله شهيدا فرضي بذلك وإنى قد جهدت أن أجد مركبا أبعث بها إليه بالذي أعطاني فلم أجد مركبا وإني استودعتكها فرمى بها في البحر حتى ولجت فيه ثم انصرف وهو في ذلك يطلب مركبا إلى بلده فخرج الرجل الذي كان أسلفه ينظر لعل مركبا تجيئه بماله فإذا بالخشبة التي فيها المال فأخذها لأهله حطبا فلما كسرها وجد المال والصحيفة ثم قدم الرجل الذي كان تسلف منه فأتاه بألف دينار وقال: والله ما زلت جاهدا في طلب مركب لآتيك بمالك فما وجدت مركبا قبل الذي أتيت فيه. قال هل كنت بعثت إلي بشيء؟ قال ألم أخبرك أني لم أجد مركبا قبل هذا الذي جئت فيه؟ قال فإن الله قد أدى عنك الذي بعثت به في الخشبة فانصرف بألفك راشدا. وهذا إسناد صحيح وقد رواه البخاري في سبعة مواضع من طرق صحيحة معلقا بصيغة الجزم فقال: وقال الليث بن سعيد فذكره ويقال إنه رواه في بعضها عن عبدالله بن صالح كاتب الليث عنه.

The Necessity of Writing Transactions That Take Effect Later on

This Ayah is the longest in the Glorious Qur'an. Imam Abu Ja`far bin Jarir recorded that Sa`id bin Al-Musayyib said that he was told that the Ayah most recently revealed from above the Throne -- the last Ayah to be revealed in the Qur'an -- was the Ayah about debts.

Allah's statement,

يأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ إِذَا تَدَايَنتُم بِدَيْنٍ إِلَى أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى فَاكْتُبُوهُ

(O you who believe! When you contract a debt for a fixed period, write it down) directs Allah's believing servants to record their business transactions when their term is delayed, to preserve the terms and timing of these transactions, and the memory of witnesses, as mentioned at the end of the Ayah,

ذَلِكُمْ أَقْسَطُ عِندَ اللَّهِ وَأَقْوَمُ لِلشَّهَـدَةِ وَأَدْنَى أَلاَّ تَرْتَابُواْ

(that is more just with Allah; more solid as evidence, and more convenient to prevent doubts among yourselves.)

The Two Sahihs recorded that Ibn `Abbas said, "Allah's Messenger ﷺ came to Al-Madinah, while the people were in the habit of paying in advance for fruits to be delivered within one or two years. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,

«مَنْ أَسْلَفَ، فَلْيُسْلِفْ فِي كَيْلٍ مَعْلُومٍ، وَوَزْنٍ مَعْلُومٍ، إِلَى أَجَلٍ مَعْلُوم»

(Whoever pays money in advance (for dates to be delivered later) should pay it for known specified measure and weight (of the dates) for a specified date. )

Allah's statement,

فَاكْتُبُوهُ

(write it down) is a command from Him to record such transactions to endorse and preserve their terms. Ibn Jurayj said, "Whoever borrowed should write the terms, and whoever bought should have witnesses." Abu Sa`id, Ash-Sha`bi, Ar-Rabi` bin Anas, Al-Hasan, Ibn Jurayj and Ibn Zayd said that recording such transactions was necessary before, but was then abrogated by Allah's statement,

فَإِنْ أَمِنَ بَعْضُكُم بَعْضًا فَلْيُؤَدِّ الَّذِى اؤْتُمِنَ أَمَـنَتَهُ

(Then if one of you entrusts the other, let the one who is entrusted discharge his trust (faithfully).)

Allah's statement,

وَلْيَكْتُب بَّيْنَكُم كَاتِبٌ بِالْعَدْلِ

(Let a scribe write it down in justice between you) and in truth. Therefore, the scribe is not allowed to cheat any party of the contract and is to only record what the parties of the contract agreed to, without addition or deletion. Allah's statement,

وَلاَ يَأْبَ كَاتِبٌ أَن يَكْتُبَ كَمَا عَلَّمَهُ اللَّهُ فَلْيَكْتُبْ

(Let not the scribe refuse to write, as Allah has taught him, so let him write) means, "Those who know how to write should not refrain from writing transaction contracts when asked to do so." Further, let writing such contracts be a type of charity from the scribe for those who are not lettered, just as Allah taught him what he knew not. Therefore, let him write, just as the Hadith stated,

«إِنَّ مِنَ الصَّدَقَةِ أَنْ تُعِينَ صَانِعًا، أَوْ تَصْنَعَ لِأَخْرَق»

(It is a type of charity to help a worker and to do something for a feeble person.)

In another Hadith, the Prophet said,

«مَنْ كَتَمَ عِلْمًا يَعْلَمُهُ، أُلْجِمَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ بِلِجَامٍ مِنْ نَار»

(Whoever kept knowledge to himself will be restrained by a bridle made of fire on the Day of Resurrection.) Mujahid and `Ata' said that if asked to do so, "The scribe is required to record."

Allah's statement,

وَلْيُمْلِلِ الَّذِى عَلَيْهِ الْحَقُّ وَلْيَتَّقِ اللَّهَ رَبَّهُ

(Let him (the debtor) who incurs the liability dictate, and he must have Taqwa of Allah, his Lord) indicates that the debtor should dictate to the scribe what he owes, so let him fear Allah,

وَلاَ يَبْخَسْ مِنْهُ شَيْئاً

(And diminish not anything of what he owes,) meaning, not hide any portion of what he owes.

فَإن كَانَ الَّذِى عَلَيْهِ الْحَقُّ سَفِيهًا

(But if the debtor is of poor understanding) and is not allowed to decide on such matters, because he used to waste money, for instance,

أَوْ ضَعِيفًا

(Or weak), such as being too young or insane,

أَوْ لاَ يَسْتَطِيعُ أَن يُمِلَّ هُوَ

(Or is unable to dictate for himself) because of a disease, or ignorance about such matters,

فَلْيُمْلِلْ وَلِيُّهُ بِالْعَدْلِ

(then let his guardian dictate in justice.)

Witnesses Should Attend the Dictation of Contracts

Allah said,

وَاسْتَشْهِدُواْ شَهِيدَيْنِ مِّن رِّجَالِكُمْ

(And get two witnesses out of your own men) requiring witnesses to attend the dictation of contracts to further preserve the contents,

فَإِن لَّمْ يَكُونَا رَجُلَيْنِ فَرَجُلٌ وَامْرَأَتَانِ

(And if there are not two men (available), then a man and two women) this requirement is only for contracts that directly or indirectly involve money. Allah requires that two women take the place of one man as witness, because of the woman's shortcomings, as the Prophet described. Muslim recorded in his Sahih that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,

«يَا مَعْشَرَ النِّسَاءِ تَصَدَّقْنَ وَأَكْثِرْنَ الْاسْتِغْفَارَ، فَإِنِّي رَأَيْتُكُنَّ أَكْثَرَ أَهْلِ النَّار»

(O women! Give away charity and ask for forgiveness, for I saw that you comprise the majority of the people of the Fire.)

One eloquent woman said, "O Messenger of Allah! Why do we comprise the majority of the people of the Fire" He said,

«تُكْثِرْنَ اللَّعْنَ، وَتَكْفُرْنَ الْعَشِيرَ، وَمَا رَأَيْتُ مِنْ نَاقِصَاتِ عَقْلٍ وَدِينٍ، أَغْلَبَ لِذِي لُبَ مِنْكُن»

(You curse a lot and you do not appreciate your mate. I have never seen those who have shortcoming in mind and religion controlling those who have sound minds, other than you.) She said, "O Messenger of Allah! What is this shortcoming in mind and religion" He said,

«أَمَّا نُقْصَانُ عَقْلِهَا، فَشَهَادَةُ امْرَأَتَيْنِ تَعْدِلُ شَهَادَةَ رَجُلٍ، فَهَذَا نُقْصَانُ الْعَقْلِ، وَتَمْكُثُ اللَّيَالِي لَا تُصَلِّي وَتُفْطِرُ فِي رَمَضَانَ، فَهَذَا نُقْصَانُ الدِّين»

(As for the shortcoming in her mind, the testimony of two women equals the testimony of one man, and this is the shortcoming in the mind. As for the shortcoming in the religion, woman remains for nights at a time when she does not pray and breaks the fast in Ramadan)

Allah's statement,

مِمَّن تَرْضَوْنَ مِنَ الشُّهَدَآءِ

(such as you agree for witnesses) requires competency in the witnesses. Further, Allah's statement,

أَن تَضِلَّ إْحْدَاهُمَا

(so that if one of them errs) refers to the two women witnesses; whenever one of them forgets a part of the testimony,

فَتُذَكِّرَ إِحْدَاهُمَا الاٍّخْرَى

(the other can remind her) meaning, the other woman's testimony mends the shortcoming of forgetfulness in the first woman.

Allah's statement,

وَلاَ يَأْبَ الشُّهَدَآءُ إِذَا مَا دُعُواْ

(And the witnesses should not refuse when they are called) means, when people are called to be witnesses, they should agree, as Qatadah and Ar-Rabi` bin Anas stated. Similarly, Allah said,

وَلاَ يَأْبَ كَاتِبٌ أَن يَكْتُبَ كَمَا عَلَّمَهُ اللَّهُ فَلْيَكْتُبْ

(Let not the scribe refuse to write as Allah has taught him,

«أَمَّا نُقْصَانُ عَقْلِهَا، فَشَهَادَةُ امْرَأَتَيْنِ تَعْدِلُ شَهَادَةَ رَجُلٍ، فَهَذَا نُقْصَانُ الْعَقْلِ، وَتَمْكُثُ اللَّيَالِي لَا تُصَلِّي وَتُفْطِرُ فِي رَمَضَانَ، فَهَذَا نُقْصَانُ الدِّين»

(As for the shortcoming in her mind, the testimony of two women equals the testimony of one man, and this is the shortcoming in the mind. As for the shortcoming in the religion, woman remains for nights at a time when she does not pray and breaks the fast in Ramadan)

Allah's statement,

مِمَّن تَرْضَوْنَ مِنَ الشُّهَدَآءِ

(such as you agree for witnesses) requires competency in the witnesses. Further, Allah's statement,

أَن تَضِلَّ إْحْدَاهُمَا

(so that if one of them errs) refers to the two women witnesses; whenever one of them forgets a part of the testimony,

فَتُذَكِّرَ إِحْدَاهُمَا الاٍّخْرَى

(the other can remind her) meaning, the other woman's testimony mends the shortcoming of forgetfulness in the first woman.

Allah's statement,

وَلاَ يَأْبَ الشُّهَدَآءُ إِذَا مَا دُعُواْ

(And the witnesses should not refuse when they are called) means, when people are called to be witnesses, they should agree, as Qatadah and Ar-Rabi` bin Anas stated. Similarly, Allah said,

وَلاَ يَأْبَ كَاتِبٌ أَن يَكْتُبَ كَمَا عَلَّمَهُ اللَّهُ فَلْيَكْتُبْ

(Let not the scribe refuse to write as Allah has taught him, so let him write.)

Some say that this Ayah indicates that agreeing to become a witness is Fard Kifayah (required on at least a part of the Muslim Ummah). However, the majority of the scholars say that the Ayah,

وَلاَ يَأْبَ الشُّهَدَآءُ إِذَا مَا دُعُواْ

(And the witnesses should not refuse when they are called) is referring to testifying to what the witnesses actually witnessed, thus befitting their description of being `witnesses'. Therefore, when the witness is called to testify to what he witnessed, he is required to give testimony, unless this obligation was already fulfilled, in which case such testimony becomes Fard Kifayah. Mujahid and Abu Mijlaz said, "If you are called to be a witness, then you have the choice to agree. If you witnessed and were called to testify, then come forward." It was reported that Ibn `Abbas and Al-Hasan Al-Basri said that the obligation includes both cases, agreeing to be a witness and testifying to what one witnessed.

Allah's statement,

وَلاَ تَسْـَمُواْ أَن تَكْتُبُوهُ صَغِيرًا أَوْ كَبِيرًا إِلَى أَجَلِهِ

(You should not become weary to write it (your contract), whether it be small or large, for its fixed term) perfects this direction from Allah by commanding that the debt be written, whether the amount is large or small. Allah said,

وَلاَ تَسْـَمُواْ

(You should not become weary) meaning, do not be discouraged against writing transactions and their terms, whether the amount involved is large or small. Allah's statement,

ذَلِكُمْ أَقْسَطُ عِندَ اللَّهِ وَأَقْوَمُ لِلشَّهَـدَةِ وَأَدْنَى أَلاَّ تَرْتَابُواْ

(that is more just with Allah; more solid as evidence, and more convenient to prevent doubts among yourselves) means, writing transactions that will be fulfillled at a later date is more just with Allah meaning better and more convenient in order to preserve the terms of the contract. Therefore, recording such agreements helps the witnesses, when they see their handwriting - or signatures - later on and thus remember what they witnessed, for it is possible that the witnesses might forget what they witnessed.

وَأَدْنَى أَلاَّ تَرْتَابُواْ

(And more convenient to prevent doubts among yourselves) meaning, this helps repel any doubt. Since if you need to refer to the contract that you wrote and the doubt will end.

Allah's statement,

إِلاَ أَن تَكُونَ تِجَـرَةً حَاضِرَةً تُدِيرُونَهَا بَيْنَكُمْ فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ أَلاَّ تَكْتُبُوهَا

(save when it is a present trade which you carry out on the spot among yourselves, then there is no sin on you if you do not write it down) indicates that if the transaction will be fulfilled immediately, then there is no harm if it is not recorded.

As for requiring witnesses to be present in trading transactions, Allah said,

وَأَشْهِدُواْ إِذَا تَبَايَعْتُمْ

(But take witnesses whenever you make a commercial contract. )

However, this command was abrogated by,

فَإِنْ أَمِنَ بَعْضُكُم بَعْضًا فَلْيُؤَدِّ الَّذِى اؤْتُمِنَ أَمَـنَتَهُ

(Then if one of you entrusts the other, let the one who is entrusted discharge his trust (faithfully).)

Or, it could be that having witnesses in such cases is only recommended and not obligatory, as evident from the Hadith that Khuzaymah bin Thabit Al-Ansari narrated which Imam Ahmad collected. `Umarah bin Khuzaymah Al-Ansari said that his uncle, who was among the Prophet's Companions, told him that the Prophet was making a deal for a horse with a bedouin man. The Prophet asked the bedouin to follow him so that he could pay him the price of the horse. The Prophet went ahead of the bedouin. The bedouin met several men who tried to buy his horse, not knowing if the Prophet was actually determined to buy it. Some people offered more money for the horse than the Prophet had. The bedouin man said to the Prophet , "If you want to buy this horse, then buy it or I will sell it to someone else." When he heard the bedouin man's words, the Prophet stood up and said, "Have I not bought that horse from you" The bedouin said, "By Allah! I have not sold it to you." The Prophet said, "Rather, I did buy it from you." The people gathered around the Prophet and the Bedouin while they were disputing, and the bedouin said, "Bring forth a witness who testifies that I sold you the horse." Meanwhile, the Muslims who came said to the bedouin, "Woe to you! The Prophet only says the truth." When Khuzaymah bin Thabit came and heard the dispute between the Prophet and the bedouin who was saying, "Bring forth a witness who testifies that I sold you the horse, " Khuzaymah said, "I bear witness that you sold him the horse." The Prophet said to Khuzaymah, "What is the basis of your testimony" Khuzaymah said, "That I entrusted you, O Messenger of Allah!" Therefore, the Messenger made Khuzaymah's testimony equal to the testimony of two men. This was also recorded by Abu Dawud and An-Nasa ®299؛. Allah's statement,

وَلاَ يُضَآرَّ كَاتِبٌ وَلاَ شَهِيدٌ

(Let neither scribe nor witness suffer (or cause) any harm) also indicates that the scribe and the witness must not cause any harm, such as, when the scribe writes other than what he is being dictated, or the witness testifies to other than what he heard or conceals his testimony. This is the explanation of Al-Hasan and Qatadah."

Allah's statement,

وَإِن تَفْعَلُواْ فَإِنَّهُ فُسُوقٌ بِكُمْ

(But if you do (such harm), it would be wickedness in you) means, "If you defy what you were commanded and commit what you were prohibited, then it is because of the sin that resides and remains with you; sin that you never release or rid yourselves from."

Allah's statement,

وَاتَّقُواْ اللَّهَ

(So have Taqwa of Allah) means, fear Him, remember His watch over you, implement His command and avoid what He prohibited,

وَيُعَلِّمُكُمُ اللَّهُ

(And Allah teaches you. ) Similarly, Allah said,

يِـأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ إَن تَتَّقُواْ اللَّهَ يَجْعَل لَّكُمْ فُرْقَانًا

(O you who believe! If you have Taqwa of Allah, He will grant you Furqan (a criterion to judge between right and wrong)) 8:29, and,

يأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ اتَّقُواْ اللَّهَ وَءَامِنُواْ بِرَسُولِهِ يُؤْتِكُمْ كِفْلَيْنِ مِن رَّحْمَتِهِ وَيَجْعَل لَّكُمْ نُوراً تَمْشُونَ بِهِ

(O you who believe! Have Taqwa of Allah, and believe in His Messenger, He will give you a double portion of His mercy, and He will give you a light by which you shall walk (straight)) 57:28.

Allah said;

وَاللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ

(And Allah is the All-Knower of everything) stating that Allah has perfect knowledge in all matters and in their benefits or repercussions, and nothing escapes His perfect watch, for His knowledge encompasses everything in existence.

O you who believe when you contract when you are dealing with a debt such as in prepayment for future delivery of goods or a loan one upon another for a stated a known term write it down as confirmation and security against any dispute; and let a writer write it the contract of debt down between you justly accurately not increasing or decreasing the amount or the terms; and let not any writer refuse to write it down if he is requested for such a task as God has taught him the kāf of ka-mā ‘as’ is semantically connected to the verb ya’ba ‘refuse’ that is just as He has given him the advantage of knowing how to write he should not be niggardly in this respect; so let him write repeated for emphasis and let the debtor dictate to the one writing the contract for he is the one being witnessed and must be fully aware of his obligations; and let him fear God his Lord when dictating and not diminish anything of it of the debt due. And if the debtor be a fool a squanderer or weak not up to dictating on account of old age or immaturity or unable to dictate himself on account of being dumb or not knowing the language and so forth then let his guardian the one in charge of his affairs be it a parent an executor a custodian or an interpreter dictate justly. And summon to bear witness the debt two witnesses men mature Muslim free men; or if the two witnesses be not men then one man and two women to bear witness such witnesses as you approve of on account of their piety and probity; the number of women is because of the fact so that if one of the two women errs forgets the testimony given their lesser astuteness and accuracy; the other the one remembering will remind her read fa-tudhakkira or fa-tudhkira the one that has forgotten — the ‘reminding’ clause is the reason for the choice of two women that is to say so that she may be reminded if she errs or strays into error because this forgetfulness is the cause of it a variant reading for an ‘that’ has the conditional in ‘if’ with the verb inflected as tudhakkiru ‘she will remind’ making it a new sentence the response to which follows; and let the witnesses not refuse whenever the mā of idhā mā ‘whenever’ is extra they are summoned to bear witness and take responsibility for the testimony; and be not disdainful lazy to write it down that which you have witnessed in truth for this frequently occurred be it small or great a little or much with its term that is the date on which it is due ilā ajlihi is a circumstantial qualifier referring to the pronominal suffix hā’ of taktubū-hu ‘you write it down’; that writing down is more equitable more just in God’s sight more upright for testimony that is to say that is more helpful in summoning witness because it contains the reminder; and nearer closer to attaining the desired state that you will not be in doubt with regard to the amount and the due dates; unless it be that there is trade carried out there and then tijāratun hādiratun a variant reading has tijāratan hādiratan in which case the nominal sentence is missing its subject and must be the pronoun for tijāra ‘trade’ that is hiya ‘it fem.

The Qur'anic injunctions on Loan

An important principle of the Law of Dealings, or the Law of Contracts in modern legal terminology, has been taken up in the verses appearing above. Following this, appears a specific principle of the general rules of evidence.

These are times when writing is the rage. The written word has taken the place of human speech but think of the days of fourteen hundred years ago when almost the entire business of the world was conducted verbally. The principle of writing and retaining documents did not just exist. It was the Qur'an which first pointed out to its importance and said:

إِذَا تَدَايَنتُم بِدَيْنٍ إِلَىٰ أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى فَاكْتُبُوهُ

When you transact a debt payable at a specified time, put it in writing. Two principles have been stated here. These are:

1. A written document should be prepared while concluding a transaction on deferred payment basis, so that it may be availed of in cases of error or refusal.

2. While making a transaction on deferred payment basis, it is necessary that the due date of its payment should be determined. It is not permissible to defer the payment for an indefinite period of time because this can open the doors of dispute. This is why the Muslim Jurists have stressed that the time limit so set should not have any ambiguity at all. It should specify the exact date and month. There should be nothing vague about it, for instance, the time of the harvesting of crops cannot be fixed, because the time of harvesting may vary subject to weather conditions. Since writing was not common in those days (and even after writing has become so common, the majority of world population is the same as does not know how to write), it was possible for the scribe of the agreement to write down what was not intended, thereby causing undue loss or gain to one or the other party. Therefore, it was said:

وَلْيَكْتُب بَّيْنَكُمْ كَاتِبٌ بِالْعَدْلِ

And let a scribe write it between you with fairness.

Firstly, the instruction given here requires that the scribe should not be prejudiced in favour of one of the parties. On the contrary, he should be impartial so that there remains no scope for doubt or concern for anyone. Secondly, the scribe was instructed to write justly. Let him incur no permanent loss on himself by working for the vanishing gain of others. After that, the attention of the scribe has been drawn to the fact that Allah Almighty has given him the ability to write, for which he can show his gratefulness by not refusing to write.

As to who should initiate the writing of the document, it was said:

وَلْيُمْلِلِ الَّذِي عَلَيْهِ الْحَقُّ

And the one who owes should give the dictation,

For instance, if a person has made a purchase on credit, then he is the one who should dictate the entries of the document because this will be a written agreement on his behalf. In order to offset the possibility of any addition or deletion in the written document, it was said:

وَلْيَتَّقِ اللَّـهَ رَ‌بَّهُ وَلَا يَبْخَسْ مِنْهُ شَيْئًا

But he must fear Allah, his Lord, and should not curtail any-thing from it.

Sometimes, it happens that the person incurring debt is fickle-minded, or superannuated in age, or a minor, or mute, or the speaker of a language not known to the scribe. Since such a person does not have the ability to dictate a document, it was said that, in a situation like this, his wali ولی or guardian should dictate the written agreement. The need for a guardian in respect of the insane and the minor is obvious since all their affairs are handled through a guardian. The guardian of the mute, or the speaker of the language unknown to the scribe could also do this, and should he make somebody his representative, it would still be possible. Here, the word, 'wali' ولی in the Qur'an covers both meanings.

The rules of witnessing

Upto this point the statement was limited to the writing or dictating of documents in transaction. Later on, it is enlarged by saying that the writing of the document should riot be taken as sufficient. It should rather have witnesses as well so that, in case there is a dispute, the appearance of witnesses in the court could help resolve it. This is why the Muslim jurists, may Allah's mercy be upon them, have said that simple writing of an agreement is not a conclusive proof in the sight of Islamic Shari'ah. Unless there is an oral evidence of witnesses, as approved by the Shari'ah, on the agreement, no decision could be taken on simple writing. Common courts of today also follow the same practice when they do not take a decision unless there is a verbal evidence to prove the document.

The number of witnesses

Now follow some important rules of evidence:

1. It is necessary according to Islamic rules of evidence that there be two men, or one man and two women. One man alone, or only two women are not sufficient witnesses in common dealings.

The qualifications of witnesses

2. The witnesses should be Muslims. The Qur'anic expression: مِن رِّ‌جَالِكُمْ 'from among your men' points out in this direction.

3. The witnesses should be trustworthy and just whose word could be relied upon. They should not be sinners and liars. This injunction is contained in مِمَّن تَرْ‌ضَوْنَ مِنَ الشُّهَدَاءِ : from those witnesses you are pleased with.'

Refusing the act of witnessing is a sin

After that, the Holy Qur'an directs the people that they should not refuse to be witnesses when it is required from them, since evidence is the way to revive truth and the method to resolved disputes. Even if there is a trouble in giving evidence, it should to be tolerated, taking it as a national duty. Following that, emphasis was laid on writing down the document of deeds. It was said that the agreement, big or small, should invariably be written down: 'And, be not loath to write it down, as payable at its time, no matter how short or long.' Of course, if there is a hand-to-hand transaction, not involving any debt, it could be left unwritten. However, as a precautionary measure, two witnesses should be taken to confirm the agreement anyway, just in case there arises a dispute between the parties concerned. For instance, the seller may say that the price was not received, or the buyer may charge that he did not receive everything he bought. Evidence of witnesses will serve well in deciding this dispute.

Witnesses should not suffer

When the verse began, scribes were instructed not to refuse writing or testifying agreements. In this case, it was possible that people would give them more trouble than necessary.. Therefore, it was said towards the end of the verse:

وَلَا يُضَارَّ‌ كَاتِبٌ وَلَا شَهِيدٌ

And neither scribe nor witness should be harmed.

It means that, in order to protect one's own rights and benefits, one should not disturb the rights and benefits of others. Then it was said:

وَإِن تَفْعَلُوا فَإِنَّهُ فُسُوقٌ بِكُمْ

And if you do, it is certainly a sin on your part.'

This tells us that causing harm to the scribe or the witness is prohibited. For this reason, the Muslim jurists have said that the scribe who demands his wages while writing, or the witness who claims his legitimate two-way conveyance allowance, are entitled to get it as a matter of their right. Not paying these dues is included under the scope of harming them, and is, therefore, impermissible. No doubt, under its system of justice, Islam has forced the witnesses to appear in court, and has made the concealment of evidence a grave sin; but at the same time, the other side of the picture has also been duly taken care of, so that people are not made to stay away from testifying. It was the effect of this two-way precaution that truthful and selfless witnesses were available in every case, and cases were decided easily and quickly true to the demands of justice. When the modern world bypassed this Qur'anic principle, the whole court system went to pieces. Real and true witnesses in cases became virtually extinct. Everyone was compelled to shy away from appearing as a witness. The reason is simple. Being identified as a witness means trouble. If the case involves the police and a crime, the chief of the police station would call the witness everyday and any time, and on occasions, would have him sit there for hours. Even in civil courts, the witness is treated as if he was some sort of criminal. Then the dates of the case keep changing endlessly. New dates are given on which the poor witness is bound to come leaving his business, job and needs. If he fails, the threat of an arrest-warrant hangs over his head. Therefore, every decent person engaged in earning his livelihood has been forced to take the appearance in court as punishment for no crime of his, and therefore, he has been left with no choice but to avoid it as far as he can. Professional witnesses are all you get and they make no distinction between the lie and the truth. The Holy Qur'an, after emphasizing these basic ingredients, helps eliminate these malpractices by saying at the end of the verse:

وَاتَّقُوا اللَّـهَ ۖ وَيُعَلِّمُكُمُ اللَّـهُ ۗ وَاللَّـهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ

And fear Allah. And Allah teaches you. And Allah is All-Knowing in respect of everything.

It will be noted that this verse carries many injunctions. Some Muslim jurists have deduced twenty important juristic rulings from this verse. We should also keep in mind the recurring style of the Qur'an whereby, before and after giving a particular law, it creates an inner impulse to follow Divine injunctions by introducing the fear of Allah and the fear of the Day of Retribution. It is in accordance with this method that the verse was concluded with an exhortation to fear Allah and to remember that there is nothing hidden from Him. If you try any contravention, under any impermissible pretext whatsoever, you will still remain unable to cheat Allah.

The second verse takes up the following two subjects:

1. In cases involving a credit deal, it is quite permissible for a person to keep something as mortgage to secure his debt. But the Qur'anic word مَّقْبُوضَةٌ (taken in possession) indicates that deriving any benefit out of the thing mortgaged is not permissible for him. The only right the mortgagee has is to keep the thing in his possession until the time when his debt is cleared. Any benefit that accrues from it rightfully belongs to the original owner.

2. Secondly, it was said that the person who knows the correct situation in a disputed matter should not withhold his testimony. If he does withhold it, his heart is a sinner. The heart has been identified as the sinner because somebody might think his sin was restricted to the tongue (which failed to speak up). But it was in the heart that he first decided to do what he did and therefore, the sin of his heart comes first.