Surah Baqarah ayat 283 Tafsir Quran 2:283

﴿۞ وَإِن كُنتُمْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ وَلَمْ تَجِدُوا كَاتِبًا فَرِهَانٌ مَّقْبُوضَةٌ ۖ فَإِنْ أَمِنَ بَعْضُكُم بَعْضًا فَلْيُؤَدِّ الَّذِي اؤْتُمِنَ أَمَانَتَهُ وَلْيَتَّقِ اللَّهَ رَبَّهُ ۗ وَلَا تَكْتُمُوا الشَّهَادَةَ ۚ وَمَن يَكْتُمْهَا فَإِنَّهُ آثِمٌ قَلْبُهُ ۗ وَاللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ عَلِيمٌ﴾
[ البقرة: 283]

2:283 And if you are on a journey and cannot find a scribe, then a security deposit [should be] taken. And if one of you entrusts another, then let him who is entrusted discharge his trust [faithfully] and let him fear Allah, his Lord. And do not conceal testimony, for whoever conceals it - his heart is indeed sinful, and Allah is Knowing of what you do.

And if you are upon a journey travelling and you contract a debt and you do not find a writer then a pledge ruhun or rihān plural of rahn in hand as a guarantee for you. The Sunna clarifies the permissibility of making pledges in towns where writers may be forthcoming; but the stipulation is made in the event of travel because in this case it is more important to have a guarantee; God’s reference to it being ‘in hand’ maqbūda is a condition for the pledge given to be valid and to satisfy the pledgee or his representative. But if one of you the creditor trusts another the debtor over the debt and does not require a pledge let him who is trusted the debtor deliver his trust the debt; and let him fear God his Lord when delivering it. And do not conceal the testimony if you are summoned to give it; whoever conceals it his heart is sinful the heart is mentioned because it is the locus of the testimony and because if it sins there are other sinful consequences and so the person will be punished as though he were a sinner; and God knows what you do nothing of which can be hidden from Him.

And if you are on a journey and cannot find a writer, then place a pledge in the creditor’s possession as a guarantee of good faith. And if the debtor considers the creditor a credible person then the creditor should prove himself trustworthy and return the pledge upon receiving the debt from the debtor, also expected to be trustworthy, and either of them should keep Allah in mind and revere Him. And do not conceal, destroy, suppress or refuse to provide evidence when summoned, and he who withholds testimony is indeed morally depraved with a soiled and sinful heart. And Allah is Alimun of all you do

What is the `Mortgaging' Mentioned in the Ayah Allah said, وَإِن كُنتُمْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ ( And if you are on a journey ) meaning, traveling and some of you borrowed some money to be paid at a later date, وَلَمْ تَجِدُواْ كَاتِبًا ( and cannot find a scribe ) who would record the debt for you.
Ibn `Abbas said, "And even if they find a scribe, but did not find paper, ink or pen." Then, فَرِهَـنٌ مَّقْبُوضَةٌ ( let there be a pledge taken (mortgaging )) given to the creditor in lieu of writing the transaction.
The Two Sahihs recorded that Anas said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ died while his shield was mortgaged with a Jew in return for thirty Wasq ( approximately 180 kg ) of barley, which the Prophet bought on credit as provisions for his household.
In another narration, the Hadith stated that this Jew was among the Jews of Al-Madinah. Allah said, 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 ).) Ibn Abi Hatim recorded, with a sound chain of narration, that Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri said, "This Ayah abrogated what came before it ( i.e.
that which required recording the transaction and having witnesses present )." Ash-Sha`bi said, "If you trust each other, then there is no harm if you do not write the loan or have witnesses present." Allah's statement, وَلْيَتَّقِ اللَّهَ رَبَّهُ ( And let him have Taqwa of Allah ) means, the debtor. Imam Ahmad and the Sunan recorded that Qatadah said that Al-Hasan said that Samurah said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
«عَلَى الْيَدِ مَا أَخَذَتْ، حَتَّى تُؤَدِّيَه»
( The hand (of the debtor ) will carry the burden of what it took until it gives it back.) Allah's statement, وَلاَ تَكْتُمُواْ الشَّهَـدَةَ ( And conceal not the evidence ) means, do not hide it or refuse to announce it.
Ibn `Abbas and other scholars said, "False testimony is one of the worst of the major sins, and such is the case with hiding the true testimony.
This is why Allah said, وَمَن يَكْتُمْهَا فَإِنَّهُ ءَاثِمٌ قَلْبُهُ ( For he who hides it, surely, his heart is sinful ). As-Suddi commented, "Meaning he is a sinner in his heart." This is similar to Allah's statement, وَلاَ نَكْتُمُ شَهَـدَةَ اللَّهِ إِنَّآ إِذَاً لَّمِنَ الاٌّثِمِينَ ( We shall not hide testimony of Allah, for then indeed we should be of the sinful ) 5:106. Allah said, يَـأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ كُونُواْ قَوَّامِينَ بِالْقِسْطِ شُهَدَآءِ للَّهِ وَلَوْ عَلَى أَنفُسِكُمْ أَوِ الْوَلِدَيْنِ وَالاٌّقْرَبِينَ إِن يَكُنْ غَنِيّاً أَوْ فَقَيراً فَاللَّهُ أَوْلَى بِهِمَا فَلاَ تَتَّبِعُواْ الْهَوَى أَن تَعْدِلُواْ وَإِن تَلْوُواْ أَوْ تُعْرِضُواْ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيراً ( O you who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even though it be against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, be he rich or poor, Allah is a better Protector to both (than you ).
So follow not the lusts ( of your hearts ), lest you avoid justice; and if you distort your witness or refuse to give it, verily, Allah is Ever Well-Acquainted with what you do) 4:135 and in this Ayah 2:283 He said, وَلاَ تَكْتُمُواْ الشَّهَـدَةَ وَمَن يَكْتُمْهَا فَإِنَّهُ ءَاثِمٌ قَلْبُهُ وَاللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ عَلِيمٌ ( And conceal not the evidence, for he who hides it, surely, his heart is sinful.
And Allah is All-Knower of what you do. )

(2:283) If you are on a journey and cannot find a scribe to write the document, then transact your business on the security of a pledge in hand. *331 And, if any one transacts a piece of business with another merely on trust, then the one who is trusted should fulfil his trust and fear Allah, his Lord And never conceal evidence *332 for he who conceals it, has a sinful heart: Allah knows everything that you do.

And if you are on a journey meaning

*331).
This does not mean that pledge transactions are confined to journeys alone.
These transactions have been specially mentioned in the context of journeys because during journeys people often have to resort to pledge transactions.
Moreover, it has not been laid down that pledge transactions may be entered into only when a scribe is not available to write down the transaction.
It is also permissible, if the lender is not satisfied merely with the written promise of the repayment of the loan, for the borrower to seek a loan by pledging some property to the lender.
But since the Qur'an urges its followers to be generous in their dealings, and since it is inconsistent with high standards of moral excellence not to make loans to needy persons without keeping some property in custody, the Qur'an has abstained from mentioning this form of dealing even though it is permissible.

It should also be noted that the purpose of taking a pledge is merely to assure the lender the return of his loan.
He has no right at all to benefit from the pledged property.
If a person lives, say, either in the building which has been pledged, or pockets its rent, he is guilty of taking interest.
There is no essential difference between charging interest directly and using the pledged property.
If, however, either cattle or beasts of burden have been pledged, they can be milked and used for transport in lieu of the fodder that one provides them during the period of custody.

*332).
Concealing true evidence applies both to a person not appearing to give evidence and to his avoidance of stating facts.

 

What is the `Mortgaging' Mentioned in the Ayah Allah said, وَإِن كُنتُمْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ ( And if you are on a journey ) meaning, traveling and some of you borrowed some money to be paid at a later date, وَلَمْ تَجِدُواْ كَاتِبًا ( and cannot find a scribe ) who would record the debt for you.
Ibn `Abbas said, "And even if they find a scribe, but did not find paper, ink or pen." Then, فَرِهَـنٌ مَّقْبُوضَةٌ ( let there be a pledge taken (mortgaging )) given to the creditor in lieu of writing the transaction.
The Two Sahihs recorded that Anas said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ died while his shield was mortgaged with a Jew in return for thirty Wasq ( approximately 180 kg ) of barley, which the Prophet bought on credit as provisions for his household.
In another narration, the Hadith stated that this Jew was among the Jews of Al-Madinah. Allah said, 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 ).) Ibn Abi Hatim recorded, with a sound chain of narration, that Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri said, "This Ayah abrogated what came before it ( i.e.
that which required recording the transaction and having witnesses present )." Ash-Sha`bi said, "If you trust each other, then there is no harm if you do not write the loan or have witnesses present." Allah's statement, وَلْيَتَّقِ اللَّهَ رَبَّهُ ( And let him have Taqwa of Allah ) means, the debtor. Imam Ahmad and the Sunan recorded that Qatadah said that Al-Hasan said that Samurah said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «عَلَى الْيَدِ مَا أَخَذَتْ، حَتَّى تُؤَدِّيَه» ( The hand (of the debtor ) will carry the burden of what it took until it gives it back.) Allah's statement, وَلاَ تَكْتُمُواْ الشَّهَـدَةَ ( And conceal not the evidence ) means, do not hide it or refuse to announce it.
Ibn `Abbas and other scholars said, "False testimony is one of the worst of the major sins, and such is the case with hiding the true testimony.
This is why Allah said, وَمَن يَكْتُمْهَا فَإِنَّهُ ءَاثِمٌ قَلْبُهُ ( For he who hides it, surely, his heart is sinful ). As-Suddi commented, "Meaning he is a sinner in his heart." This is similar to Allah's statement, وَلاَ نَكْتُمُ شَهَـدَةَ اللَّهِ إِنَّآ إِذَاً لَّمِنَ الاٌّثِمِينَ ( We shall not hide testimony of Allah, for then indeed we should be of the sinful ) 5:106. Allah said, يَـأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ كُونُواْ قَوَّامِينَ بِالْقِسْطِ شُهَدَآءِ للَّهِ وَلَوْ عَلَى أَنفُسِكُمْ أَوِ الْوَلِدَيْنِ وَالاٌّقْرَبِينَ إِن يَكُنْ غَنِيّاً أَوْ فَقَيراً فَاللَّهُ أَوْلَى بِهِمَا فَلاَ تَتَّبِعُواْ الْهَوَى أَن تَعْدِلُواْ وَإِن تَلْوُواْ أَوْ تُعْرِضُواْ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيراً ( O you who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even though it be against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, be he rich or poor, Allah is a better Protector to both (than you ).
So follow not the lusts ( of your hearts ), lest you avoid justice; and if you distort your witness or refuse to give it, verily, Allah is Ever Well-Acquainted with what you do) 4:135 and in this Ayah 2:283 He said, وَلاَ تَكْتُمُواْ الشَّهَـدَةَ وَمَن يَكْتُمْهَا فَإِنَّهُ ءَاثِمٌ قَلْبُهُ وَاللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ عَلِيمٌ ( And conceal not the evidence, for he who hides it, surely, his heart is sinful.
And Allah is All-Knower of what you do. )

( If ye be on a journey and you cannot find a scribe ) or the means by which to write, ( then a pledge in hand (shall suffice )) then let the creditor take from the indebted person a security for his loan. ( And if one of you entrusteth another ) to give a loan without security ( let him who is trusted ) with the debt ( deliver up that which is entrusted to him ) the right of his creditor ( and let him observe his duty to Allah, his Lord. ) the debtor should fear Allah regarding repayment of his debt, ( Hide not testimony ) from the judges in court. ( He who hideth it ) i.e. his testimony, ( surely his heart is sinful ) his heart is impious. ( Allah is Aware of what ye do ) in relation to hiding or giving testimony.

And if you are on a journey and cannot find a scribe, then let there be a pledge taken (mortgaging); then if one of you entrust the other, let the one who is entrusted discharge his trust (faithfully), and let him be afraid of Allah, his Lord. And conceal not the evidence for he, who hides it, surely his heart is sinful. And Allah is All-Knower of what you do.

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