Verse 282 of Surah Al-Baqarah, recognised as the longest verse in the Holy Quran, provides a comprehensive and precise directive for structuring financial transactions. This verse not only emphasises the formal aspects of transactions, such as equitable and written documentation, but also considers their ethical and spiritual dimensions. The purpose of this treatise is to offer a profound and scholarly exposition of this verse, concentrating on the rulings of debt and loan, the role of fairness and piety in transactions, and the significance of transparency and justice in social relations. Employing a systematic and academic approach, this analysis endeavours to present the key concepts of the verse in an elevated style befitting highly specialised doctoral audiences, whilst utilising literary allusions to enrich the text.
Verse 282 of Surah Al-Baqarah addresses the rulings related to debt and loan, emphasising the necessity of precise regulation of such transactions. Debt (dn) is a broader concept than loan (qar); every loan is considered debt, yet debt can also be compulsory, such as damages resulting from an accident, whereas a loan is a voluntary and consensual act.
Usury (rib), previously regarded as a form of transaction before Islam, was declared prohibited following the revelation of Islamic rulings and hence excluded from the domain of loans. This transformation aimed to prevent injustice and ambiguity in financial dealings.
Analysis: This verse, by stressing just and documented transactions, prevents any form of financial exploitation, such as usury, and underscores transparency and justice.
Verse 282 of Surah Al-Baqarah, as the longest verse of the Quran, pays particular attention to the form of financial transactions. Nevertheless, such form is valuable only when accompanied by just and ethical content. Without content, the form devolves into a mere ritualistic and worthless act, often referred to as a facade.
Acts of worship, such as prayer, hold spiritual value only when accompanied by fairness and piety of the individual. Without fairness, these acts become facades devoid of spiritual merit, just as prayer without ablution is invalid.
Analysis: Fairness is the essence of worship. Just as a body without a soul is lifeless, worship devoid of fairness lacks value before God.
In some Islamic societies, there is an excessive focus on the outward form of religious rulings, such as rituals of worship, without emphasis on ethical content, such as fairness. This may lead to distortion in understanding and implementation of rulings.
Analysis: This verse, by emphasising justice in recording transactions, signals the necessity for revisiting educational and cultural approaches within religious sciences to maintain a balance between form and content.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا تَدَايَنْتُمْ بِدَيْنٍ إِلَىٰ 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
Translation: O you who have believed, when you contract a debt for a specified term, write it down. And let a scribe write between you in justice. And let no scribe refuse to write as Allah has taught him. So let him write and let the one who owes the debt dictate, and let him fear Allah, his Lord, and not diminish anything from it.
The command فَاكْتُبُوهُ is advisory rather than imperative. This implies that failure to document the transaction is not sinful per se, but may result in detriment to the parties involved. This reflects divine wisdom in providing practical and rational rulings.
The phrase وَلْيَكْتُبْ بَيْنَكُمْ كَاتِبٌ instead of وَلْيَكْتُبْ كَاتِبٌ بَيْنَكُمْ underscores the public nature of recording transactions. This structure fosters transparency and trust within society, like a light dispelling the darkness of ambiguity.
The term بِالْعَدْلِ denotes refraining from any distortion or manipulation of the transactions content. This justice is a customary and social concept emphasizing simplicity and accessibility to all.
Analysis: Unlike complex definitions of justice found in some jurisprudential texts, which exclude even prominent scholars, this verse defines justice as honesty and trustworthiness, which are practicable by all.
The command وَلَا يَأْبَ كَاتِبٌ أَنْ يَكْتُبَ indicates a collective obligation (wjib kifyah) on scribes to write transactions. A scribe should not refuse to perform this task, as it aids social order.
Analysis: This obligation is like rain upon the dry earth of society, bringing order and justice.
The phrase كَمَا عَلَّمَهُ اللَّهُ implies that the ability to write is a divine blessing, and the scribe must employ this gift for the benefit of society, like a tree offering its fruits to others.
The verse does not forbid the scribe from receiving remuneration. The scribe may accept payment for his service, akin to a farmer who is compensated for his labour.
Analysis: This permissibility demonstrates the practicality of Islamic rulings, aligned with social needs and encouraging participation in beneficial affairs.
A formalistic approach, such as forbidding remuneration for communal duties, may destabilise social order. This verses allowance of payment underscores the practical nature of rulings.
Analysis: Islamic rulings should be interpreted to harmonise with social necessities, like a bridge connecting individual and communal needs.
The phrase وَلْيُمْلِلِ الَّذِي عَلَيْهِ الْحَقُّ indicates that the debtor must dictate the terms of the transaction to prevent distortion or possible exploitation by the creditor.
Analysis: This directive acts as a shield protecting the debtors rights against potential abuse.
The use of الَّذِي عَلَيْهِ الْحَقُّ instead of الَّذِي عَلَيْهِ الدَّيْنُ stresses the importance of truthfulness and integrity in dictating the transaction.
Analysis: This lexical choice is like a lamp illuminating the path of truth in transactions and preventing any distortion.
The phrase وَلْيَتَّقِ اللَّهَ رَبَّهُ shows that piety must be observed throughout all stages of the transaction, from writing to dictation.
Analysis: Piety is like a pure stream that enlivens justice and honesty in transactions.
The command وَلَا يَبْخَسْ مِنْهُ شَيْئًا stresses the necessity of refraining from diminishing any part of the transaction in recording or dictation.
Analysis: This injunction acts like a scale ensuring justice in transactions and preventing any form of oppression or distortion.
The public nature of transactions (بَيْنَكُمْ) not only prevents concealment but also enables benevolent intervention by others. This strengthens social cohesion and fosters trust within the community.
Concealment in transactions stems from distrust in society and may lead to social and economic problems. This verse, by emphasising publicity, helps remedy this issue.
Analysis: Concealment is like a shadow diminishing the light of trust. This verse dispels this shadow by promoting transparency.
Though the musicality of the verse could have been arranged differently, prioritising profound meaning over form reveals divine wisdom, akin to a gem embedded in the shell of divine speech.
Analysis: The linguistic beauty of the verse serves its profound content, like a river flowing in a beautiful bed bringing life.
Verse 282 of Surah Al-Baqarah, as the longest verse of the Holy Quran, provides a comprehensive blueprint for regulating financial and social relations within the Islamic community. By emphasising just and transparent recording of transactions, it illustrates the balance between form and content, demonstrating that a just form attains value only through content grounded in fairness and piety. The distinction between debt and loan, emphasis on publicity of transactions, the communal obligation of scribes, and the role of piety in preserving justice are among the core lessons of this verse. Criticism of formalistic approaches and complex definitions of justice indicate the need to revisit religious interpretations to better align with social necessities. This verse, like a radiant lamp, illuminates the path towards establishing a just, transparent, and trust-based society, exemplifying divine wisdom in elucidating rulings.
