Surah 2

Surah 2:283

"And if you are on a journey, and do not find a scribe, (let) a security be taken. But if one of you trusts another, let him who is trusted pay back what is entrusted, and let him guard (himself) against God his Lord. Do not conceal the testimony. Whoever conceals it, surely he is sinful – (that is) his heart. God knows what you do."
What is the 'Mortgaging' Mentioned in the Ayah? Verses 2:283
Show Full Scripture Context (2:283) — 1 Verse
Verse 283

۞وَإِن كُنتُمۡ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٖ وَلَمۡ تَجِدُواْ كَاتِبٗا فَرِهَٰنٞ مَّقۡبُوضَةٞۖ فَإِنۡ أَمِنَ بَعۡضُكُم بَعۡضٗا فَلۡيُؤَدِّ ٱلَّذِي ٱؤۡتُمِنَ أَمَٰنَتَهُۥ وَلۡيَتَّقِ ٱللَّهَ رَبَّهُۥۗ وَلَا تَكۡتُمُواْ ٱلشَّهَٰدَةَۚ وَمَن يَكۡتُمۡهَا فَإِنَّهُۥٓ ءَاثِمٞ قَلۡبُهُۥۗ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ عَلِيمٞ

And if you are on a journey, and do not find a scribe, (let) a security be taken. But if one of you trusts another, let him who is trusted pay back what is entrusted, and let him guard (himself) against God his Lord. Do not conceal the testimony. Whoever conceals it, surely he is sinful – (that is) his heart. God knows what you do.

Allah said,

And if you are on a journey } meaning, traveling and some of you borrowed some money to be paid at a later date,

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,

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 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,

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,

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 said,

«The hand (of the debtor) will carry the burden of what it took until it gives it back.»

Allah's statement,

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,

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,

We shall not hide testimony of Allah, for then indeed we should be of the sinful } [5:106].

Allah said,

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,

And conceal not the evidence, for he who hides it, surely, his heart is sinful. And Allah is All-Knower of what you do. }

About this Source & Scholarly Authority (Tafsir Ibn Kathir)

Universal Sunni Consensus: Tafsir al-Qur'an al-Azim by Hafiz Ibn Kathir (701–774 AH / 1301–1373 AD) is universally regarded across all major schools of Sunni Islam (traditional, Salafi, Ash'ari) as the most authoritative classical exegesis. It is prized because it relies on Tafsir bil-Ma'thur—interpreting the Quran using the Quran itself, authentic Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad, and recorded statements of the early Companions (Sahabah).

Standard English Edition: This text is from the standard 10-volume English abridgment published by Dar-us-Salam Publications (supervised by Shaykh Safiur-Rahman Al-Mubarakpuri), which is the official, most widely distributed English Quranic commentary in mosques and Islamic libraries worldwide today.