What Is the Ruling on Writing Down a Debt?
ما حكم كتابة الدين؟
What is the ruling of committing the debt transaction in writing?
The answer describes writing a debt, or taking a pledge, as guidance from Allah to protect people's wealth: writing is recommended, and more strongly so when a right could be lost. It quotes the Verse of Debt (2:282) and the verse on pledges and trust (2:283).
The longest verse in the Quran is dedicated to the precise rules of documenting debt, highlighting the immense importance Islam places on financial clarity and justice.
Documentation and Collateral
1. A Divine Guideline for Protection
These are guidelines set by Allah to His creations, to protect their money and control it, by either writing it or by having collateral. It is desirable to commit the debt in writing especially when one fears that one’s right could be compromised.
2. The Verse of Debt
(O believers! When you contract a loan for a fixed period of time, commit it to writing. Let the scribe maintain justice between the parties. The scribe should not refuse to write as Allah has taught them to write. They will write what the debtor dictates, bearing Allah in mind and not defrauding the debt. If the debtor is incompetent, weak, or unable to dictate, let their guardian dictate for them with justice. Call upon two of your men to witness. If two men cannot be found, then one man and two women of your choice will witness so if one of the women forgets the other may remind her. The witnesses must not refuse when they are summoned. You must not be against writing contracts for a fixed period whether the sum is small or great.) Al-Baqara 2: 282.
Note: Part of this verse, from "The scribe should not refuse" to "let their guardian dictate for them with justice", was missing from the Arabic quotation in the original answer and has been restored from the Quran.
3. Alternatives and Trust
(If you are on a journey and a scribe cannot be found, then a security can be taken. If you trust one another, then there is no need for a security, but the debtor should honour this trust by repaying the debt and let them fear Allah, their Lord. And do not conceal the testimony, for whoever conceals it, their hearts are indeed sinful. And Allah fully knows what you do.) Al-Baqara 2: 283.
ما حكم كتابة الدين؟
يبين الجواب أن كتابة الدين أو الاستيثاق بالرهن إرشاد من الله لحفظ أموال عباده، وأن الكتابة مستحبة وتتأكد حين يخشى ضياع الحق، ويستدل بآية الدين (البقرة 2:282) وآية الرهن والأمانة (البقرة 2:283).
أطول آية في القرآن الكريم مخصصة للقواعد الدقيقة لتوثيق الدين، مما يبرز الأهمية البالغة التي يوليها الإسلام للوضوح والعدل المالي.
التوثيق والرهن
1. توجيه إلهي للحماية
هذا إرشاد من الله لعباده بحفظ أموالهم وضبطها بالكتابة أو الاستيثاق بالرهن. يستحب كتابة الدين ويتأكد ذلك حين يخشى ضياع الحق.
2. آية الدين
قال الله تعالى: (يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا تَدَايَنتُم بِدَيْنٍ إِلَىٰ أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى فَاكْتُبُوهُ ۚ وَلْيَكْتُب بَّيْنَكُمْ كَاتِبٌ بِالْعَدْلِ ۚ وَلَا يَأْبَ كَاتِبٌ أَن يَكْتُبَ كَمَا عَلَّمَهُ اللَّهُ ۚ فَلْيَكْتُبْ وَلْيُمْلِلِ الَّذِي عَلَيْهِ الْحَقُّ وَلْيَتَّقِ اللَّهَ رَبَّهُ وَلَا يَبْخَسْ مِنْهُ شَيْئًا ۚ فَإِن كَانَ الَّذِي عَلَيْهِ الْحَقُّ سَفِيهًا أَوْ ضَعِيفًا أَوْ لَا يَسْتَطِيعُ أَن يُمِلَّ هُوَ فَلْيُمْلِلْ وَلِيُّهُ بِالْعَدْلِ ۚ وَاسْتَشْهِدُوا شَهِيدَيْنِ مِن رِّجَالِكُمْ ۖ فَإِن لَّمْ يَكُونَا رَجُلَيْنِ فَرَجُلٌ وَامْرَأَتَانِ مِمَّن تَرْضَوْنَ مِنَ الشُّهَدَاءِ أَن تَضِلَّ إِحْدَاهُمَا فَتُذَكِّرَ إِحْدَاهُمَا الْأُخْرَىٰ وَلَا يَأْبَ الشُّهَدَاءُ إِذَا مَا دُعُوا ۚ وَلَا تَسْأَمُوا أَن تَكْتُبُوهُ صَغِيرًا أَوْ كَبِيرًا إِلَىٰ أَجَلِهِ) آية الدين من سورة البقرة: 282.
ملاحظة: سقط من نص الآية في الجواب الأصلي ما بين قوله تعالى {كَاتِبٌ بِالْعَدْلِ} وقوله {وَاسْتَشْهِدُوا}، فأثبت من المصحف.
3. البدائل والأمانة
(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 2: 283.
1. Recommended, Not Obligatory | ندب لا فرض
Al-Qurtubi reports that some scholars held writing debts to be obligatory, the choice of al-Tabari, while the majority held that the command to write is a recommendation to protect wealth and remove doubt, and Ibn Atiyyah called this the correct view. The next verse adds that if the parties trust one another, the one who was trusted must fulfill his trust and fear Allah (Al-Baqarah 2:283).
فَإِنْ أَمِنَ بَعْضُكُم بَعْضًا فَلْيُؤَدِّ الَّذِي اؤْتُمِنَ أَمَانَتَهُ وَلْيَتَّقِ اللَّهَ رَبَّهُ (سورة البقرة: 283)
ذكر القرطبي أن بعض العلماء أوجب كتابة الديون وهو اختيار الطبري، وأن الجمهور قالوا: "الأمر بالكتب ندب إلى حفظ الأموال وإزالة الريب"، وصحح ابن عطية هذا القول. وفي الآية التالية أن من ائتمنه صاحبه فليؤد أمانته وليتق الله ربه (البقرة 2:283).
2. The Scribe and the Witnesses | الكاتب والشهود
The verse forbids the scribe to refuse to write as Allah has taught him, and forbids the witnesses to refuse when they are called (Al-Baqarah 2:282). Al-Qurtubi records that Ata and al-Sha'bi held writing to be obligatory on the scribe when no other scribe can be found. The debtor dictates what he owes, fearing Allah and leaving nothing out, and if he is unable, his guardian dictates with justice. Verse 282 is also the longest verse in the Quran, as explained in which is the longest verse in the Quran.
وَلَا يَأْبَ كَاتِبٌ أَن يَكْتُبَ كَمَا عَلَّمَهُ اللَّهُ (سورة البقرة: 282)
نهت الآية الكاتب أن يأبى الكتابة كما علمه الله، ونهت الشهداء أن يأبوا إذا ما دعوا (البقرة 2:282). وذكر القرطبي أن عطاء والشعبي قالا بوجوب الكتابة على الكاتب إذا لم يوجد كاتب سواه. ويملي المدين ما عليه متقيا الله لا يبخس منه شيئا، فإن عجز أملى وليه بالعدل.
3. Pledges and Trust | الرهن والأمانة
When no scribe can be found on a journey, the verse allows a pledge held in hand, and if the parties trust one another the trusted one must fulfill his trust (Al-Baqarah 2:283). A pledge is not limited to travel: the Prophet pledged his armor in Medina with a Jewish man and took barley from him for his family (Sahih al-Bukhari 2069).
وَإِن كُنتُمْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ وَلَمْ تَجِدُوا كَاتِبًا فَرِهَانٌ مَّقْبُوضَةٌ (سورة البقرة: 283)
إذا لم يوجد كاتب في السفر أذنت الآية بالرهن المقبوض، فإن أمن بعضهم بعضا فليؤد المؤتمن أمانته (البقرة 2:283). ولا يختص الرهن بالسفر، فقد رهن النبي ﷺ درعا له بالمدينة عند يهودي وأخذ منه شعيرا لأهله (صحيح البخاري 2069).
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
Is it obligatory or just recommended to write down a debt?
Al-Qurtubi reports that the majority held the command to write to be a recommendation to protect wealth and remove doubt, while some, including al-Tabari, held it obligatory. The answer states that it is recommended, and more strongly so when a right could be lost.
What should be done if a scribe cannot be found to write the debt?
The Quran allows a pledge held in hand when people are on a journey and find no scribe, and if they trust one another, the one who was trusted must fulfill his trust (Al-Baqarah 2:283).
Is it necessary to write down small debts?
The Quran tells believers not to be weary of writing a debt down, small or large, until its term (Al-Baqarah 2:282). The answer treats writing as recommended, and more strongly so when a right could be lost.
Why does the Quran ask for witnesses to debts?
To preserve rights. The verse asks for two men, or one man and two women, as witnesses, and forbids witnesses to refuse when they are called (Al-Baqarah 2:282).