THE LONGEST AYAH OF THE GLORIOUS QUR'AN

The longest Ayah of the Glorious Qur’an is Ayah 282 of Surah al-Baqarah. This Ayah contains instructions about the commercial and economical affairs to strengthen the growth of capital and prevents any difficulty or conflict.

The Ayah contains 19 ordinances for the smooth flow of financial transactions, detailed here under:

1.The Ayah says, “O You who have faith! When you contract a debt for a stated term, then write it down.” It includes time-bargain, purchase on credit or loan.

2. & 3. To generate confidence and minimize the chances of interference from either party, it is recommending that the contract be written by a just third person. The Ayah says, “…and let a scribe write it down just between you.”

4.For the sake of that Blessing which Allah has bestowed upon him, he should not refrain from writing of the contract and help the two sides of the contract. The Ayah says, “…and no scribe may refuse to write as Allah has taught him.”

5. The person who is incurring the debt should dictate (so that he may not be able to disown the contract). The Ayah says, “….so let him write, and let the one who incurs the debt dictate….”

6. The one who is dictating should remember Allah. The Ayah says, “…and he should be in awe of Allah, his Lord, and not diminish it.

7. The guardian, of a person unsound of understanding, mentally weak, or he is unable to dictate, should dictate it.

8. The guardian should also observe justice in dictating while confessing the debt of those under his guardianship.

9. The Ayah says, “…..and call to witness from among your men, two witnesses.”

10 & 11. The witnesses should be adult and Muslim.

12. The Ayah says, “…but if two men are not available, then a man and two women…..”

13. The witnesses should be just and reliable.

14. In the case the witnesses are two men, either of them can bear witness independently. But when the witnesses are two women and a man, these two women must bear witness together so that if either of the two witnesses errs, the other woman will remind her.

15. It is obligatory to bear witness when called in to testify. The Ayah says, “….and the witness should not refuse (to evidence) whenever they are summoned….”

16. The debt should be written down, whether the amount involved is big or small.

17. The only exception to the above ordinances is the fact that if the transactions are for ready merchandise.

18. In the case of cash transactions no documentation is necessary but still it is better to call witnesses.

19. The Ayah says, “And let no harm be done to a scribe or witness, and if you do, this is transgression on your part, be in awe of Allah and Allah teaches you, and is All-knowing of all things.

                Source: The Glorious Qur’an (Urdu translation) of Tafsir-e-Namoona by Ayatollah Naser                                  Makarem Shirazi