Why the Qur’an’s Longest Verse Discusses Debt, Not the Day of Judgment
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia — The Qur’an is a guide for Muslims that regulates not only worship but also various aspects of life, including the economy. It contains many verses addressing economic rules such as fair trade, avoidance of extravagance, encouragement of sharing, and the prohibition of riba. This shows that Islam provides clear guidance for organising the economic life to run in a just and balanced manner.
The Qur’an’s Longest Verse
Among the 6,236 verses in the Qur’an, there is one verse that stands out not for discussing the Day of Judgment, nor for stories of prophets or the guidance for prayer and fasting, but for matters of debt and credit. This verse concerns debt, in Surah Al-Baqarah verse 282, known as the Verse of Debt (Ayat al-Mudayanah). The verse’s number (282) reads as a balance—2, 8, 2—evoking a sense of balance and fairness.
In English, the verse instructs believers: when you owe someone a debt with a fixed term, write it down. Let a scribe among you write it down justly, and let the one who owes dictate what is written, and fear Allah your Lord and do not shorten the debt. If the one who owes is weak in intellect or unable to dictate, let a guardian dictate faithfully. And call two men as witnesses from among your men. If two men are not available, then one man and two women from those whom you consent to be witnesses, so that if one forgets, the other may remind. Do not be averse to having witnesses; and do not be tired of writing it down, whether the debt be small or large, until its term. That is more just in the sight of Allah and more likely to avert doubts among you. If you are engaging in a cash transaction that you conduct among yourselves, there is no blame on you if you do not write it down. And be sure to call witnesses when you trade; and let neither the scribe nor the witnesses be harmed. If you do this, it is a transgression against you. And fear Allah; Allah instructs you. And Allah is Knowing of all things.
The verse’s English translation confirms three key themes in debt matters: the importance of a written record to prevent later disputes; the necessity of witnesses to strengthen the agreement; and the debtor’s duty to be truthful and to uphold, with accountability, the obligation. It also emphasises fairness and cautions against harming the other party, highlighting that the practice is not intended to hinder trade but to uphold justice.
Debt in Everyday Life
In daily life, debt and credit are close to people. Many use debt to meet living needs, to grow their businesses, or to deal with emergencies. Therefore, Islam does not ban debt, but regulates it.