Rules on Wealth, Charity, Debt and Usury

²⁶¹ The parable a grain that produces 7 spikes is an example of those who spend their wealth in Allah’s way.

• Each spike has 100 grains.
• Allah multiplies for whom He wills.

²⁶² Those who spend their wealth without following up what they spent with reminders of their generosity or with insults, will have their reward with their Lord.

²⁶³ Kind words and forgiveness are better than charity followed by insults.

²⁶⁴ Some people spend their wealth to be seen by the people and give reminders and hurtful words.

• They do not believe in Allah and the Last Day.
• They are like a smooth rock covered with soil: a downpour strikes it, and leaves it bare.
• They gain nothing from their efforts.

Muslims, do not nullify your charitable deeds by following their example.

²⁶⁵ The parable of a garden on a hillside is a parable of those who spend their wealth to:

• seek Allah’s approval, and
• strengthen their souls.

If heavy rain falls on it, its produce is doubled.

• If no heavy rain falls, then dew is enough.

²⁶⁶ Would you like to have a garden of palms and vines with all kinds of fruit just for it to be burned down by a fiery tornado?

²⁶⁷ Muslims, give of the good things you have earned, and from what We have produced for you from the earth.

Do not pick the inferior things to give away, when you yourselves would not accept it except with eyes closed.

²⁶⁸ Satan:

• promises you poverty
• urges you to immorality

Allah:

• promises you forgiveness from Himself, and grace.

• ²⁷⁰ knows whatever charity you give, or a pledge you fulfill. The wrongdoers have no helpers.

²⁷¹ It is good to give charity openly.

• But it is better if you give it to the needy in private, keeping it secret.
  • It will atone for some of your misdeeds.

²⁷² The guidance of the poor is not your responsibility, because Allah guides whom He wills.

Any charity you give is:

• for the sake of Allah
  • for your own good

Any charity you give will be repaid to you in full, and you will not be wronged.

²⁷³ Charity is for:

• the poor
• those who are restrained in the way of Allah, unable to travel

You will recognize them by their features.

• They do not ask from people insistently.
• The unaware would think them rich, due to their dignity.

²⁷⁴ Those who spend their wealth by night and day, privately and publicly, will receive their reward from their Lord.

²⁷⁵ Those who swallow usury will not rise, except as someone driven mad by Satan’s touch. That is because they say, “Commerce is like usury.”

But Allah has:

• permitted commerce, and
• forbidden usury.

Whoever refrains from usury may keep his past earnings.

• But whoever resumes usury, these will burn in Hell.

²⁷⁶ Allah condemns usury and blesses charities.

²⁷⁸ Muslims, forgo what remains of usury.

• ²⁷⁹ If you do not, then take notice of a war by Allah and His Messenger.
• But if you repent, you may keep your capital, neither wronging nor being wronged.

²⁸⁰ But if your debtor is in hardship, then defer his loan until he is back at ease.

• But it is better to give it as a charity to him.

²⁸² Muslims, when you incur debt among yourselves for a certain period of time, write it down.

• Have a scribe write in your presence, in all fairness.

• Let the debtor dictate.
• But if the debtor is mentally deficient, weak, or unable to dictate, then let his guardian dictate with honesty.
• Call to witness 2 men from among you.
• If 2 men are not available, then 1 man and 2 women whose testimony is acceptable to all
  • If one of them fails to remember, the other would remind her.

Witnesses must not refuse when called upon.

• Do not think it too trivial to write down, whether small or large, including the time of repayment.

That is:

• more equitable with Allah
• stronger as evidence, and
• more likely to prevent doubt
  • This is except in the case of a spot transaction between you. Then there is no blame on you if you do not write it down.

Let there be witnesses whenever you conclude a contract.

• Let no harm be done to either scribe or witness.
• If you do that, it is corruption on your part.

²⁸³ If you are on a journey and cannot find a scribe, then a security deposit should be handed over.

• But if you trust one another, let the trustee fulfill his trust.
• Do not conceal testimony.

²⁸⁶ Allah does not burden any soul beyond its capacity.

• To its credit is what it earns, and against it is what it commits.

Say: “Our Lord, do not:

• condemn us if we forget or make a mistake
• burden us as You have burdened those before us
• burden us with more than we have strength to bear

”