and He says: “Unless it is trade conducted by mutual consent among you” [al-Nisā’: 29] [al-Nisā’: 29]. He says: “If they nurse your children, then pay them their wages” [al-Talāq: 6] [al-Talāq: 6]. He also says:

“O you who believe, when you contract a debt for a fixed term, write it down. Let a scribe write it between you with justice, and no scribe should refuse to write as Allah has taught him. So let him write, and let the debtor dictate. Let him fear Allah, his Lord, and not diminish anything from it. If the debtor is of deficient judgment, weak, or unable to dictate himself, then let his guardian dictate with justice. Call upon two men among you as witnesses. If there are not two men, then one man and two women from among those whom you approve as witnesses, so that if one of the women errs, the other may remind her. The witnesses must not refuse when summoned. Do not tire of writing it down, whether small or large, together with its term. That is more just in the sight of Allah, more reliable as testimony, and more likely to prevent you from doubting. But if it is an immediate transaction that you conduct among yourselves, there is no blame upon you if you do not write it down. Take witnesses whenever you trade, and let neither scribe nor witness be harmed. If you do so, it is indeed sinful conduct on your part. Fear Allah; Allah teaches you, and Allah knows all things. If you are traveling and cannot find a scribe, then let there be pledges taken into possession” [al-Baqarah: 282–283] [al-Baqarah: 282, 283].

He says: “Who is it that will lend Allah a goodly loan?” [al-Baqarah: 245] [al-Baqarah: 245]. He says: “The likeness of those who spend their wealth in the cause of Allah is that of a grain that sprouts seven ears” [al-Baqarah: 261] [al-Baqarah: 261]. He says: “Allah destroys usury and increases charitable gifts” [al-Baqarah: 276] [al-Baqarah: 276]. He says: “Indeed, charitable men and charitable women who lend Allah a goodly loan will have it multiplied for them” [al-Hadīd: 18] [al-Hadīd: 18]. He says: “Then the freeing of a slave” [al-Nisā’: 92] [al-Nisā’: 92]. He says: “Divorce them at the proper time for their prescribed waiting period” [al-Talāq: 1] [al-Talāq: 1]. And He says: “Retain them honorably or release them honorably” [al-Baqarah: 231] [al-Baqarah: 231].

There are many other verses in which these contracts are prescribed, whether by command or permission, while some of them, such as usury, are prohibited. These verses provide evidence in several respects:

The first is that, in the case of a sale, He deemed mutual consent sufficient in His words: “Unless it is trade conducted by mutual consent among you” [al-Nisā’: 29], and, in the case of a voluntary gift, willing consent, as in