“And if you are on a journey and cannot find a scribe, then let there be pledges taken into possession. But if one of you entrusts another, let the one entrusted fulfil his trust, and let him fear Allah, his Lord. Do not conceal testimony; whoever conceals it has a sinful heart. And Allah is All-Knowing of what you do.” (283)

“And do not grow weary,” that is, do not become tired, “of writing it down.” The pronoun refers to the debt: “whether small”—whether the debt is small—“or large”—whether little or much—“until its term,” that is, until the time when the debt falls due. “That,” meaning the writing, “is more equitable before Allah,” because He has commanded it, and following His command is more equitable than abandoning it; “and more reliable for testimony,” because writing reminds the witnesses; “and nearer to preventing you from doubting,” that is, from doubting concerning the testimony—“unless it be a present transaction.” Both words were read