And if you are on a journey and cannot find a scribe, then let there be a pledge taken (mortgaging), then if one of you entrusts the other, let the one who is entrusted discharge his trust, and let him have Taqwa of Allah, his Lord. And conceal not the evidence, for he who hides it, surely, his heart is sinful. And Allah is All-Knower of what you do (283)
What is the 'Mortgaging' Mentioned in the Ayah?
Allah said,
وَإِن كُنتُمْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ
(And if you are on a journey) meaning, traveling and some of you borrowed some money to be paid at a later date,
وَلَمْ تَجِدُوا كَاتِبًا
(and cannot find a scribe) who would record the debt for you. Ibn 'Abbas said, "And even if they find a scribe, but did not find paper, ink or pen." Then,
فَرِهَانٌ مَّقْبُوضَةٌ
(let there be a pledge taken (mortgaging)) given to the creditor in lieu of writing the transaction. The Two Sahihs recorded that Anas said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ died while his shield was mortgaged with a Jew in return for thirty Wasq (approximately 180 kg) of barley, which the Prophet bought on credit as provisions for his household. In another narration, the Hadith stated that this Jew was among the Jews of Al-Madinah.
Allah said,
فَإِنْ أَمِنَ بَعْضُكُم بَعْضًا فَلْيُؤَدِّ الَّذِي اؤْتُمِنَ أَمَانَتَهُ
(then if one of you entrusts the other, let the one who is entrusted discharge his trust (faithfully).)
Ibn Abi Hatim recorded, with a sound chain of narration, that Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri said, "This Ayah abrogated what came before it (i.e. that which required recording the transaction and having witnesses present)." Ash-Sha'bi said, "If you trust each other, then there is no harm if you do not write the loan or have witnesses present." Allah's statement,
وَلْيَتَّقِ اللَّهَ رَبَّهُ
(And let him have Taqwa of Allah) means, the debtor.
Imam Ahmad and the Sunan recorded that Qatadah said that Al-Hasan said that Samurah said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
عَلَى الْيَدِ مَا أَخَذَتْ، حَتَّى تُؤَدِّيَهُ
(The hand (of the debtor) will carry the burden of what it took until it gives it back.)
Allah's statement,
وَلَا تَكْتُمُوا الشَّهَادَةَ
(And conceal not the evidence) means, do not hide it or refuse to announce it. Ibn 'Abbas and other scholars said, "False testimony is one of the worst of the major sins, and such is the case with hiding the true testimony. This is why Allah said,
وَمَن يَكْتُمْهَا فَإِنَّهُ آثِمٌ قَلْبُهُ
(For he who hides it, surely, his heart is sinful).
As-Suddi commented, "Meaning he is a sinner in his heart."
This is similar to Allah's statement,
وَلَا نَكْتُمُ شَهَادَةَ اللَّهِ إِنَّا إِذًا لَّمِنَ الْآثِمِينَ
(We shall not hide testimony of Allah, for then indeed we should be of the sinful)[5:106].
Allah said,
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُونُوا قَوَّامِينَ بِالْقِسْطِ شُهَدَاءَ لِلَّهِ وَلَوْ عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَوِ الْوَالِدَيْنِ وَالْأَقْرَبِينَ إِن يَكُنْ غَنِيًّا أَوْ فَقِيرًا فَاللَّهُ أَوْلَىٰ بِهِمَا فَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا الْهَوَىٰ أَن تَعْدِلُوا وَإِن تَلْوُوا أَوْ تُعْرِضُوا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرًا
(O you who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even though it be against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, be he rich or poor, Allah is a better Protector to both (than you). So follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest you avoid justice; and if you distort your witness or refuse to give it, verily, Allah is Ever Well-Acquainted with what you do)[4:135] and in this Ayah [2:283] He said,
وَلَا تَكْتُمُوا الشَّهَادَةَ وَمَن يَكْتُمْهَا فَإِنَّهُ آثِمٌ قَلْبُهُ وَاللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ عَلِيمٌ
(And conceal not the evidence, for he who hides it, surely, his heart is sinful. And Allah is All-Knower of what you do.)