Translation:
If you are on a journey and you cannot find a scribe, then a security may be taken in possession. Since these types of transactions are also based on trust, the one who is trusted with (security, debt, promise, etc.) should deliver his trust and keep his duty to God, his Sustainer (and to his fellow men). Do not conceal testimony; whoever conceals testimony, his heart is sinful. (Remember), God knows everything that you do.158
To God belongs whatever is in Heaven and in the earth. (Moreover), whether you express what is in your mind or hide it, God will call you to account according to it (your intention). Then He may choose to forgive whom He pleases and punish whom He pleases (based on his collective deeds). God has power over all things.
Interpretation:
158 Just like any major obligations in Islam, God is always willing to understand our inabilities and difficulties, especially in times like journeys and when there is a lack of timely access to resources. In this case, when someone is on a journey and cannot find a scribe, a security (collateral) can be taken from the debtor. But the one who takes such a security has the obligation to return this security (which is a trust) once
the original debt is fulfilled. In today’s context where having a scribe, such as a notary public or legal expert, is commonplace, this should not be an issue except possibly in rural or remote areas. Even then, the central and local governments should facilitate such practices and have resources available to accomplish this objective in all areas.
Also, God advises that we should not conceal testimony when we are witnesses. Such unwillingness is a sign of a sinful act and is strongly discouraged in Islam. Even if the testimony was done in private and secretly, the person has an obligation to substan- tiate such testimony when called upon, and he is reminded that God is aware of all things, hidden or exposed, and that we cannot escape His judgment.
To summarize on issues of debt and trust, Islam encourages individual responsi- bility and obligation and a collective effort to facilitate such trust and obligation. Government officials and community leaders have a significant responsibility to uphold such standards. The legal framework and the governance of local and central institutions and elected offices have to put these guidelines into policies and then
enforce them with fairness and justice.
Reflection:
Giving testimony is a serious responsibility, and it is being neglected throughout Muslim communities and the Muslim world. Much of this responsibility boils down to having a sense of trust and a firm commitment to doing good deeds for people. A government official who uses his power to abuse the average citizen,
a police officer who terrorizes instead of protects citizens, a financial regulator who looks the other way when big businesses or wealthy individuals create financial
tools to get rich quick, a business person who does not want to give fair wages to his employees, and a politician who deliberately makes false promises and knowingly refuses to make good on those promises are all indications of misusing one’s trust and obligations.
Action:
We need to create policies in all organizations as well as educate our community members to fulfill such obligations. As God said in the Qur’an, “ . . . Surely God does not bring about changes in a society until they themselves bring changes in their (individual and collective) conditions . . . ” (13:11). This inability to educate ourselves
is the underlying failure of Muslim communities. Too many Muslim countries are topping the corruption chart and dropping on the literacy chart; at the core of these problems is the fundamental failure of their citizens to hold each other’s trust and of their leadership to respect the trust of said leadership. The Muslims’ claim to global leadership can only be achieved if we lay the foundation of a law-abiding society and first follow the rules and then lead by example. No amount of self-adulation, ritual worship, and vagaries of superior belief will help toward reaching this goal.