J. F. Campbell Collection > Koran: or, Alcoran of Mohammed

34 AL KORAN. CHAP. n.
yet God hatli permitted selling and forbidden usury. He therefore who,
wlicn there cometh unto him an admonition from his Lord, abstaineth
from usury for tlte future, shall have what is past forgiven 1dm, and his
affair belougeth unto God. But whoever retui-neth to usury, they shall be
the companions of hell fij-e, they shall continue therein for ever. God shall
take his blessing from usiuy, and shall increase alms : for God loveth no
infidel, or ungodly person. But they who believe, and do that which is right,
and o})sei-A'e the stated times of prayer, and pay theii- legal alms, they shall
have theii' reward with theu- Loud : there shall come no fear on them,
neither shall they be gi-ieved. true believers, fear God, and remit that
which remaineth of usuiy," if ye really believe; but if ye do it not,
hearken unto war, which is declared ajaiiist you from God and his apostle :
yet if ye repent, ye shall have the capital of your money. Deal not un-
justly ujith others, and ye shall not be dealt with unjustly. If there be any
debtor under a difficulty of paying his debt, let his creditor wait till it be
easy for him to do it; but if ye remit it as alms, it will be better for you,
if ye knew it. And fear the day wherein ye shall return unto God; theu
shall every soul be paid what it hath gained, and they shall not be treated
unjustly. O ti-ue believers, when ye bind yourselves one to the other in a
debt for a certain time, write it down ; and let a wi-iter wi-ite between you
according to justice, and let not the writer refuse writing according to what
God hath taught him ; but let him write, and let him who oweth the debt
dictate, and let him fear God his Lord, and not diminish aught thereof
But if he who oweth the debt be foolish, or weak, or be not able to dictate
himself let his agent ^ dictate according to equity; and call to witness two
witnesses of your neighbouring men ; but if there be not two men, let there
be a man and two women of those whom ye shall choose for witnesses : if
one of those women should mistake, the other of them will cause her to
recollect. And the witnesses shall not refuse, whensoever they shall be
called. And disdain not to write it down, be it a large debt, or be it a
small one, until its time of payment : this will be more just in the sight of
God, and more right for bearing witness, and more easy, that ye may not
doubt. But if it be a present bargain which ye transact between your-
selves, it shall be no crime in you, if ye write it not down. And take
witnesses when ye sell one to the other, and let no harm be done to the
writer, nor to the witness ; which if ye do, it mil surely be injustice in
you : and fear God, and God will instruct you, for God knoweth all things.
And if ye be on a journey, and find no writer, let pledges be taken ; but if
one of you trust the other, let him who is trasted return what he is trusted
with, and fear God his Lord. And conceal not the testimony, for he who
concealeth it hath surely a wicked heart : God knoweth that which ye do.
Whatever is in heaven and on earth is God's ; and whether ye manifest
• Or the interest due before usury m'.is prohibited. For this some of Mohammed's
followers exacted of their debtors, supposing they lawfully might.*
' Whoever manages his affairs, whether his father, heir, guardian or interpreter.*