Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both), concerning the saying of Allah Almighty: "And let no scribe or witness be harmed" [Surah al-Baqarah: 282], says: (It is) that the witness and the scribe are called and they say: We are busy; and he says: You have been commanded to come when you are called. Let neither of them be put under pressure.
Hadith Referenceالسنن الكبرى للبيهقي / كتاب الشهادات / 20602
Ali bin Abi Talhah narrates from Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) concerning this saying of Allah Almighty: "And let the witnesses not refuse when they are called" [Surah al-Baqarah: 282], that he said: When the Muslims need his testimony, he must not refuse to testify. After this He said: "And let no scribe or witness be harmed" [Surah al-Baqarah: 282].
Harming is that a man says to another, while he has no need of him: Allah has commanded you not to refuse when you are called to testify. He thus causes him hardship, although another would suffice in his place; so Allah forbade this: "And if you do so, you will be sinners" [Surah al-Baqarah: 282]. By fusuq is meant disobedience.
Hadith Referenceالسنن الكبرى للبيهقي / كتاب الشهادات / 20603
Ikrimah (may Allah have mercy on him) says that Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) recited: "And let no scribe or witness be harmed" [Surah al-Baqarah: 282]. Sufyan says: A man comes to another and says: "Write for me." He says: "I am busy; find someone other than me." Then he must not harm him by saying: "I want no one but you"; rather, let him find someone else. And someone comes to a witness to make him witness something, and he says: "I am busy; take someone else." Then he must not harm him by saying: "I want only your testimony"; rather, let him take someone else as witness.
Hadith Referenceالسنن الكبرى للبيهقي / كتاب الشهادات / 20604
Humayd al-A'raj narrates from Mujahid (may Allah have mercy on him) that "Let no scribe or witness be harmed" [Surah al-Baqarah: 282] (means): when they are busy with their estate and their market.
Hadith Referenceالسنن الكبرى للبيهقي / كتاب الشهادات / 20605
Isma'il bin Muslim narrates from al-Hasan (may Allah have mercy on him) concerning this saying of Allah: "And let no scribe or witness cause harm" [Surah al-Baqarah: 282]:
The scribe should not cause harm by writing something he was not instructed to write, nor should the witness cause harm by adding to his testimony.
Hadith Referenceالسنن الكبرى للبيهقي / كتاب الشهادات / 20606