سُوْرَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 280
وَإِن كَانَ ذُو عُسْرَةٍ فَنَظِرَةٌ إِلَىٰ مَيْسَرَةٍ ۚ وَأَن تَصَدَّقُوا۟ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ ۖ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ ﴿280﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And if the debtor is in a hard time (has no money), then grant him time till it is easy for him to repay, but if you remit it by way of charity, that is better for you if you did but know.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَإِن
wa-in
And if
كَانَ
kāna
is
ذُو
dhū
the (debtor)
عُسْرَةٍۢ
ʿus'ratin
in difficulty
فَنَظِرَةٌ
fanaẓiratun
then postponement
إِلَىٰ
ilā
until
مَيْسَرَةٍۢ ۚ
maysaratin
ease
وَأَن
wa-an
And if
تَصَدَّقُوا۟
taṣaddaqū
you remit as charity
خَيْرٌۭ
khayrun
(it is) better
لَّكُمْ ۖ
lakum
for you
إِن
in
If
كُنتُمْ
kuntum
you
تَعْلَمُونَ
taʿlamūna
know
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan — Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
280. 1. In the era of ignorance, in case of non-payment of debt, compound interest would keep increasing the principal amount, turning a small sum into a mountain, making its repayment impossible. In contrast, Allah has commanded that if someone is in difficulty (let alone taking interest, even in taking back the principal amount), grant him respite until ease, and if you forgo the debt entirely, that is even better. In hadith, great virtue has been mentioned for this. How great is the difference between these two systems: one is based entirely on oppression, hard-heartedness, and selfishness, and the other is based on compassion, cooperation, and supporting one another. If Muslims themselves do not adopt this blessed and merciful divine system, what fault is it of Islam and what blame can be placed on Allah? If only Muslims could understand the importance and benefit of their religion and establish their system of life upon it.
