Page 326 - Bigotry: The Dark Danger

Bigotry:
The Dark Danger

Women and Witness Testimony in Loans

The only exception in the Qur'an regarding women's witness tes-

timony is that regarding loans. In order to grasp the exception here,
we need to look at verse 282 of Surat al-Baqara in which loans are de-
scribed:

You who believe! When you take on a debt for a

specified period, write it down. A writer should write
it down between you justly. No writer should refuse to
write; as God has taught him, so he should write.

The one incurring the debt should dictate and should
have fear of God his Lord and not reduce it in any

way. If the person incurring the debt is incompetent or
weak or unable to dictate, then his guardian should
dictate for him justly. Two men among you should

act as witnesses. But if there are not two men, then a
man and two women with whom you are satisfied as
witnesses; then if one of them forgets, the other can re-

mind her. Witnesses should not refuse when they are
called upon. Do not think it too trivial to write down,
whether small or large, with the date that it falls due.

Doing that is more just in God's Sight and more help-
ful when bearing witness and more likely to eliminate

any doubt – unless it is an immediate transaction
hand to hand, taken and given without delay. There
is nothing wrong in your not writing that down. Call

witnesses when you trade. Neither writer nor witness

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