Absolute Justice, Kindness and Kinship — Page 264
Evidence in Financial Matters 257 rarely. In verse 284 of the same chapter (S u rah al- Baqarah) the Holy Quran says: meaning that if someone is on a journey and unexpectedly requires some money with no scribe to commit this transaction to writing, he should pawn something as a guarantee against the money he borrows. It goes on to say: i. e. when anyone is entrusted with something and he is requested to return it, it is his duty to restore it to the owner in accordance with Taqw a. He should fear his Lord, Allah. and do not conceal testimony. and whoever conceals evidence, his heart becomes sinful. Allah knows well what you do. It is of interest to note that of all the religious Books in the world, it is the Holy Quran alone which for the first time discusses the possibility of a traveller requiring financial support. It is commonly observed that some people habitually beg for a loan with the plea of being on a journey, and many people loan them something out of pity which is seldom returned. Around fourteen hundred years ago, the Holy Quran suggested measures for the safeguard of the