Islam's Response to Contemporary Issues — Page 198
198 islam’s response to contemporary issues The following points should be noted regarding these verses: 1. The verses do not at all require both women to testify. 2. The role of the second woman is clearly specified and confined to be that of an assistant. 3. If the second woman who is not testifying finds any part of the statement of the witness as indicative of the witness not having fully understood the spirit of the bargain, she may remind her and assist the witness in revising her understanding or refreshing her memory. 4. It is entirely up to that woman who is testifying to agree or disagree with her assistant. Her testimony remains as a single independent testimony and in case she does not agree with her partner, her’s would be the last word. After this brief digression, let us return to the subject proper. Reducing loan agreements to writing with the debtor dictating the terms in the presence of witnesses for the sale of goods; being absolutely honest and mindful of God in fulfilling one’s undertakings; and trustees discharging the trust honestly form the essential features of contractual obligations in Islam. It should be noted that in an economy where lending tends to be interest free, the lender will not unnecessarily flush the economy with loans and credit. Therefore, the buying power of society will remain within realistic limits and related to the present. The tendency to borrow from the future will automatically be averted. An industry founded on this platform is bound to remain solid and able to survive the vicissitudes of economic hazards.