Through Force or Faith? — Page 275
Chapter 7 — Novelty in the Teachings of Muhammad 275 اَّمِم َّلَق ُهْنِم ْوَا َرُثَك١ؕ اًبْيِصَن اًضْوُرْفَّمِلاَجِّرلِل ٌبْيِصَن اَّمِّم َكَرَت ِنٰدِلاَوْلا َو َنْوُبَرْقَاْلا١۪ َو ِءٓاَسِّنلِل ٌبْيِصَن اَّمِّم َكَرَت ِنٰدِلاَوْلا َو َنْوُبَرْقَاْلا For men is a share of that which parents and near relations leave; and for women is a share of that which parents and near relations leave, whether it be little or much—a deter- mined share ( S u rah an-Nis ā ’, 4:8). Thus, for the first time it was Islam that fixed a portion in inher- itance for women as well. Islam also enlarged the circle of inheritors to a great extent and, in addition to the children and spouses, it added other relatives: اَذِا َرَضَح ُمُكَدَحَا ُتْوَمْلا ْنِا َكَرَت اَرْيَخ١ۖۚ ُةَّيِصَوْل۟ا ِنْيَدِلاَوْلِل َو َنْيِبَرْقَاْلا ِفْوُرْعَمْلاِب When death comes to any one of you, if he leave much wealth, that he make a will to parents and near relatives to act with fairness ( S u rah al-Baqarah, 2:181). Islam also introduced the economic rule that, at the time of giv- ing or taking a loan, the terms of transaction should be put down in writing and there should be witnesses to it ( S u rah al-Baqarah, 2:283). It also defines who should dictate the terms, that is, يِذَّلا ِهْيَلَع ُّقَحْلاَوِلِلْمُيْل let him who incurs the liability to pay back the loan should dictate. ( S u rah al-Baqarah, 2:283). Likewise, Islam requires that when you buy or sell, you should record it and issue a receipt for it ( S u rah al-Baqarah, 2:283). The system of usury is used to make the rich richer, and the poor poorer. Islam abolished it altogether َو َّلَحَا ُهّٰللا َعْيَبْلا َو َمَّرَح اوٰبِّرلا ‘Allah has made trade lawful and made interest unlawful’ ( S u rah al-Baqarah, 2:276); and it instructs to relinquish the remainder