[512] A deposit of personal property as security for the debt which is liable to forfeiture in the event of default (cf. al-Ṭabarī, Ibn Kathīr, al-Saʿdī).
[513] That is both parties trust each other enough not to write a deed, bring witnesses, or exchange bonds.
[514] In a scenario where the indebted fails to honour his word and denies the debt, anyone who witnessed the deal has to come forward and speak the truth.
[515] The thoughts that go on in one’s mind.
[516] God favoured the Believing community by not holding them to account for the thoughts that go on in their minds, unless they put them into action. Abū Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Allah will not hold my nation accountable for internal dialogue, ˹the thoughts that go on in their minds˺, unless they speak it out or bring it into action”. (al-Bukhārī: 2528; Muslim: 127)
[517] About the virtue of these two last ayas of al-Baqarah, Ibn ʿAbbās (رضي الله عنهما) narrated: “While Gabriel was sitting with the Prophet (ﷺ), he heard a creaking sound from above, lifted his head and said: “This is a Heavenly door. It has been opened today and never ever has it been opened before”. Then an angel descended to Earth through it. He ˹Gabriel˺ said: “This is an angel who has descended to Earth and never ever has he descended before”. The angel greeted them and said: “I bring you glad tidings of two lights that you are given and never have they been given to any Prophet before you: Fātiḥat al-Kitāb ˹The Opening of the Book˺ and the endings of al-Baqarah. You shall never recite a letter of any of them without your Prayer being answered”. (Muslim: 806) Also ʿUqbah Ibn ʿĀmir (رضي الله عنه) narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Whoever recites the last two ayas of al-Baqarah, they will suffice him ˹as a shield from the evil˺.” (al-Bukhārī: 5008) ʿAbdullāh Ibn Masʿūd (رضي الله عنه) narrated: “When the Messenger of Allah ascended to heaven on the nocturnal journey, he was made to reach the Lote Tree of Extremity (Sidrat al-Muntahā)… The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was given three things: the five obligatory Prayers, the endings of al-Baqarah and whoever does not Associate anything with Allah of His creation will be absolved from even the thrusters, ˹major sins that thrust people in Hellfire˺”. (Muslim: 173) As a whole, these two ayas constitute a declaration of unshakable Faith. The kind of Faith Islam nurtures as evident in al-Baqarah.