[501] This is known as āyat ad-Dayn, the aya of Debt, and it is the longest aya in the Qur’an. It rounds off and explains, just in as much detail, the preceding discourse about financial dealings: charity – encouraging Believers to be ever-ready to help the needy and come to their aid; usury – warning them against exploiting people’s weaknesses; and now debt – ensuring that it is minutely written down and sealed off (cf. Ibn ʿĀshūr).
[502] Being learned is a great favour from God.
[503] The debtor, to underline his full awareness and commitment to settle the debt. (al-Saʿdī)
[504] That is not confessing the whole sum of the debt.
[505] The great student of Ibn ʿAbbās (رضي الله عنهما), Mujāhid (quoted in al-Ṭabarī), is of the opinion that al-safīh here is one who is not informed enough to know how to dictate such a legal deed in the correct manner.
[506] Young or frail. (al-Ṭabarī, Ibn Kathīr, al-Saʿdī)
[507] Unable to articulate because of a temporal or permanent impairment. (al-Ṭabarī, Ibn Kathīr, al-Saʿdī)
[508] The one in charge of his affairs. (al-Ṭabarī, Ibn Kathīr, al-Saʿdī)
[509] The agreement.
[510] Writing debts down.
[511] That you should not doubt the truthfulness of a testimony. (al-Ṭabarī, Ibn Kathīr, al-Saʿdī)