Transliteration:( Wa in kaana zoo 'usratin fanaziratun ilaa maisarah; wa an tasaddaqoo khairul lakum in kuntum ta'lamoon )
"And if the debtor is in hardship, then give him time till it is easy [745]. And if you give (from your right as) charity, then it is better for you, if you only knew."
This verse addresses the ethical treatment of debtors, and from it several legal and moral rulings emerge:
There is no fixed time limit in the Shari’ah for the repayment of a loan — meaning, it may be demanded at any time, as it is often given without a specified duration.
However, in the case of debts related to trade or fixed-term credit, the due date must be honored, and payment cannot be demanded before that date.
The verse encompasses both short-term loans and trade-related debts. In both cases, granting an extension to a debtor in difficulty is a commendable and rewarded act.
Moreover, forgiving the debt altogether out of compassion is considered a form of charity (sadaqah). However:
If a creditor forgives the loan, he cannot count that money as Zakaat.
A solution to this is: the creditor gives Zakaat money to the debtor (who qualifies as deserving).
Once the debtor has taken possession of that money, the creditor can then recover the debt from it, fulfilling both obligations.
This verse highlights the importance of mercy, patience, and generosity, especially when dealing with those in financial distress.
The tafsir of Surah Baqarah verse 279 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Baqarah ayat 278 which provides the complete commentary from verse 278 through 281.
(2:280) But if the debtor is in straitened circumstance, let him have respite until the time of ease; and whatever you remit by way of charity is better for you, if only you know.[324]
324. This verse is the basis of the Islamic regulation that if a person has become incapable of paying off his debt, the court will force the creditors to grant him respite for payment. In fact, under certain circumstances, the court is entitled to remit a part of his debt and, at times, the whole of it. It is mentioned in the Hadith that once a person suffered loss in his trade and became greatly burdened with debt and the case was brought to the notice of the Prophet. The Prophet urged the people to help their brother in his distress. They came to his assistance but the amount of help was not enough to wipe out his debts. Then the Prophet approached the lenders and asked them to accept whatever amount was available and to grant remission to the borrower because of his inability to make further payments. Muslim jurists have made it clear that a debtor’s residential house, eating utensils, clothes and the tools which he uses for earning his livelihood may not be confiscated in any, circumstances whatsoever for non-payrment of loans. (For relevant discussion and textual evidence see the commentaries on this verse in Ibn Kathir, Jassas, and Qurtubi – Ed.)
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