The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

The Qur
an
2: 258
30

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deeds with reminders and hurtful words, like someone who spends
his wealth only to be seen by people, not believing in God and the
Last Day. Such a person is like a rock with earth on it: heavy rain
falls and leaves it completely bare. Such people get no rewards for
their works: God does not guide the disbelievers. 
265But those who
spend their wealth in order to gain God’s approval, and as an a
ffirm-
ation of their own faith, are like a garden on a hill: heavy rain falls
and it produces double its normal yield; even if no heavy rain falls, it
will still be watered by the dew. God sees all that you do. 
266Would
any of you like to have a garden of palm trees and vines, graced with
flowing streams and all kinds of produce, which, when you are
a
fflicted with old age and feeble offspring, is struck by a fiery whirl-
wind and burnt down? In this way God makes His messages clear to
you, so that you may re
flect on them.
267You who believe, give charitably from the good things you have
acquired and that We have produced for you from the earth. Do not
give away the bad things that you yourself would only accept with
your eyes closed: remember that God is self-su
fficient, worthy of all
praise. 
268Satan threatens you with the prospect of poverty and
commands you to do foul deeds; God promises you His forgiveness
and His abundance: God is limitless and all knowing, 
269and He gives
wisdom to whoever He will. Whoever is given wisdom has truly been
given much good, but only those with insight bear this in mind.
270Whatever you may give, or vow to give, God knows it well, and
those who do wrong will have no one to help them. 
271If you give
charity openly, it is good, but if you keep it secret and give to the
needy in private, that is better for you, and it will atone for some of
your bad deeds: God is well aware of all that you do. 
272It is not for
you [Prophet] to guide them; it is God who guides whoever He will.
Whatever charity you give bene
fits your own soul, provided you do it
for the sake of God: whatever you give will be repaid to you in full,
and you will not be wronged. 
273[Give] to those needy who are
wholly occupied in God’s way and cannot travel in the land [for
trade]. The unknowing might think them rich because of their self-
restraint, but you will recognize them by their characteristic of not
begging persistently. God is well aware of any good you give.
274Those who give, out of their own possessions, by night and by
day, in private and in public, will have their reward with their Lord:
no fear for them, nor will they grieve. 
275But those who take usury
The Cow
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will rise up on the Day of Resurrection like someone tormented by
Satan’s touch. That is because they say, ‘Trade and usury are the
same,’
276but God has allowed trade and forbidden usury. Whoever,
on receiving God’s warning, stops taking usury may keep his past
gains –
– God will be his judge –
– but whoever goes back to usury will
be an inhabitant of the Fire, there to remain. God blights usury, but
blesses charitable deeds with multiple increase: He does not love the
ungrateful sinner. 
277Those who believe, do good deeds, keep up the
prayer, and pay the prescribed alms will have their reward with their
Lord: no fear for them, nor will they grieve. 
278You who believe,
beware of God: give up any outstanding dues from usury, if you are
true believers. 
279If you do not, then be warned of war from God and
His Messenger. You shall have your capital if you repent, and with-
out su
ffering loss or causing others to suffer loss. 280If the debtor is
in di
fficulty, then delay things until matters become easier for him;
still, if you were to write it o
ff as an act of charity, that would be
better for you, if only you knew. 
281Beware of a Day when you will be
returned to God: every soul will be paid in full for what it has
earned, and no one will be wronged.
282You who believe, when you contract a debt for a stated term,
put it down in writing: have a scribe write it down justly between
you. No scribe should refuse to write: let him write as God has
taught him, let the debtor dictate, and let him fear God, his Lord,
and not diminish [the debt] at all. If the debtor is feeble-minded,
weak, or unable to dictate, then let his guardian dictate justly. Call in
two men as witnesses. If two men are not there, then call one man
and two women out of those you approve as witnesses, so that if one
of the two women should forget
a
the other can remind her. Let the
witnesses not refuse when they are summoned. Do not disdain to
write the debt down, be it small or large, along with the time it falls
due: this way is more equitable in God’s eyes, more reliable as testi-
mony, and more likely to prevent doubts arising between you. But if
the merchandise is there and you hand it over, there is no blame on
you if you do not write it down. Have witnesses present whenever
you trade with one another, and let no harm be done to either scribe
or witness, for if you did cause them harm, it would be a crime on
your part. Be mindful of God, and He will teach you: He has full