Surah Al-Baqara 2:283 — Meaning, Translation & Reflection

۞ وَإِن كُنتُمْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍۢ وَلَمْ تَجِدُوا۟ كَاتِبًۭا فَرِهَٰنٌۭ مَّقْبُوضَةٌۭ ۖ فَإِنْ أَمِنَ بَعْضُكُم بَعْضًۭا فَلْيُؤَدِّ ٱلَّذِى ٱؤْتُمِنَ أَمَٰنَتَهُۥ وَلْيَتَّقِ ٱللَّهَ رَبَّهُۥ ۗ وَلَا تَكْتُمُوا۟ ٱلشَّهَٰدَةَ ۚ وَمَن يَكْتُمْهَا فَإِنَّهُۥٓ ءَاثِمٌۭ قَلْبُهُۥ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ عَلِيمٌۭ

English: If you are on a journey, and cannot find a scribe, something should be handed over as security, but if you decide to trust one another, then let the one who is trusted fulfil his trust; let him be mindful of God, his Lord. Do not conceal evidence: anyone who does so has a sinful heart, and God is fully aware of everything you do.

Bengali: আর তোমরা যদি প্রবাসে থাক এবং কোন লেখক না পাও তবে বন্ধকী বন্তু হস্তগত রাখা উচিত। যদি একে অন্যকে বিশ্বাস করে, তবে যাকে বিশ্বাস করা হয়, তার উচিত অন্যের প্রাপ্য পরিশোধ করা এবং স্বীয় পালনকর্তা আল্লাহকে ভয় কর! তোমরা সাক্ষ্য গোপন করো না। যে কেউ তা গোপন করবে, তার অন্তর পাপপূর্ণ হবে। তোমরা যা করা, আল্লাহ সে সম্পর্কে খুব জ্ঞাত।

Reflect with the Five Lenses

Maani's framework for Tadabbur (heart-centred reflection) on Surah Al-Baqara 2:283:

• Wording. Look closely at the specific words and structure. Which word stands out, and why might Allah have chosen it here?
• Quranic Worlds. Place the verse in its context — what is happening around it, and what world does it open up?
• Personal Experience. Ask not just what this means, but what it means TO me and FOR me, right now in my life.
• Connections. How does this verse connect to other verses, to the Sunnah, or to themes across the Quran?
• General Lessons. What timeless lesson or action point can I carry away and live by?