Commentary
And when the people were divided into the wealthy and the poor, it was as if it was said: This is the ruling for the wealthy. And if there is one among the debtors who is in hardship, unable to pay at this time, then there is a respite for him. Al-Harali said: It is the expected delay that we grant him until ease comes, if you do not agree except to take your money. Nafi and Hamzah read with a dammah on the letter 's', Al-Harali said: It indicates the predominance of ease, which is the broader of the two views. The others read with a fathah, indicating its moderation so that ease is in two ranks. Whoever waits for the broader of the two eases is in a better state of repentance. End.
And to give charity, meaning your charity to the one in hardship by leaving it for him, that is better in this world with what Allah, glorified and exalted is He, blesses you with and compensates you, and in the Hereafter with what He rewards you abundantly.
And when everyone claims knowledge and is extremely averse to being associated with ignorance, He said: If you know, meaning if you are among the knowledgeable, then you know the truth of what I have called you to, which requires turning away from it or turning towards it. So if you confirm that, then act upon it, for it is inappropriate for the knowledgeable to persist in something ugly. Otherwise, clarify that it is not good, or else you are among those who are crooked in ignorance, standing in war, striking, and stabbing like ferocious beasts and ravenous wolves. Al-Harali said: So Allah, glorified and exalted is He, made it known that whoever establishes his being for knowledge is among those whose knowledge endures. Be aware that the best abandonment is better than the best acquisition, so he excelled by abandoning all of it. End.
Al-Bukhari narrated in the tafsir from Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, who said: "When the last verses were revealed - and in one narration: from the end of Surah Al-Baqarah regarding usury - the Prophet, blessings and peace be upon him, recited them. And in one narration: to the people in the mosque - then he prohibited trade in wine." And it is narrated from Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, who said: "The last verse that was revealed to the Prophet, blessings and peace be upon him, was the verse on usury." And from Abu Ubaid from Ibn Shihab, who said: The last of the Quran in connection with the Throne is the verse on usury and the verse on debt. And it is narrated from Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, who said: "The last verse revealed from the Quran is: 'And fear a Day when you will be returned to Allah'" [Al-Baqarah: 281]. He said: They claimed that the Messenger of Allah, blessings and peace be upon him, remained after it for nine nights and began with it on Saturday and died on Monday. End. And there is no contradiction that it is from the verse on usury and debt. And Abu Amr Al-Dani narrated the hadith in the book "Al-Bayan in the Number of Verses of the Quran" and said in it: "The angel said: Place it at the head of eighty and two hundred from Al-Baqarah."
Explore Other Scholars on This Verse
Compare different scholarly perspectives on Surah Al-Baqarah verse 280