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Muhammad Asad   
If, however, [the debtor] is in straitened circumstances, [grant him] a delay until a time of ease; and it would be for your own good -if you but knew it -to remit [the debt entirely] by way of charity
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
If it is difficult for someone to repay a debt, postpone it until a time of ease. And if you waive it as an act of charity, it will be better for you, if only you knew.
Safi Kaskas   
However, if the borrower has financial difficulties, then defer payment until circumstances are better, and it would be for your own good, if you fully understood, to forgive the entire loan.

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Source Arabic and Literal tools
Arabic   
وَإِن كَانَ ذُو عُسۡرَةࣲ فَنَظِرَةٌ إِلَىٰ مَیۡسَرَةࣲۚ وَأَن تَصَدَّقُوا۟ خَیۡرࣱ لَّكُمۡ إِن كُنتُمۡ تَعۡلَمُونَ ۝٢٨٠
Transliteration (2021)   
wa-in kāna dhū ʿus'ratin fanaẓiratun ilā maysaratin wa-an taṣaddaqū khayrun lakum in kuntum taʿlamūn
Word for Word
Dr. Shehnaz Shaikh, Ms. Kauser Katri, and more
  
And if is the (debtor) in difficulty, then postponement until ease. And if you remit as charity (it is) better for you. If you know.

Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning
Muhammad Asad   
If, however, [the debtor] is in straitened circumstances, [grant him] a delay until a time of ease; and it would be for your own good -if you but knew it -to remit [the debt entirely] by way of charity
M. M. Pickthall   
And if the debtor is in straitened circumstances, then (let there be) postponement to (the time of) ease; and that ye remit the debt as almsgiving would be better for you if ye did but know
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)   
If the debtor is in a difficulty, grant him time Till it is easy for him to repay. But if ye remit it by way of charity, that is best for you if ye only knew
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
If it is difficult for someone to repay a debt, postpone it until a time of ease. And if you waive it as an act of charity, it will be better for you, if only you knew.
Safi Kaskas   
However, if the borrower has financial difficulties, then defer payment until circumstances are better, and it would be for your own good, if you fully understood, to forgive the entire loan.
Wahiduddin Khan   
If the debtor is in straitened circumstances, then grant him respite till a time of ease. If you were to write it off as an act of charity, that would be better for you, if only you knew
Shakir   
And if (the debtor) is in straitness, then let there be postponement until (he is in) ease; and that you remit (it) as alms is better for you, if you knew
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar   
If a debtor had been possessing adversity, a respite until a time of ease and prosperity. And it is better for you that you be charitable, if you had been knowing.
T.B.Irving   
If any debtor suffers hardship, then postpone [repaying] it until conditions become easier [for him]; while if you treat it as an act of charity, would be better for you, if you only knew!
Abdul Hye   
And if the debtor is in difficulty to pay (has no money), then delay until it is easy to repay. But if you remit it by way of charity that is better for you if you know.
The Study Quran   
And if one is in difficult circumstances, let there be a respite until there is ease, and it is better for you to give [it] as charity, if you but knew
Talal Itani & AI (2024)   
If he is in difficulty, grant a postponement until a time of ease. But if you remit it as a charity, it would be better for you—if only you knew.
Talal Itani (2012)   
But if he is in hardship, then deferment until a time of ease. But to remit it as charity is better for you, if you only knew
Dr. Kamal Omar   
And if (the debtor) is in economic difficulties, then, respite (is his right) till he attains an easy state (to repay). And if you remit it by way of Sadaqa — it would be better for you if you have knowledge
M. Farook Malik   
If the debtor is in a difficulty, grant him time till it is easy for him to repay; but if you waive the sum by way of charity it will be better for you, if you understand it
Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali   
And in case any person is under difficulty, then he should (be granted) a respite to (the time of) ease; and that you donate (alms) is more charitable (i.e. more beneficial) for you, in case you know
Muhammad Sarwar   
One who faces hardship in paying his debts must be given time until his financial condition improves. Would that you knew that waiving such a loan as charity would be better for you
Muhammad Taqi Usmani   
If there is one in misery, then (the creditor should allow) deferment till (his) ease, and that you forgo it as alms is much better for you, if you really know
Shabbir Ahmed   
If a debtor is in difficult circumstances, let there be postponement to a time of ease. And if you give up the loan entirely as charity, it is better for you if you did but know
Dr. Munir Munshey   
Grant a delay (to the debtor) if he is up against hard time, until his (financial) situation eases. To waive the debt by way of charity would be better for you, if only you knew
Syed Vickar Ahamed   
And if the debtor is in difficulty, give him time till it is easy for him to repay. But if you forgive it (the debt) by the way of charity, that is best for you, if you only knew
Umm Muhammad (Sahih International)   
And if someone is in hardship, then [let there be] postponement until [a time of] ease. But if you give [from your right as] charity, then it is better for you, if you only knew
[The Monotheist Group] (2011 Edition)   
If the person is facing insolvency, then you shall wait until he becomes able. And if you relinquish it as a charity it is better for you if you knew
Abdel Haleem   
If the debtor is in difficulty, then delay things until matters become easier for him; still, if you were to write it off as an act of charity, that would be better for you, if only you knew
Abdul Majid Daryabadi   
And if one be in difficulties, then let there be and deferment until easiness. But if ye forego, it were better for you if ye knew
Ahmed Ali   
If a debtor is in want, give him time until his circumstances improve; but if you forego (the debt) as charity, that will be to your good, if you really understand
Aisha Bewley   
If someone is in difficult circumstances, there should be a deferral until things are easier. But making a free gift of it would be better for you if you only knew.
Ali Ünal   
If the debtor is in straitened circumstances, let him have respite until the time of ease; if you make any remission (of his debt) by way of charity, this is better for you, if only you knew
Ali Quli Qara'i   
And if [the debtor] is in straits, let there be a respite until the time of ease; and if you remit [the debt] as charity, it will be better for you, should you know
Hamid S. Aziz   
And if a debtor be in difficulties, then wait for easier circumstances; but to remit the debt as alms is better for you, if you did but know
Ali Bakhtiari Nejad   
And if he (the debtor) is having difficulty (financially or otherwise) then postpone it until it is easy (for him to repay), and if you are charitable (and forgive the loan) it is better for you if you know.
A.L. Bilal Muhammad et al (2018)   
If the debtor is in difficulty, grant him time until it is easy for him to repay. But if you forgive it as a charity, that is best for you if you only knew
Musharraf Hussain   
If the debtoris in difficulty, allow him time to repay when it is easier for him, but to write off the debt out of charity would be better for you, if only you knew.
Maududi   
If your debtor be in straitened circumstances, give him time till his monetary condition becomes better. But if you remit the debt by way of charity, it would be better for you, if you only knew it
[The Monotheist Group] (2013 Edition)   
If the person is facing insolvency, then you shall wait until he becomes able. And if you relinquish it as a charity it is better for you if only you knew.
Mohammad Shafi   
And if it is a case of a person in straitened circumstances, let there be a deferment to a convenient time. And to forgo, as charity, is better for you, if you do understand.

Controversial or status undetermined works
Ahmed Raza Khan (Barelvi)   
And if the debtor is a man in hardship then give him time till it is easy, and to remit the debt fully is better for you if you know.
Rashad Khalifa   
If the debtor is unable to pay, wait for a better time. If you give up the loan as a charity, it would be better for you, if you only knew.
Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah   
If he should be in hardship, then a postponement until ease; while if you give charity it is better for you if you know
Maulana Muhammad Ali   
And if (the debtor) is in straitness, let there be postponement till (he is in) ease. And that you remit (it) as alms is better for you, if you only knew
Muhammad Ahmed & Samira   
And if he was of a hardship/poverty , so a consideration/glance to an easiness/prosperity , and that (E) you give charity (forgive the loan), (it is) best/better for you if you were knowing
Bijan Moeinian   
It will be nice of you to give extra time to someone who owes you money and faces financial difficulties in repaying his debt. If you write off such loan as charity, it will be much better for you, if you only knew
Faridul Haque   
And if the debtor is in difficulty, give him respite till the time of ease; and your foregoing the entire debt from him is still better for you, if only you realise
Sher Ali   
And if the debtor be in straitened circumstances, then grant him respite till a time of ease. And that you remit it as charity shall be better for you, if you only knew
Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri   
And if a debtor is under financial stress, he should be given respite till he feels at ease to pay. And your forgoing (the loan) is better for you if you know (what significance it has in the sight of Allah to console the poor)
Amatul Rahman Omar   
If any (debtor) be in straitened circumstances there shall be respite (for him) till (his circumstances) ease. But that if you remit (the debt) by way of charity (for the sake of God), it is better for you, if you only knew
Muhsin Khan & Muhammad al-Hilali   
And if the debtor is in a hard time (has no money), then grant him time till it is easy for him to repay, but if you remit it by way of charity, that is better for you if you did but know

Non-Muslim and/or Orientalist works
Arthur John Arberry   
And if any man should be in difficulties, let him have respite till things are easier; but that you should give freewill offerings is better for you, did you but know
George Sale   
If there be an debtor under a difficulty of paying his debt, let his creditor wait till it be easy for him to do it; but if ye remit it as alms, it will be better for you, if ye knew it
Edward Henry Palmer   
And if it be one in difficulties, then wait for easy circumstances; but that ye remit it as alms is better for you, if ye did but know
John Medows Rodwell   
If any one find difficulty in discharging a debt, then let there be a delay until it be easy for him: but if ye remit it as alms it will be better for you, if ye knew it
N J Dawood (2014)   
If your debtor be in straits, grant him a delay until he can discharge his debt; but if you waive the sum as alms it will be better for you, if you but knew it

New, Partial, or In Progress Translations
Fode Drame   
But if the one [in debt] is hard-up, then let there be respite [for him] till the time of ease but if you remit it as charity, that is better for you if you indeed know.
Munir Mezyed   
If it happens that the debtor is in difficulties of paying his debt, let him have respite till things are easier. But if you remit it as alms, it will be better for you, if you but knew.
Sahib Mustaqim Bleher   
And if someone is in hardship then wait until he is at ease, and if you give charity it is better for you if you knew.
Linda “iLHam” Barto   
If the debtor is in [financial] difficulty, give a break until things get easier. If you remit [the debt] as an act of charity, that is better for you, if you realize it.
Fadel Soliman, Bridges‘ Translation   
But if he has hardship, then deferment until a time of ease. But to donate it is better for youpl, if you only knew.
Irving & Mohamed Hegab   
If any debtor suffers hardship, then postpone [repaying] it until conditions become easier [for him]; while if you treat it as an act of charity, would be better for you, if you only knew!
Samy Mahdy   
And if he (the debtor) has a difficulty, so a glance toward an ease. And if you give alms, it is goodness for you, if you were knowing.
Ahmed Hulusi   
If (the indebted) is in financial hardship, then grant them respite until a time of ease. If you write it off as an act of charity, it will be better for you, if only you knew.
Sayyed Abbas Sadr-Ameli   
And if (the debtor) is in straitness, then grant a respite until the time of ease; and if you remit it as charity it is better for you, if you but know
Al-muntakhab fi tafsir al-Qur‘an al-Karim   
And if the debtor experiences difficulty or is in a pecuniary situation, then give him respite until he is at ease and is able to return the debt. And if you are able to cancel the debt or a part thereof in benevolence, you shall merit the grace of Allah, if you only knew
Mir Aneesuddin   
And if (the debtor) is in difficulty, then wait till it is easy (for him to pay back your loan) and if you (convert) it as charity, it will be better for you if you knew.

Obsolete and/or older editions
Yusuf Ali (Orig. 1938)   
If the debtor is in a difficulty, grant him time Till it is easy for him to repay. But if ye remit it by way of charity, that is best for you if ye only knew
OLD Literal Word for Word   
And if is the (debtor) in difficulty, then postponement until ease. And if you remit as charity (it is) better for you. If you know
OLD Transliteration   
Wa-in kana thoo AAusratin fanathiratun ila maysaratin waan tasaddaqoo khayrun lakum in kuntum taAAlamoona