«وَإِعْنَاتُ الْمُعْذِرِ مَلَامَةٌ وَحَبْسُ الْمُعْسِرِ مَأْثَمَةٌ»
Burdening someone with a genuine excuse is blameworthy; imprisoning a destitute debtor is characterized as sinful.
The judge sets genuine excuse and poverty against oppressive treatment. The pairing malāmah/maʾthamah intensifies the warning, while its application remains tied to the specific situation before him.
After competing accounts, the judicial response moves toward mercy and relief. The statement should not be treated as an exhaustive legal code; its narrative function is to redirect the resolution toward compassion.
Applied question
Which conduct does the judge condemn?