Negative commandment · Lo Ta’aseh #241 of 613
Not to take security from a widow
שלא למשכן האלמנה
The verse · Devarim 24:17
לֹא תַטֶּה מִשְׁפַּט גֵּר יָתוֹם וְלֹא תַחֲבֹל בֶּגֶד אַלְמָנָה
“Thou shalt not pervert the judgment of the stranger, or of the fatherless; nor take a widow’s garment as a pledge:”
The Rambam’s words
Not to take security from a widow, as [Deuteronomy 24:17] states: "Do not take a widow's garment as security."
שלא למשכן האלמנה, שנאמר "ולא תחבול בגד אלמנה" (דברים כד, יז).
Why · Sefer HaChinuch #591
To not take the garment of a widow as surety
“It is from the roots of the commandment that G-d was concerned about his creatures and wanted to give us merit to acquire the trait of mercy for ourselves; and [so,] He commanded us that we should pity the widow — as her heart is broken and worried — and not take surety from her.”
Who & when
“And this prohibition is practiced in every place and at all times by males and females.”
Where in the Mishneh Torah
Hilchot Creditor and Debtor הלכות מלווה ולווה