Paying Off Debts

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Many people take debts lightly. They spend beyond their means and they don't mind getting into debt. Some of these people, if they can get away from paying their debts, they would. This is a bad attitude and a bad character.

Allah Almighty says,

إِنَّ اللَّـهَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَن تُؤَدُّوا الْأَمَانَاتِ إِلَىٰ أَهْلِهَا وَإِذَا حَكَمْتُم بَيْنَ النَّاسِ أَن تَحْكُمُوا بِالْعَدْلِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ نِعِمَّا يَعِظُكُم بِهِ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ كَانَ سَمِيعًا بَصِيرًا

Allah commands you to return to their owners the things you hold on trust and, when you judge between people, to judge with justice. How excellent is what Allah exhorts you to do! Allah is All-Hearing, All-Seeing.

[Qur'an An-Nisa 4:58]

It is related that Aisha reported that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) used to make supplication in the prayer:

"O Allah, I seek refuge with You from wrong action and debt." Someone remarked to him, "How often you seek refuge from debt, Messenger of Allah!" He said, "When a man is in debt, when he speaks, he lies and when he makes a promise, he breaks it."

There are serious consequences for not paying your debts. The debt collector is not that big a deal when you compare to the torment of the Hereafter.

Narrated by Abu Qatadah:

The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) stood up amongst his companions to deliver his sermon, in which he (Allah bless him and grant him peace) told them that Jihad in the Cause of Allah and belief in Allah (with all His Attributes) were the most meritorious of acts. A man stood up and said: ‘O Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace), do you think that if I am killed in the Cause of Allah, (all) my sins will be blotted out from me?” The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: ‘Yes, if you were patient and sincere, and always fought facing the enemy, never turning your back upon him, (all your sins shall be forgiven) except debt.’

[Muslim]

Narrated by Amr ibn al-'As

The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: ‘All the sins of a martyr in the Cause of Allah are forgiven, except debt.

[Muslim]

Such is the sanctity of the honoring of one’s debts in Islam that the Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said that Allah might forgive all the sins of a believer, except their unpaid debts….even for the martyr who gave his life for the Cause of Allah.

Salamah reported:

A bier was brought to the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) that he may say funeral prayers over it. He said "Was he in debt?" They said, No. So he said prayers over it. Another bier was brought to him and he said: "Was he in debt?" They said, Yes. He said "Say prayers over your companion." Abu Qatadah said, I will pay his debt, O Messenger of Allāh! So he said funeral prayers over it.

If you ever have to borrow, make the intention to pay it back, rush to pay it back and ask Allah to help you pay the debt.

It is related from Abu Hurayra that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said,

If I had the equivalent of Uhud in gold, I would not be happy for three days to pass with any of it still in my possession except for something I might keep to pay off a debt.

Narrated Abu Hurayra:

It is related from Abu Hurayra that the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace), said, "If someone takes people's property intending to repay it, Allah will repay it for him, and if someone takes it intending to destroy it, Allah will destroy him.

When you pay your debts, don't do it grudgingly. Pay it in the most handsome manner.

Narrated Abu Hurayra:

A man came to the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) and demanded a camel (the Prophet owed him). Allah's Apostle told his companions to give him (a camel). They said, "We do not find except an older camel (than what he demands). (The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) ordered them to give him that camel). The man said, "You have paid me in full and may Allah also pay you in full." Allah's Apostle (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, "Give him, for the best amongst the people is he who repays his debts in the most handsome manner."

It is related that Jabir ibn 'Abdullah said,

"I came to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, while he was in the mosque. (Mis'ar said, 'I think that he said, 'in the forenoon') He said, 'Pray two rak'at.' He owed me for a debt which he paid me, giving me extra."

We ask Allah to protect us from sins and debts. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam