Honoring Financial Rights: Lessons on Debt, Generosity, and Repayment

Fulfilling the Rights of Others: Lessons from Debt, Generosity, and Justice

Every single day a person delays in paying back a debt, the creditor won't increase the interest — yet he ends up paying more and more. And from the debtor's side, the most hated person in his eyes is the creditor, because every time he sees him he is reminded: "I owe that individual money, I have to pay that person back." So the debtor is always worried, always concerned about his own state of affairs — how am I going to pay this person back? And the creditor is also always concerned: how can I ensure that I receive my money back?

Now if you look at it from an Islamic perspective, if you look at it through what the hadith of Rasulullah ﷺ mentioned, then you see a completely and totally different perspective. Yes, we are taught that what you are owed, you are owed — it is your right to go and to seek the money back. But look at how the Prophet ﷺ addresses the issue in various hadiths.

The Creditor: Giving Respite

Nabi ﷺ, addressing the creditor, says:

(Sahih Muslim, Hadith 3006)

That individual who is owed money but will give that person respite — he will be understanding, he'll be flexible: "I know I'm owed this money, this is my right, I have every right to go after the debtor and to seek my haqq back, but I also realize that this individual perhaps is going through some difficulty, is going through some financial burden, perhaps he lost his job, he needs a little bit of time." So he gives him some respite. Such an individual — what does Rasulullah ﷺ mention about him? Allah will give him shade on the Day of Qiyamah. Just like he shaded his brother, gave his brother some extra time, Allah will shade him, Allah will give him respite on the Day of Qiyamah.

The Debtor: Prompt Repayment

Now, looking at it from the debtor's side — Nabi ﷺ, addressing that individual who owes money, said:

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 2400; Sahih Muslim, Hadith 3902)

That you have the ability to pay up — you must pay up. It is mandatory upon you that you have to return that money, and if you don't do so, if you delay in giving back that money despite you being able to do so, then this is a form of oppression.

And yet Nabi ﷺ mentions in another hadith:

(Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1886)

Again addressing the debtor — that a person who passes away as a shaheed. Imagine an individual who gives everything, sacrifices everything for the sake of Allah — sacrifices his wealth, his time, his energy, his strength, gives his life for the sake of Allah. Such an individual — we know his fadha'il, his virtues:

"And do not think those who are killed in the way of Allah are dead — rather they are alive with their Lord, being provided for. Rejoicing in what Allah has given them." So many different fadha'il are mentioned about the shuhada, about the martyrs — but yet Nabi ﷺ, to draw our attention to how important it is for that person who is owing others money to pay back, says that this individual — this shaheed who gives his life for Allah — even for him, everything will be forgiven but one thing which will not be forgiven: debt.

So when addressing the creditor, Nabi ﷺ is telling him: be lenient, give the person a little bit more time. But when addressing the debtor, Nabi ﷺ is giving him targheeb, is telling him to be more prompt in his payments, to ensure that he pays it off — for delaying is a form of oppression, and passing away without paying it will result in a person being deprived or having to pay back on the Day of Qiyamah.

Looking at the Rights of Others

So you see how the Prophet ﷺ addresses it from both angles. And this is something that you will see consistently throughout our deen — time and again we are taught to look at the rights of others. It's not always about how can I get my own rights back, but sometimes we have to take a step back and understand how the other person feels. The creditor has to understand how the debtor feels; the debtor has to understand how the creditor feels.

You look at a student and teacher relationship — the student shouldn't be reading the etiquettes of a teacher and then say, "My teacher doesn't do this, this, and this — it says here ten etiquettes of a teacher and my teacher is supposed to be doing this but he doesn't." No. A student is supposed to be looking at: what are the etiquettes of a student and how should I behave in front of my teacher? And a teacher should be looking at the etiquettes of the student — how should I deal with my students? A father and mother should be looking at: what are the rights that my children have upon me? And a child should be looking at: what are the rights that my parents have upon me?

And when each one looks at the rights of the other individual and tries to fulfill those rights — what will happen? You will have such a peaceful society, a society where everyone is striving to make the other person happy, to bring a smile to the other person's face. It's not all about me, myself — but rather it's about the other individual, about those around me. How can I bring joy, comfort, and happiness to them?

Lessons from the Lives of the Sahaba

Ka'b ibn 'Amr (Abu al-Yusr): Forgiving a Debt

Let's look at a few incidents from the lives of the Sahaba رضي الله عنهم in this regard. There was a Sahabi by the name of Ka'b ibn 'Amr رضي الله عنه — his kunya was Abu al-Yusr. He was from amongst those who participated in the Battle of Badr with the Prophet ﷺ.

On one occasion, he had lent somebody some money and then went to that person's house to collect it — the due date had come, so he was going to go and seek his haqq, his right. When he got to the house, the servant came out and he asked: "Is so-and-so at home? I need to speak to him." That individual recognized that this is Ka'b ibn 'Amr رضي الله عنه — I owe him money, he's come to collect it. So he told the servant: أَنَا سَتُ فِي الْبَيْتِ — "I'm not at home right now, go tell him that," hoping he would leave and not seek his right.

But in those days the houses were not so big, so Ka'b ibn 'Amr رضي الله عنه heard that statement — he heard him telling the servant to say he wasn't at home. So when the servant came back, Ka'b ibn 'Amr رضي الله عنه said:

"Come out — I heard your voice. I heard you telling the servant to tell me you weren't at home." So he came out, and Ka'b ibn 'Amr رضي الله عنه asked him: أَمَا حَمَلَكَ عَلَى مَا صَنَعْتَ — "Why did you do this? Why did you lie to me? You knew you were at home, why did you tell the servant to tell me you weren't?"

He responded: "I swear by Allah, I'm in a lot of difficulty and right now I simply don't have the means to pay back the debt. I recognize that I'm owing you this money, but I just don't have the ability to pay back right now."

Ka'b ibn 'Amr رضي الله عنه asked him: "I ask you in the name of Allah — is this really the condition? Are you really struggling financially?" He said: "I swear by Allah, I'm in a very difficult situation, I can't pay you back right now." He asked him a second time — again he responded: "I swear by Allah, this is the condition." A third time he asked again, and again he responded: "I swear by Allah, I want to pay you back but I don't have the ability, I don't have the means right now."

So Ka'b ibn 'Amr رضي الله عنه — look at his generosity, look at his good character, look at his ihsan — he said:

"Whatever you are owing me — I have converted it. It is now a gift for you." In other words: I have completely and totally forgiven that debt. Whatever money you are owing me — take it, keep it, it's yours now. You don't have to repay me.

That individual was shocked: "You came to seek your money back, and now you're leaving without taking anything, and you're just forgiving it completely? How is this possible? How did you master the courage to make such a statement?"

He said: "I heard from Rasulullah ﷺ saying that that individual who gives respite to others — he is owed money by others but gives them respite — Allah will grant him shade on the Day of Qiyamah, on the day when there will be no shade. Allah will grant him shade." Because of this hadith of the Prophet ﷺ, I have completely and totally forgiven you.

Jarir ibn 'Abdullah: Welcoming the Zakat Collectors

There was a Sahabi by the name of Jarir ibn 'Abdullah رضي الله عنه. Nabi ﷺ had addressed the Sahaba رضي الله عنهم on multiple occasions and had told them:

(Sunan Abu Dawud, Hadith 2929)

"People will come to you — zakat collectors will come to you — and they will come to take your zakat, and they may not be in a very good mood." Why? Because they're going around and people are trying to employ all types of tricks, all types of escape routes to get out of having to pay zakat. So these zakat collectors are going from house to house, from town to town, trying to collect people's zakat, and people are trying to run away, trying to hide their wealth, making the job of the zakat collector extremely difficult.

So the Prophet ﷺ told the Sahaba رضي الله عنهم and the ummah: "When they come to you, just welcome them, show them some kindness, make their job easy for them, don't make things difficult. If they are just in what they do and take the correct amount of zakat from you, then they will be rewarded by Allah. But if they oppress you and take more than what they are supposed to, then it will be upon them — they will be held liable in the court of Allah."

So Jarir ibn 'Abdullah رضي الله عنه stood up — this narration is in Sunan Abu Dawud — and asked the Prophet ﷺ: "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ — I understand if these zakat collectors are being just in the job they are doing, then a hundred percent we will give them the wealth that we owe. But if they are oppressing us, then why should we give over? Why should we hand over the wealth? Why can't we stand up and claim our rights?"

The Prophet ﷺ is teaching the Sahaba رضي الله عنهم a higher level of ihsan: "Yes, you can seek your right back, you can refuse to pay the excess — but the higher road is to just give it over. Those few extra dollars — just give it over to them, make them happy, let them leave with a smile."

He asked again: "Even if they are oppressing us, we should still treat them nicely?" The Prophet ﷺ said: "Even if they oppress you, still strive to make them happy."

Jarir رضي الله عنه says: "From that day on, whoever came to collect zakat from me — regardless of whether what he asked was just or unjust — I always gave him the full amount, because of these words of the Prophet ﷺ."

This is the beautiful teaching we see throughout the ahadith of the Prophet ﷺ — rising beyond. Yes, we have our set of rights, but to rise beyond and to look at the rights of others. It's not just about me — it's about everyone around me also.

They say in the world you have two types of individuals: the takers and the givers. Those who take — they eat better. And those who give — they sleep better. That individual who is generous, who is always trying to bring a smile to other people's faces — don't you think that Allah will bring a smile to his face also? Don't you think that just as he is trying to bring happiness to other people, Allah will make him happy also?

Jarir ibn 'Abdullah: Overpaying for a Horse

Speaking of Jarir ibn 'Abdullah رضي الله عنه, another incident comes to mind. Once he purchased a horse from an individual for 400 dirhams. After he purchased the horse and left, he had a second thought: "This horse is actually worth more than 400 dirhams. I know I bought it for 400, we concluded the sale, the sale was completely valid — it was ja'iz according to the Shari'ah, there's no problem — but I have this feeling within myself that this horse is actually worth more, it has greater value."

So he went back and offered the seller more money: "I know I bought it from you for 400 — can you sell it to me for 500?" "Of course, I'll happily take the extra hundred." Then again he thought: "No, actually it's worth more than 500 — can you sell it to me for 600?" "Of course, give me the extra 200." And he kept going up until finally they settled at 800.

The seller was shocked. Normally the buyer is always trying to negotiate downwards, but Jarir رضي الله عنه was negotiating upwards. He said: "If you don't mind — can I ask why did you do this? You could have taken it for 400 but instead you've paid me 800 for the same horse."

He said: "I pledged to the Prophet ﷺ that I would be a well-wisher for every single believer. Hence I could not shortchange you. I felt in my heart that this horse was worth more than 400 — I had to pay you the full amount. I didn't have to do that, but because of that pledge that I gave to the Prophet ﷺ, I decided to take the higher route."

Patience and Discharging the Rights of Others

Nabi ﷺ mentions in a hadith:

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 3792; Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1845)

"After me, you will see a time when preference will be given to others over you. A parent will not receive his rights, a child will not receive his rights, a teacher will not receive his rights, a student will not receive his rights — people will not be fulfilling their rights to one another."

The Sahaba رضي الله عنهم asked a brilliant question: "What should we do in that era — when we see preference being given to others over ourselves, when we see our rights being snatched away from us? What should we do, O Messenger of Allah ﷺ?"

He ﷺ said:

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 3792; Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1845)

"You discharge the rights that are due upon you — whatever you are owing other people, make sure you fulfill that. And whatever you are owed by other individuals, then seek that from Allah." The Day of Recompense is coming — the Day of Justice — when everyone will get their rights back from Allah. Those who forgive, those who discharge, those who give up those rights for the sake of Allah — Allah will recompense them from His own side.

But for this world, the Prophet ﷺ is encouraging the Sahaba رضي الله عنهم and the entire ummah to just remain patient. You fulfill what you are entrusted with — whatever rights you owe other individuals, make sure you discharge them. The rest — leave it in the hands of Allah.

The Ansar: A Timeless Example

The Prophet ﷺ said to the Ansar, and I conclude with this:

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 3792)

"O my Ansar — after me I know you sacrificed everything for me. I know you opened up your homes, gave your wealth, spent everything on the Muhajirun. But after I pass away, you will see a time when other people will be given preference over you — you will not receive your rights first. Just remain patient, O my Ansar, and meet me at my Hawd on the Day of Qiyamah."

Hence, when we see our beloved Nabi ﷺ on the Day of Qiyamah — as he will be giving people water to drink from the Hawd — you will see the entire jama'ah, the entire group of the Ansar رضي الله عنهم. What gained them that sharaf and that honor? It was the fact that they discharged their rights — they gave whatever they owed to others, and whatever was left for them, they didn't run after it. Rather, they forgave. They let it go. And hence they received that sharaf.

Insha'Allah, if we do the same — that we are always very particular in discharging other people's rights, and as far as our own rights are concerned, we let it go, we forgive others — then insha'Allah we too will be able to join with the jama'ah, with the group of the Ansar, with the Prophet ﷺ at the blessed Hawd on the Day of Qiyamah.

May Allah grant us the tawfiq. Ameen, ya Rabbal 'Alamin.

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