Sunan Abi Dawud
Sunan Abi Dawud 3343
Regarding The Stern Warning About Debt
Arabic hadith text
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُتَوَكِّلِ الْعَسْقَلاَنِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ جَابِرٍ، قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلملاَ يُصَلِّي عَلَى رَجُلٍ مَاتَ وَعَلَيْهِ دَيْنٌ فَأُتِيَ بِمَيِّتٍ فَقَالَ " أَعَلَيْهِ دَيْنٌ " . قَالُوا نَعَمْ دِينَارَانِ . قَالَ " صَلُّوا عَلَى صَاحِبِكُمْ " . فَقَالَ أَبُو قَتَادَةَ الأَنْصَارِيُّ هُمَا عَلَىَّ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ . قَالَ فَصَلَّى عَلَيْهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَلَمَّا فَتَحَ اللَّهُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " أَنَا أَوْلَى بِكُلِّ مُؤْمِنٍ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ فَمَنْ تَرَكَ دَيْنًا فَعَلَىَّ قَضَاؤُهُ وَمَنْ تَرَكَ مَالاً فَلِوَرَثَتِهِ " .
Translation
Narrated Jabir ibn Abdullah
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used not to pray over a man who died while there was a debt upon him. Then a deceased person was brought and he asked, 'Is there any debt upon him?' They said, 'Yes, two dinars.' He said, 'Pray over your companion.' Abu Qatadah al-Ansari said, 'They are upon me, O Messenger of Allah.' So the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prayed over him. When Allah opened [conquests] to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), he said, 'I am closer to every believer than his own self, so whoever leaves a debt, its payment is upon me, and whoever leaves wealth, it is for his heirs.'
Hadith Text & Context
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) would not say funeral prayer over a person who died while the debt was due from him. A dead Muslim was brought to him and he asked: Is there any debt due from him? They (the people) said: Yes, two dirhams. He said: Pray yourselves over your companion. Then Abu Qatadah al-Ansari said: I shall pay them, Messenger of Allah. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) then prayed over him. When Allah granted conquests to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), he said: I am nearer to every believer than himself, so if anyone (dies and) leaves a debt, I shall be responsible for paying it; and if anyone leaves property, it goes to his heirs.
Scholarly Commentary
This hadith from Sunan Abi Dawud 3343 establishes the gravity of financial obligations in Islam. The Prophet's refusal to pray over indebted deceased demonstrates that unresolved debts create a spiritual barrier requiring settlement before divine mercy can be fully sought.
The two dirhams - though small - represent the principle that no debt is insignificant before Allah. Abu Qatadah's intervention exemplifies the communal responsibility Muslims bear toward one another's spiritual welfare, making this a collective religious duty (fard kifayah).
Legal Rulings (Ahkam)
Scholars derive that debts take precedence over inheritance distribution - creditors must be satisfied before heirs receive their shares. The final portion indicates the Islamic state's responsibility toward indebted deceased when no heirs exist, establishing the Bayt al-Mal (public treasury) as the ultimate guarantor.
This ruling applies specifically to obligatory prayers (like funeral prayer) while recommended prayers may still be offered. The prohibition serves as exhortation rather than absolute restriction, as evidenced by the Prophet praying after debt assumption.
Spiritual Dimensions
The hadith teaches that financial integrity forms part of one's spiritual record. Unfulfilled worldly obligations may hinder the soul's journey in the hereafter. The Prophet's statement "I am nearer to every believer" illustrates the comprehensive nature of Islamic brotherhood, encompassing both spiritual and material welfare.
This tradition emphasizes that true piety includes honest financial dealings, making economic justice inseparable from worship. The Muslim community functions as an integrated body where members assume responsibility for one another's shortcomings.