A person met his Lord (after death) and He said: What (good) did you do? He said: I did no good except this that I was a rich man, and I demanded from the people (the repayment of debt that I advanced to them). I, however, accepted that which the solvent gave and remitted (the debt) of the insolvent, whereupon He (the Lord) said: You should ignore (the faults) of My servant. Abu Mas'ud (Allah be pleased with him) said: This is what I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying.
The Book of Musaqah - Sahih Muslim 1560b
A person met his Lord (after death) and He said: What (good) did you do? He said: I did no good except this that I was a rich man, and I demanded from the people (the repayment of debt that I advanced to them). I, however, accepted that which the solvent gave and remitted (the debt) of the insolvent, whereupon He (the Lord) said: You should ignore (the faults) of My servant.
Scholarly Commentary
This noble hadith from Sahih Muslim demonstrates Allah's immense mercy toward those who show compassion in financial dealings. The creditor's actions embody the Islamic principle of leniency in debt collection, which is highly meritorious.
The phrase "I accepted that which the solvent gave" indicates proper fulfillment of contractual obligations from those capable of payment, maintaining justice in transactions. "Remitted the debt of the insolvent" shows extraordinary compassion, going beyond what is legally required to what is spiritually superior.
Allah's response "You should ignore the faults of My servant" reveals the divine principle of reciprocal treatment - as the creditor showed mercy in worldly affairs, Allah shows him mercy in the hereafter. This mirrors the Prophet's teaching that "Those who are merciful will be shown mercy by the Most Merciful."
This hadith encourages Muslims to balance their rights with compassion, particularly in financial matters, reminding us that worldly transactions have profound spiritual consequences in the hereafter.