A servant from amongst the servants of Allah was brought to Him whom Allah had endowed with riches. He (Allah) said to him: What (did you do) in the world? (They cannot conceal anything from Allah) He (the person) said: O my Lord, You endowed me with Your riches. I used to enter into transactions with people. It was my nature to be lenient to (my debtors). I showed leniency to the solvent and gave respite to the insolvent, whereupon Allah said: I have more right than you to do this to connive at My servant. 'Uqba b. 'Amir al-Juhani and Abu Mas'ud said: This is what we heard from Allah's Messenger (ﷺ).
The Book of Musaqah - Sahih Muslim 1560 d
A servant from amongst the servants of Allah was brought to Him whom Allah had endowed with riches. He (Allah) said to him: What (did you do) in the world? (They cannot conceal anything from Allah) He (the person) said: O my Lord, You endowed me with Your riches. I used to enter into transactions with people. It was my nature to be lenient to (my debtors). I showed leniency to the solvent and gave respite to the insolvent, whereupon Allah said: I have more right than you to do this to connive at My servant. 'Uqba b. 'Amir al-Juhani and Abu Mas'ud said: This is what we heard from Allah's Messenger (ﷺ).
Commentary on the Hadith
This noble hadith from Sahih Muslim demonstrates Allah's immense mercy toward those who show mercy to His creation. The servant in question was blessed with wealth and used it in a manner pleasing to Allah by being lenient with debtors.
The phrase "I showed leniency to the solvent and gave respite to the insolvent" indicates comprehensive compassion - easing terms for those who could pay and granting extensions to those in genuine difficulty. This reflects the Islamic principle of mu'amalah (transactions) grounded in rahmah (mercy).
Allah's response "I have more right than you to do this" signifies that divine mercy far exceeds human mercy. When Allah's servant shows compassion to fellow creatures, Allah responds with even greater compassion, overlooking their shortcomings and sins.
This hadith encourages Muslims to embody Allah's attributes of mercy and forgiveness in their financial dealings, particularly in matters of debt, promising immense divine reward for such conduct.
Legal and Ethical Implications
The hadith establishes the superior merit of granting respite (iman) to debtors in difficulty, making it a recommended (mustahabb) act that earns divine pleasure.
Scholars derive from this that creditors should distinguish between willful defaulters and genuine cases, showing flexibility to the latter while maintaining their rights with the former.
This teaching complements the Quranic injunction in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:280): "If the debtor is in difficulty, grant him time until it is easy for him to repay."