A person from people who lived before you was called to account (by Allah at the Day of Judgment) and no good was found in his account except this that lie being a rich man had (financial) dealings with people and had commanded his servants to show leniency to the straitened ones. Upon this Allah, the Exalted and Majestic, said: We have more right to this, so overlook (his faults).
The Book of Musaqah - Sahih Muslim 1561
This narration from Sahih Muslim presents a profound lesson regarding divine mercy and the virtue of financial leniency. The scholars explain that this hadith demonstrates how a single righteous action can outweigh numerous shortcomings when performed with sincerity.
Scholarly Commentary
Imam An-Nawawi comments that this hadith illustrates the immense merit of treating debtors with compassion and easing their burden. The phrase "show leniency to the straitened ones" refers to granting extensions or reducing debts for those experiencing genuine hardship.
Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali elaborates that Allah's statement "We have more right to this" signifies that showing mercy to creation is an act that particularly pleases the Most Merciful, and He rewards it abundantly despite other deficiencies in one's record.
Classical scholars emphasize that this narrative encourages Muslims to embody Allah's attributes of mercy in their financial dealings, particularly through musaqah (sharecropping) and other business transactions, making compassion a fundamental principle in economic relationships.
Practical Implications
This teaching establishes that financial leniency is not merely recommended but can serve as redemption on the Day of Judgment. The scholars derive that consistent small acts of mercy in business dealings may secure divine forgiveness for greater sins.
The hadith also demonstrates Allah's boundless mercy and how He magnifies even minor good deeds when performed with pure intention, offering hope to all believers regardless of their past shortcomings.