There was a person who gave loans to the people and said to his men: When an insolvent comes to you show him leniency that Allah may overlook our (faults). So when he met Allah, He overlooked his faults (forgave him).
The Book of Musaqah - Sahih Muslim 1562a
There was a person who gave loans to the people and said to his men: When an insolvent comes to you show him leniency that Allah may overlook our (faults). So when he met Allah, He overlooked his faults (forgave him).
Commentary on the Hadith
This noble hadith from Sahih Muslim demonstrates the profound mercy and wisdom in dealing with debtors. The lender's instruction to show leniency to insolvent debtors reflects the Islamic principle of compassion in financial dealings.
The spiritual wisdom here is profound: by showing mercy to others in worldly matters, one earns divine mercy for their spiritual shortcomings. This establishes the principle of reciprocal mercy - as you treat others, so shall you be treated by Allah.
The term "insolvent" refers to one genuinely unable to repay due to poverty, not one who willfully avoids payment. Islamic jurisprudence distinguishes between capable debtors who delay payment and those truly incapable.
This teaching aligns with numerous Quranic verses emphasizing forgiveness and kindness in financial matters, particularly Surah Al-Baqarah verse 280 which commands: "If the debtor is in difficulty, grant him time until it is easy for him to repay."
The ultimate reward mentioned - Allah's forgiveness of the lender's faults - shows how worldly compassion translates to eternal salvation. This elevates financial transactions from mere economic exchanges to acts of worship when performed with righteous intention.