I am hard up financially, whereupon he said: (Do you state it) by God? He said: By God. Upon this he (Qatada) said: I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: He who loves that Allah saves him from the torments of the Day of Resurrection should give respite to the insolvent or remit (his debt).
The Book of Musaqah - Sahih Muslim 1563a
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. This noble hadith from the Sahih of Imam Muslim addresses the virtue of dealing compassionately with debtors in financial hardship.
Textual Analysis
The narration begins with a man's sworn testimony of his financial distress, indicating the seriousness of his condition. The response from Qatada ibn Nu'man demonstrates the Islamic emphasis on verifying claims while maintaining compassion.
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) then reveals the profound spiritual reward for such compassion: divine protection from the horrors of Judgment Day for those who show mercy to indebted persons.
Legal and Spiritual Dimensions
Scholars explain that "giving respite" (al-nazir) means extending the repayment period for the debtor, while "remitting" (al-wada') refers to forgiving part or all of the debt.
This hadith establishes that showing mercy to debtors is not merely recommended but carries immense spiritual weight - serving as protection from the greatest fear of every believer: the punishment of the Hereafter.
Practical Application
The scholars of fiqh derived from this that creditors should investigate the genuine hardship of debtors and respond with either延期 or forgiveness according to their capacity.
This teaching reflects the comprehensive mercy of Islamic law, balancing the rights of creditors with the needs of debtors, and elevating economic transactions to acts of worship when performed with piety and compassion.