The Book of Musaqah

كتاب المساقاة

Chapter 4: It is recommended to waive debts

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (Allah be pleeased with him) reported that in the time of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) a man suffered loss in fruits he had bought and his debt increased; so Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) told (the people) to give him charity and they gave him charity, but that was not enough to pay the debt in full, whereupon Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said to his creditors

" Take what you find, you will have nothing but alms.

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Bukair b. al-Ashajj with the same chain of transmitters.

A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) heard the voices of altercation of two disputants at the door; both the voices were quite loud. The one demanded some remission and desired that the other one should show leniency to him, whereupon the (other one) was saying: By Allah will not do that. Then there came Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) to them and said: Where is he who swears by Allah that he would not do good? He said: Massenger of Allah, it is I. He may do as he desires.

Abdullah b. Ka'ab b. Malik reported from his father that he pressed in the mosque Ibn Abu Hadrad for the payment of the debt that he owed to him during the lifetime of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ). (In this altercation) their voices became loud, until Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) heard them, while he was in the house, so Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) came out towards them, and he lifted the curtain of his apartment and he called upon Ka'b b. Malik and said

O Ka'b. He said: At thy beck and call, Allah's Messenger. He pointed out with the help of his hand to remit half of the loan due to him. Ka'b said: Allah's Messenger, I am ready to do that, whereupon Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said (to Ibn Abu Hadrad): Stand up and make him the payment (of the rest).

The above hadith is narrated through another chain with a slight variation of words at the begining and the rest is of the hadith is the same.

Ka'b b. Malik reported that he made a demand for the payment of the debt that Ibn Abu Hadrad owed to him. This hadith is narrated through another chain of transmitters and (the words are)

" He had to get the loan from Abdullah b. Hadrad al-Aslami. He met him and pressed him for payment. There was an altercation between them, until their voices became loud. There happened to pass by them Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and he said: O Ka'b, and pointed out with his hand in such a way as he meant half. So he got half of what he (Ibn Abu Hadrad) owed to him and remitted the half."

Chapter 5: If a man finds what he sold with the purchaser, who has become bankrupt, then he has the right to take it back

Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying

He who found his property intact with a person (who bought it but who later on) became insolvent (or a person who became insolvent), he (the seller) is entitled to get it more than anyone else. '

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Yahya b. Sa'id with the same chain of transmitters (but with a slight variation of words and these are)" Whenever a man becomes poor."

Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) saying about a person who becomes insolvent and (the thing bought by him) is found intact with him, that belongs to one who sold it.

Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) as saying

When a man becomes insolvent (and the other) man (the seller) finds his commodity intact with him, he is more entitled to get it (than anyone else)

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Qatada with the same chain of transmitters (but with a change of these words)

" He is more entitled to get it than any other creditor."

Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying

When a inan becomes insolvent, and the other person (seller) finds his goods intact with him, he is more entitled to get them than anyone else.

Chapter 6: The virute of giving more time to one who is suffering difficulty, and letting those go who are suffering difficulty and those who are well off

Hudhaifa reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying The angels took away the soul of a person who had lived among people who were before you. They (the angels) said

Did you do anything good? He said: No. they said: Try to recall. He said: I used to lend to people and order my servants to give respite to one in straitened circumstances and give allowance to the solvent, for Allah, the Exalted and Majestic, said (to the angels): You should ignore (his failing).

Hudhaifa reported

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.

Hudhaifa (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) as saying

A person died and he entered Paradise. It was said to him What (act) did you do? (Either he recalled it himself or he was made to recall), he said I used to enter into transactions with people and I gave respite to the insolvent and did not show any strictness in case of accepting a coin or demanding cash payment. (For these acts of his) he was granted pardon. Abu Mas'ud said: I heard this from Allah's Messenger (ﷺ).

Hudhaifa (Allah be pleased with him) reported

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).

Abu Mas'ud (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying

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).

Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying

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).

A hadith like this is narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him).

Abdullah b. Abu Qatada reported that Abu Qatada (Allah be pleased with him) demanded (the payment of his debt) from his debtor but he disappeared; later on he found him and he said

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).