"Do you know who the bankrupt is?" They said: "O Messenger of Allah SAW! The bankrupt among us is the one who has no Dirham nor property." The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said: "The bankrupt in my Ummah is the one who comes with Salat and fasting and Zakat on the Day of Judgement, but he comes having abused this one, falsely accusing that one, wrongfully consuming the wealth of this one, spilling the blood of that one, and beating this one. So he is seated, and this one is requited from his rewards. If his rewards are exhausted before the sins that he committed are requited, then some of their sins will be taken and cast upon him, then he will be cast into the Fire." [Abu 'Eisa said:] This Hadith isHasan Sahih.
Hadith Commentary: The True Meaning of Bankruptcy
From "Chapters on the description of the Day of Judgement, Ar-Riqaq, and Al-Wara'" in Jami' at-Tirmidhi, Hadith 2418. This profound narration redefines spiritual bankruptcy, shifting focus from material poverty to the depletion of good deeds through violations of others' rights.
The Companions' Initial Understanding
The Sahaba understood bankruptcy in worldly terms - as one lacking wealth and property. This reflects the natural human tendency to measure worth through material possessions.
The Prophet's Profound Correction
The Messenger (saw) reveals that true bankruptcy occurs when one arrives on Judgment Day with abundant worship (prayer, fasting, charity) but having violated others' rights through slander, false accusation, wealth consumption, bloodshed, and physical harm.
The Divine Accounting Process
On Judgment Day, the wronged individuals will receive compensation from the bankrupt person's good deeds. If his deeds are exhausted before all debts are settled, the victims' sins are transferred to him, leading to his entry into Hellfire despite his apparent worship.
Scholarly Verification
Imam Tirmidhi authenticated this hadith as "Hasan Sahih," indicating its sound chain of transmission and reliable content, making it a foundational text for understanding interpersonal ethics in Islam.
Spiritual Implications
This hadith emphasizes that worship alone cannot compensate for violating human rights. It teaches that true faith requires maintaining both vertical (God-human) and horizontal (human-human) relationships with integrity and justice.