Author: Rahmatullah Rahmani
Fulfilling The Promise (Part Eight)
Among the things that Islam has given importance to is the value of fulfilling debts, particularly the repayment of various loans. In fact, the correct repayment of loans is one of the most important rights in the sight of Allah (SWT). Religion has strongly opposed the temptations of greed that come from delaying and evading payments, as well as the false desires associated with this behavior. It has prohibited and warned debtors against such actions. The first law of Sharia is that it forbids borrowing except in cases of extreme necessity. It is undoubtedly dangerous and wrong for a person to borrow for something they do not need, and it has been narrated that this is one of the sins subject to retribution. «إِنَّ الدَّيْنَ يَقْتَصُّ مِنْ صَاحِبِهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ إِذَا مَاتَ إِلا مَنْ تَدَيَّنَ فِي ثَلاثَ خِلالٍ: اَلرَّجُلُ تَضْعُفُ قُوَّتُهُ فِي سَبِيلِ الله فَيَسْتَدِينُ يَتَّقَوّى بِهِ عَلَى عَدو اللهِ وَعَدُّوه، و رجُلٌ يَمُوتُ عِنْدَهُ مسلم فَلا يَجِدُ ما يُكَفِّنُهُ وَيُوَارِيهِ اِلاّ بِدَيْنِ. وَ رَجُلٌ خَافَ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ الْعُرُوبَةَ، فَيَنْكِحُ خَشْيَةٌ عَلَى دِينِهِ. فَإِنَّ الله يَقْضِي عَنْ هَوْلاءِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ» Translation of Arabic Quotation: “Surely, loans and debts will be taken back from their owners on the Day of Resurrection, if they die and have not paid them back, except for three people who have borrowed for three reasons: First, a man who has lost his financial strength in the way of Allah and takes a loan to gain strength against the enemy of Allah and his own enemy. Second, a man in whose presence a Muslim die, and he does not have the means to bury him unless he takes out a loan. Third, a man who does not have a wife and fears that being single will lead to sin; he marries and takes out a loan out of respect for his religion. If these three people die and fail to repay their loans, Allah will repay them on the Day of Resurrection and satisfy the creditor.” [1]
In another narration, it is stated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: «يَدْعُو اللَّهُ بِصَاحِبِ الدَّيْنِ يَوْمَ القِيَامَةِ حَتَّى يُوقَفَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ. فيقال: يَا ابنَ آدَمَ، فِيمَ أَخَذْتَ هَذَا الدَّيْنَ وَفِيمَ ضَيَّعْتَ حُقُوقَ النَّاسِ؟ فَيَقُول: يَا رَبِّ، إِنَّكَ تَعْلَمُ أَنِّي أَخَذْتُهُ فَلَمْ آكُلْ وَلَمْ أَشْرَبْ، وَلَمْ أَلْبَسْ، وَلَمْ أَضَيَّعْ، وَلَكِنْ أَتَى عَلَيَّ إِمَّا حَرْقٌ وَإِمَّا سَرْقٌ وَإِمَّا وَضِيعَةٌ. فَيَقُولُ اللَّهُ: صَدَقَ عَبْدِي، أَنَا أَحَقُّ مَنْ يَقْضِي عَنْكَ، فَيَدْعُو اللَّهُ بِشَيْءٍ فَيَضَعُهُ فِي كَفَّةِ مِيزَانِهِ فَيُرَجِّحُ حَسَنَاتِهِ عَلَى سَيِّئَاتِهِ، فَيَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّةَ بِفَضْلِ رَحْمَتِهِ» Translation: “Allah will call the debtor on the Day of Resurrection, until he is brought before Him and stopped. It will be said to him: O son of Adam! For what did you take this loan? And why did you deprive people of their rights? He will reply: My Lord, you know that I took this loan; I did not eat it, drink it, wear it, or waste it, but I was struck by fire, theft, or hardship!” Allah will say: “My servant has spoken the truth. I am the most deserving of your repayment.” Then Allah (SWT) will ask for something and place it on his scale; by this, He will give preference to his good deeds over his bad deeds, and by His grace and mercy, He will admit him to Paradise.” [2]
From such narrations, it seems that Allah excuses those who are forced to borrow for difficult tasks or who cannot repay their debts due to accidents. However, those who borrow for their desires and lusts, and who do not consider the consequences of their borrowing, fall under harsh condemnation. As stated in various works and reports, such individuals are considered insolent thieves. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: «مَنْ أَخَذَ أَمْوَالَ النَّاسِ يُرِيدُ أَدَاءَها أَدَّى اللَّهُ عَنْهُ، وَمَنْ أَخَذَها يُرِيدُ إِتْلَافَها أَتْلَفَهُ اللَّهُ» Translation: “Whoever takes people’s property with the intention of returning it, if he is unable to do so, Allah will repay it for him; and whoever takes people’s property with the intention of wasting it, Allah will also waste it for him, and he will be caught.” [3]
Islam aims to provide various guarantees for loans, as they are viewed as living assets. Therefore, fulfilling these guarantees is considered obligatory, and no one is permitted to escape this obligation even through performing significant acts of worship that have great rewards. That is, great acts of worship do not act as an expiation or compensation for failing to fulfill the obligations of loans. It was narrated from Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him): A man asked: “O Messenger of Allah! If I were martyred in the way of Allah, would this martyrdom expiate my sins?” The Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) replied: “Yes, if you are killed while being patient in war and jihad, seeking only the reward from Allah, and do not look back!” Then the Prophet repeated: “What did you say?” The man repeated his words. The Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) then said: “Martyrdom is an expiation for all sins except for not paying an unjust loan, and indeed, Gabriel informed me of this.” «يُغْفَرُ لِلشَّهِيدِ كُلُّ ذَنْبٍ إِلَّا الدَّيْنَ» Translation of Arabic Quotation: “All the sins of a martyr are forgiven except the sin of not paying an unjustified loan.” [4]
Since the wise recognize the dire consequences of not repaying a loan for a Muslim in the Hereafter and its significance, they advise Muslims to avoid borrowing before circumstances arise that may jeopardize their ability to repay. It is narrated from Abu al-Darda that, when he was appointed as the commander of jihad, he stood at the gate through which the mujahids passed and declared loudly so all could hear: “O people! Anyone who is in debt and fears that should he be martyred, he will leave behind nothing to repay his loans, let him return and not follow me, for the reward of martyrdom and the sin of not repaying a loan are not equal.”
Undoubtedly, Muslims often underestimate the importance of loans, leading them to borrow excessively for desires that can lead to spiritual and physical ruin, especially when considering interest rates that Allah has prohibited. Consequently, they face life-threatening liabilities regarding their properties and lands, making debt repayment difficult. Without legal repercussions, significant rights become lost.
Allah loves His faithful servants and has not destroyed the people of oppressive cities except those who were oppressors. He said: «وَمَا وَجَدْنَا لِأَكْثَرِهِم مِّنْ عَهْدٍ وَإِن وَجَدْنَا أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَفَاسِقِينَ» Translation: “We did not find most of these people to be true to their covenants, but we found most of them disobedient and sinful.” [5]
[1] – Sunan Ibn Majah, Part 2, p. 814, Kitab al-Sadaqat, Chapter Three of Those Who Condemn…, Hadith No. 2435.
[2] – Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Part 3, p. 234, Musnad al-Sahaba after the Tenth, Hadith Abdur Rahman…, Hadith No. 1708, Dar al-Risala al-Alamiyah.
[3] – Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Part 3, p. 234, Musnad al-Sahaba after the Tenth, Hadith Abdur Rahman…, Hadith No. 1709, Dar al-Risala al-Alamiyah.
[4] – Sunan Ibn Majah, Part 2, p. 814, Kitab al-Sadaqat, Chapter Three of Those Who Condemn…, Hadith No. 2476.
[5] – Surah al-A’raf, 102.
