SHOPPING SECTION · 9 – AGGRESSION REGARDING DEBT
Semure (bin Cündüb) (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) delivered a sermon to us, and said, “Is there anyone from the people of so-and-so?” No one responded to Him.
Then He repeated, "Is there anyone from the people of so-and-so?" Still, no one responded to Him. Then He repeated, "Is there anyone from the people of so-and-so?" A man stood up and said, “I am here, O Messenger of Allah.”
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said, “What prevented you from responding in my first two calls? I do not bring to you except good. Your companion is being withheld from entering Paradise because of a debt.”
Semure says: I saw that man paying off all the debts of his friend, until there remained no one who would ask anything of him.
Abu Dawud said: The person mentioned in the narration is Samman bin Mushannaj. [181]
EXPLANATION:
If a deceased’s debt is paid by any believer, then the deceased is released from that debt.
According to the narration of Abu Burda, from his father, Abu Musa al-Ash'ari, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Among the great sins forbidden by Allah, the greatest sin in the sight of Allah is a person dying indebted without repaying what he owes.”
Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) would not perform the funeral prayer for one who died in debt. A body was brought, and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) asked, “Does he have any debt?” The companions said, "Yes, he has two dinars of debt." The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) then commanded, “Perform the prayer for your companion.”
Abu Katada al-Ansari said, “O Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him), I will pay the two dinars that our companion owes.”
Jabir said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) performed the funeral prayer for that person. Then Almighty Allah granted victories to the Prophet (peace and blessings upon him) and, as opportunities increased, He took over the debt of those who died in debt, and He said, “I am closer to the believer than his own self; whoever is indebted dies with me paying it off, and whoever leaves behind wealth, it belongs to his heirs.” [182]
According to the narration of Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, a report similar to the aforementioned hadith was related, stating that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, purchased a calf from a caravan without having the money for it, and interest was added to the price of the calf. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, then sold the animal with its profit to another person and distributed the profit among the widows of the descendants of Abdulmuttalib. He said: “I will not purchase anything without having the money for it from now on.”