Fatwa ID: 08382

Written by Alimah Aisha Qureshi

Question:

Does Islam place any restrictions on a Muslim who does not pay back someone’s debt, besides the initial obligation of paying back the debt, or a Muslim sinner who has wronged others by slandering or disrespected them, does such a Muslim need to self-punish himself if he does not repent, like are there any restrictions on him in Islam, say in his wealth or beauty, health or influence, anything in general that is halal for another Muslim who has not sinned at all in any way, are there any restrictions on this non repentant Muslim or can he live life without repenting like the Muslim who has never sinned?

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

Islam places immense value on upholding the rights of others, especially in matters which involve financial dealings and personal integrity. The Hanafi school emphasizes that while sins between a servant and Allah can be forgiven through repentance, violations against fellow human beings (Huquq al-Ibad) require not only repentance but also restitution. Making things right with the person you harmed.

Sincere repentance (Tawbah) becomes compulsory upon doing any sin, especially when it infringes upon another person’s rights—such as withholding repayment of a debt, insulting or slandering someone, or otherwise causing harm. However, for repentance to be valid in cases involving others, it must include an effort to rectify the harm caused.

Thus, one cannot simply seek Allah’s forgiveness for a debt unpaid or for unjustly harming someone’s honour without also addressing the damage done. A Muslim who does not seek forgiveness from those they have harmed remains accountable in the Hereafter. 

Reference:

حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، وَعَلِيُّ بْنُ حُجْرٍ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، – وَهُوَ ابْنُ جَعْفَرٍ – عَنِ الْعَلاَءِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏”‏ أَتَدْرُونَ مَا الْمُفْلِسُ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قَالُوا الْمُفْلِسُ فِينَا مَنْ لاَ دِرْهَمَ لَهُ وَلاَ مَتَاعَ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ ‏”‏ إِنَّ الْمُفْلِسَ مِنْ أُمَّتِي يَأْتِي يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ بِصَلاَةٍ وَصِيَامٍ وَزَكَاةٍ وَيَأْتِي قَدْ شَتَمَ هَذَا وَقَذَفَ هَذَا وَأَكَلَ مَالَ هَذَا وَسَفَكَ دَمَ هَذَا وَضَرَبَ هَذَا فَيُعْطَى هَذَا مِنْ حَسَنَاتِهِ وَهَذَا مِنْ حَسَنَاتِهِ فَإِنْ فَنِيَتْ حَسَنَاتُهُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُقْضَى مَا عَلَيْهِ أُخِذَ مِنْ خَطَايَاهُمْ فَطُرِحَتْ عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ طُرِحَ فِي النَّارِ ‏”‏ ‏.‏

Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2581 Sunnah.com

Only Allah knows best.

Written by Alimah Aisha Qureshi

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham