Fatwa ID: 07721

 

 

Answered by: Maulana Nuski Cassim

 

Question:

Assalamu Alaikum Sheikh,
I am growing more and more concerned. I am certain I have debts, financial debts mostly, to companies via commerce involving interest like loans and contracts for a device and I have taken things from people and been unable to pay it back. I am scared that my owing and inability to pay or remember will keep me from Jannah. I don’t know what I can do to make all this right. Yes, I work but of low income and I cannot remember between people and companies what is owed or how much. Please tell me if there’s anything I can do to make this right even if I cannot directly make it right. I owed money to a credit card and I paid back the loan the amount borrowed. I’m sure but was drowning in interest. I don’t know how to make this right please help In Sha Allah JZK.

 

 

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

 

Answer:

Wa ‘alaykum al-salam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu,

 

Islam has laid great importance on the repayment of debt.

 

‏وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَوْ أَنَّ رَجُلاً قُتِلَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ثُمَّ أُحْيِيَ ثُمَّ قُتِلَ ثُمَّ أُحْيِيَ ثُمَّ قُتِلَ وَعَلَيْهِ دَيْنٌ مَا دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ حَتَّى يُقْضَى عَنْهُ دَيْنُهُ ‏

 

Muhammad bin Jahsh (ra) reported that the Prophet (saw) said: ‘’By the One in Whose hand is my soul, if a man were to be killed in the cause of Allah, then [thereafter] be brought back to life, then killed, then [again] brought back to life, but [despite this] he owed a debt, he would not enter paradise until his debt was paid off.” – [سنن النسائي، رقم الحديث ٤٦٨٤]

 

 نَفْسُ الْمُؤْمِنِ مُعَلَّقَةٌ بِدَيْنِهِ حَتَّى يُقْضَى عَنْهُ

 

Abu Hurairah (ra) reported that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said, “The soul of a believer remains suspended by his debt until it is paid.” – [سنن الترمذي، رقم الحديث ١٠٧٨]

 

Islam, however, has also highlighted great reward for that individual who provides leeway or pardons someone in debt [to them].

 

وَإِن كَانَ ذُو عُسۡرَةٖ فَنَظِرَةٌ إِلَىٰ مَيۡسَرَةٖۚ وَأَن تَصَدَّقُواْ خَيۡرٞ لَّكُمۡ إِن كُنتُمۡ تَعۡلَمُونَ

“And if a debtor is in difficulty, then [let there be] postponement until [a time of] ease. But if you give [from your right as] charity, then it is better for you, if you only knew.” – Surah Al-Baqarah: 280 

 

‏ كَانَ رَجُلٌ يُدَايِنُ النَّاسَ فَكَانَ يَقُولُ لِفَتَاهُ إِذَا أَتَيْتَ مُعْسِرًا فَتَجَاوَزْ عَنْهُ لَعَلَّ اللَّهَ يَتَجَاوَزُ عَنَّا فَلَقِيَ اللَّهَ فَتَجَاوَزَ عَنْهُ

 

Abu Hurairah (ra) reported that the Prophet (saw) said, “A man would give loans to the people, and he would say to his servant: If the debtor [who is in hardship] comes to you, you should waive the debt [so] that perhaps Allah will relieve us. [As a result] when he met Allah, then Allah excused him.” – [صحيح مسلم، رقم الحديث ١٥٦٢]

 

Dear brother, very seldom will you find someone who is always free of debt. And as such, there will be times when we find ourselves caught up in some sort of debt. This could be in the form of a car loan, a phone financing plan, etc. 

 

Your concern, through being scared [about judgement], is admirable. It shows your reverence for the commands and prohibitions of Allah (SWT).

 

إذَا سَرَّتْكَ حَسَنَتُكَ وَسَاءَتْكَ سَيِّئَتُكَ فَأَنْتَ مُؤْمِنٌ قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَمَا الْإِثْمُ قَالَ إِذَا حَاكَ فِي نَفْسِكَ شَيْءٌ فَدَعْه

 

Abu Umamah (ra) reported: A man asked the Messenger of Allah (saw), “What is faith?” The Prophet (saw) said, “If you are happy with your good deeds and saddened by your bad deeds, you are a believer.” The man said, “O Messenger of Allah, what is sin?” The Prophet (saw) said, “If something waivers in your soul, you should leave it.”- [مسند إمام أحمد، رقم الحديث ٢٢١٦٦]

 

How to Make Things Right?

 

You can make things right by considering the following three things and implementing the advice that follows. 

 

1. Intention.
2. Effort.
3. Seeking forgiveness.

 

We know from the infamous hadith of the Prophet (saw) that actions are by intentions, and Allah (SWT) rewards us based on our intentions and efforts [in fulfilling that intention]. 

 

So long as you are actively and sincerely working towards paying off your debts, then if you were to meet Allah (SWT) whilst still having some outstanding debt, know that Allah (SWT) will judge you fairly and that this would not impede your entry into Jannah. For at times, the intention of the believer is better than his actions.[1][2]

 

Advice/Steps:

 

1. Make a chart and write down the names of all the people or companies you owe along with the amount. 

 

1. If possible, reach out to each person and work out a repayment plan.

 

1. Pay off your smallest debts first, followed by the larger ones.

 

1. See if you can take on extra work for added income.

 

1. Lastly, make an excessive amount of istighfar and du’a. Both are key in alleviating debt. 

 

Many masnun (sunnah) du’as related to protection and relief from debt can be found online. 

 

In closing, considering all the above, if you strive for Allah’s obedience through attempting to clear your debts and not wanting to displease Him, then you will find Allah (SWT) to be merciful and His judgment [in the akhirah] to be fair.

 

Think well of Allah (SWT) and do not grow despondent of His mercy. 

 

 وَلَا تَاْيۡـَٔسُواْ مِن رَّوۡحِ ٱللَّهِۖ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يَاْيۡـَٔسُ مِن رَّوۡحِ ٱللَّهِ إِلَّا ٱلۡقَوۡمُ ٱلۡكَٰفِرُونَ

 

“And despair not of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, no one despairs of the mercy of Allah except the disbelieving people.” – Surah Yusuf: 87 

 

May Allah (SWT) ease all your affairs, and may He be pleased with you both in this life and the next. Ameen.

 

بارك الله فيك

 

Only Allah knows best.

Written by Maulana Nuski Cassim

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham 

 

1.

 

وَأَن لَّيۡسَ لِلۡإِنسَٰنِ إِلَّا مَا سَعَىٰ

 

[سورة النجم، رقم الآية: ٣٩]

 

2.

 

نية المؤمن خير من عمله

 

[أخرجه الطبراني والبيهقي]