540. Debt

Debt is a very serious matter

By Asma bint Shameem

Many people have adopted a very casual approach to being in debt and  take out loans, not for some urgent need, but because they want to unnecessarily keep up with others in buying bigger homes, faster cars, more furniture or clothes or other temporary luxuries of this life. 

But taking loans and being in debt is a GRAVE matter. 

Islaam takes the matter of debt very seriously and warns against it and urges the Muslim to avoid it as much as possible. 

And I am NOT talking about taking an “interest based” loan. That is forbidden for sure. 

The kind of loan I am talking about is one WITHOUT interest, one that does NOT involve Ribaa;

The kind that is *allowed*, yet *discouraged* in Islaam. 

And yet, we don’t see it as such.

1) The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) used to seek protection from it

The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) used to say in his prayer: 

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْمَأْثَمِ وَالْمَغْرَمِ

“Allaahumma inni a’oodhi bika min al-ma’tham wa’l-maghram 

“O Allaah, I seek refuge with You from sin and heavy debt.” 

Someone said to him: “How often you seek refuge from heavy debt!” 

He said: “When a man gets into debt, he speak and tells lies, and he makes a promise and breaks it.” 

(al-Bukhaari and Muslim). 

 2) The person in debt will not enter Jannah until the debt is paid off!

Muhammad ibn Jahsh radhi Allaahu anhu said: 

“We were sitting with the Messenger of Allaah Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam when he raised his head towards the sky, then he put his palm on his forehead and said: 

“Subhaan-Allaah! 

What a strict issue has been revealed to me!” 

We remained silent and were afraid. The following morning I asked him:

“O Messenger of Allaah, what is this strict issue that has been revealed?”

He said, 

“By the One in Whose hand is my soul, if a man were killed in battle for the sake of Allaah, then brought back to life, then killed and brought back to life again, then killed, and he owed a debt, he would not enter Jannah until his debt was paid off.” (al-Nasaa’i- hasan by al-Albaani)

3) The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) didn’t pray his Janazah

The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) did not lead the funeral prayer for someone who had died owing three dinars, until Abu Qataadah radhi Allaahu anhu said:

“O Allah's Messenger! Lead his funeral prayer, and I will pay his debt." So, he led the salat (prayer).”

(al-Bukhaari) 

4) Freedom from debt makes entry into Jannah EASY

The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:

“Whoever dies free from three things – arrogance, cheating and debt – will enter Jannah.” 

(al-Tirmidhi (1572); saheeh by al-Albaani)

5) The soul of the one in debt is suspended

The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: 

“Your companion is being detained by his debt.” (Abu Dawood- hasan by al-Albaani). 

And he said:

“The soul of the believer is held hostage by his debt in his grave until it is paid off.” 

(at-Tirmidhi: saheeh by al-Albaani) 

Explaining this hadeeth al-Suyooti said: 

“It (soul) is detained and kept from reaching its noble destination. 

Al-‘Iraaqi said: 

“No judgment is passed as to whether it will be saved or doomed until it is determined whether his debt will be paid off or not.”

Statements of Sahaabah regarding debt

Umar ibn al-Khattaab said: 

“Beware of debt, for it starts with worry and it ends with war.” 

(Maalik in al-Muwatta). 

And Ibn ‘Umar said: 

“O Humraan, fear Allaah and do not die in debt, lest it be taken from your good deeds when there will be no dinars and no dirhams.” 

When is taking a loan permissible?

The Ulama warn us about how difficult the issue of debt is, and that it should not be undertaken except in cases of necessity. 

Based on this, there are three conditions for debt to be permissible: 

1- The borrower should be determined to repay it.

2- It should be known or thought most likely that he is able to repay it,

3- It should be for something that is permissible according to Sharee’ah.

 

Ibn ‘Abd al-Barr said: 

“The debt for which a person will be kept out of Paradise – and Allaah knows best – is that for which he left behind enough to pay it off but he did not leave instructions to that effect, or he was able to pay it off but did not do so, or he took the loan for some unlawful or extravagant matter and died without having paid it off. 

As for the one who took a loan for something lawful because he was poor, and he died without leaving behind anything to pay it off, Allaah will not keep him from Paradise because of it, in sha Allaah.” 

 

So take a loan only when absolutely necessary.

And if you are in a situation of debt right now, try your utmost best to pay off your debts as soon as possible. 

Strive hard to pay it off, put your trust in Allaah, and pray to Him to make it easy for you to pay off your debt.

The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: 

“The one who takes people’s wealth intending to pay it back, Allaah will pay it back for him, and the one who takes it intending to destroy it, Allaah will destroy him.” 

(al-Bukhaari).

There are a number of duaas in the Sunnah that the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) used to make to help him stay away from all kinds of debt and to pay off any debts a person may have. 

We should try and read those duaas and do our best to pay off abt debts we may have, as soon as possible 

And Allaah knows best