69/15. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 5371 — Debt, Heirs, and Responsibility
"If one dies leaving debts to be repaid or dependents to be taken care of, it is for me."
Hadith About Debt After Death and Heirs
Sahih Bukhari : 5371
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 5371
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ بُكَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنْ عُقَيْلٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يُؤْتَى بِالرَّجُلِ الْمُتَوَفَّى عَلَيْهِ الدَّيْنُ، فَيَسْأَلُ " هَلْ تَرَكَ لِدَيْنِهِ فَضْلاً ". فَإِنْ حُدِّثَ أَنَّهُ تَرَكَ وَفَاءً صَلَّى، وَإِلاَّ قَالَ لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ " صَلُّوا عَلَى صَاحِبِكُمْ ". فَلَمَّا فَتَحَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ الْفُتُوحَ قَالَ " أَنَا أَوْلَى بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنْ أَنْفُسِهِمْ، فَمَنْ تُوُفِّيَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فَتَرَكَ دَيْنًا فَعَلَىَّ قَضَاؤُهُ، وَمَنْ تَرَكَ مَالاً فَلِوَرَثَتِهِ ".
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
A dead man in debt used to be brought to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) who would ask, "Has he left anything to re pay his debts?" If he was informed that he had left something to cover his debts the Prophet (ﷺ) would offer the funeral prayer for him; otherwise he would say to the Muslims present there), "Offer the funeral prayer for your friend:"but when Allah helped the Prophet (ﷺ) to gain victory (on his expeditions), he said, "I am closer to the Believers than themselves, so. if one of the Believers dies in debt, I will repay it, but if he leaves wealth, it will be for his heirs.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5371In-book reference : Book 69, Hadith 21USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 7, Book 64, Hadith 284
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 5371
This Hadith explains how the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم dealt with a deceased believer who had debt. A dead man would be brought to him, and he would ask whether the man left anything to repay the debt. If there was enough, he would offer the funeral prayer. If not, he told the Muslims to pray for their companion. Later, when Allah gave victory, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said he was closer to the believers than themselves. If a believer died leaving debt, he would repay it, and if the person left wealth, it belonged to the heirs. The Hadith about debt in Islam shows the weight of unpaid debt and the clear right of heirs to inherited wealth.
What we learn from this hadith
- Debt after death was treated as an important matter.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم asked whether the deceased left enough to repay debts.
- Later, he took responsibility for the debt of deceased believers.
- Wealth left behind belongs to the heirs.
