22/22. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1600a — Best Manners in Debt Repayment
It is permissible to lend animals and it is recommended to pay in full, giving something better than that which ts owed
Hadith About Paying Debts: Repay with Goodness
Sahih Muslim : 1600a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1600a
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الطَّاهِرِ، أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَمْرِو بْنِ سَرْحٍ أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، عَنْ مَالِكِ بْنِ، أَنَسٍ عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ أَسْلَمَ، عَنْ عَطَاءِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ، عَنْ أَبِي رَافِعٍ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم اسْتَسْلَفَ مِنْ رَجُلٍ بَكْرًا فَقَدِمَتْ عَلَيْهِ إِبِلٌ مِنْ إِبِلِ الصَّدَقَةِ فَأَمَرَ أَبَا رَافِعٍ أَنْ يَقْضِيَ الرَّجُلَ بَكْرَهُ فَرَجَعَ إِلَيْهِ أَبُو رَافِعٍ فَقَالَ لَمْ أَجِدْ فِيهَا إِلاَّ خِيَارًا رَبَاعِيًا . فَقَالَ " أَعْطِهِ إِيَّاهُ إِنَّ خِيَارَ النَّاسِ أَحْسَنُهُمْ قَضَاءً " .
Abu Rafi' Narrated from:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) took from a man as a loan a young camel (below six years). Then the camels of Sadaqa were brought to him. He ordered Abu Rafi' to return to that person the young camel (as a return of the loan). Abu Rafi' returned to him and said: I did not find among them but better camels above the age of six. He (the Holy Prophet) said: Give that to him for the best men are those who are best in paying off the debt.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1600aIn-book reference : Book 22, Hadith 147USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 10, Hadith 3896
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1600a
This hadith about paying debts teaches that repayment is not just a money matter; it is also a matter of character. Allah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم had taken a young camel as a loan. When camels of Sadaqa came, he told Abu Rafi‘ to return a young camel to the lender. Abu Rafi‘ only found camels that were better and older. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم told him to give that better camel and said that the best men are those who are best in paying off debt. The report is simple and direct. It shows that when a person owes something, he should try to repay it properly. If a better repayment is given without turning it into a condition at the start, the text presents it as a good way of clearing a loan.
What we learn from this hadith
- A loan should be returned to its owner.
- Good repayment is linked to good character in the text.
- Giving a better item in repayment was praised in this report when that was what was available.
