22/22. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1601b — Clearing Debt with Goodness
It is permissible to lend animals and it is recommended to pay in full, giving something better than that which ts owed
Best in Paying Debt Hadith: Return What You Owe Well
Sahih Muslim : 1601b
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1601b
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو كُرَيْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ صَالِحٍ، عَنْ سَلَمَةَ بْنِ كُهَيْلٍ، عَنْ أَبِي، سَلَمَةَ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ اسْتَقْرَضَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم سِنًّا فَأَعْطَى سِنًّا فَوْقَهُ وَقَالَ " خِيَارُكُمْ مَحَاسِنُكُمْ قَضَاءً " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) took a camel on loan, and then returned him (the lender) the camel of a more mature age and said: Good among you are those who are good in clearing off the debt.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1601bIn-book reference : Book 22, Hadith 150USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 10, Hadith 3899
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1601b
This best in paying debt hadith is short, but its message is strong. Abu Huraira reports that Allah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم took a camel on loan. When he returned it, he gave the lender a camel of a more mature age. Then he said that good among you are those who are good in clearing off the debt. The report is not about taking loans lightly. It is about how a debt should be closed when it is time to repay. The wording points to care, honesty, and a good finish to the transaction. Anyone looking for debt repayment in Islam can see from this report that paying back well is treated as part of good manners.
What we learn from this hadith
- A loan should be cleared, not ignored.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم returned a better camel in this report.
- Being good in repayment is praised as a good quality.
