49/20. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 5408 — Settling Debt With Mercy
The Judge Passing Judgment in His House
Hadith About Debt Settlement and Mercy Toward the Debtor
Sunan an-Nasai : 5408
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 5408
أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو دَاوُدَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ عُمَرَ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا يُونُسُ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ كَعْبٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، أَنَّهُ تَقَاضَى ابْنَ أَبِي حَدْرَدٍ دَيْنًا كَانَ عَلَيْهِ فَارْتَفَعَتْ أَصْوَاتُهُمَا حَتَّى سَمِعَهُمَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَهُوَ فِي بَيْتِهِ فَخَرَجَ إِلَيْهِمَا فَكَشَفَ سِتْرَ حُجْرَتِهِ فَنَادَى " يَا كَعْبُ " . قَالَ لَبَّيْكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ . قَالَ " ضَعْ مِنْ دَيْنِكَ هَذَا " . وَأَوْمَأَ إِلَى الشَّطْرِ قَالَ قَدْ فَعَلْتُ . قَالَ " قُمْ فَاقْضِهِ " .
`Abdullah bin Ka`b Narrated from:
It was narrated from 'Abdullah bin Ka'b, from his father, that : He asked Ibn Abi Hadrad to pay off a debt that he owed him. Their voices grew so loud that the Messenger of Allah [SAW] heard them when he was inside his house. He came out to them, drew back the curtain of his room and called out: "O Ka'b!" He said: "Here I am, O Messenger of Allah." He said: "Drop his debt to half." He said: "I will do that." He said (to the debtor): "Go and pay it off."
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 5408In-book reference : Book 49, Hadith 30English translation : Vol. 6, Book 49, Hadith 5410
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 5408
This hadith about debt settlement shows the Prophet SAW guiding two people when their voices became loud over a debt. Ka'b was asking Ibn Abi Hadrad to pay what he owed. Their argument became loud enough for the Prophet SAW to hear from inside his house. He came out, called Ka'b, and told him to reduce the debt by half. Ka'b agreed. Then the Prophet SAW told the debtor to go and pay it. The hadith gives a balanced picture. The creditor was asked to show mercy by reducing the debt, and the debtor was still told to pay what remained. It is a simple lesson in solving conflict with kindness and responsibility.
What we learn from this hadith
- A creditor may show mercy by reducing part of a debt.
- A debtor should still pay what remains after an agreement.
- The Prophet SAW helped calm a loud dispute.
- Debt problems can be solved through fairness and cooperation.
