49/25. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 5414 — Forgiving Half a Debt
The Judge Advising Disputing Parties to Reconcile
Hadith About Forgiving Half a Debt and Ending Disputes
Sunan an-Nasai : 5414
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 5414
أَخْبَرَنَا الرَّبِيعُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا شُعَيْبُ بْنُ اللَّيْثِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ رَبِيعَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ كَعْبِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ الأَنْصَارِيِّ، عَنْ كَعْبِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، أَنَّهُ كَانَ لَهُ عَلَى عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي حَدْرَدٍ الأَسْلَمِيِّ - يَعْنِي دَيْنًا - فَلَقِيَهُ فَلَزِمَهُ فَتَكَلَّمَا حَتَّى ارْتَفَعَتِ الأَصْوَاتُ فَمَرَّ بِهِمَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ " يَا كَعْبُ " . فَأَشَارَ بِيَدِهِ كَأَنَّهُ يَقُولُ النِّصْفَ فَأَخَذَ نِصْفًا مِمَّا عَلَيْهِ وَتَرَكَ نِصْفًا .
Ka'b bin Malik Narrated from:
It was narrated from Ka'b bin Malik that: He owed a debt by 'Abdullah bin Abi Hadrad Al-Aslami. He met him, and asked him to pay it off. They exchanged words until their voices became loud. The Messenger of Allah [SAW] passed by them and said: "O Ka'b!" and he gestured with his hand to say half. So he took half of what was owed and let him off the other half.
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 5414In-book reference : Book 49, Hadith 36English translation : Vol. 6, Book 49, Hadith 5416
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 5414
This hadith about forgiving debt tells of Ka'b bin Malik and Abdullah bin Abi Hadrad. Ka'b was owed a debt, met the debtor, and pressed him to pay. Their voices rose during the exchange. The Messenger of Allah SAW passed by and called out to Ka'b. He then gestured with his hand, as if saying to take half. Ka'b accepted half of what was owed and left the other half. The hadith is short, but it gives a clear example of reducing tension in money disputes. The creditor still received part of his right, while the debtor was given relief. It teaches mercy, compromise, and calm handling of debt problems.
What we learn from this hadith
- Money disputes should not be allowed to grow into loud conflict.
- A creditor may choose to forgive part of what is owed.
- The Prophet SAW encouraged a solution that reduced the burden.
- Taking half and leaving half can be a way to end a dispute peacefully.
