10/69. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 1070 — Debt, Inheritance, and Care
What Has Been Related About (Prayer Over) The Indebted
Hadith About Debt After Death and Inheritance
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 1070
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 1070
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْفَضْلِ، مَكْتُومُ بْنُ الْعَبَّاسِ التِّرْمِذِيُّ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ صَالِحٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي اللَّيْثُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي عُقَيْلٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي أَبُو سَلَمَةَ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يُؤْتَى بِالرَّجُلِ الْمُتَوَفَّى عَلَيْهِ الدَّيْنُ فَيَقُولُ " هَلْ تَرَكَ لِدَيْنِهِ مِنْ قَضَاءٍ " . فَإِنْ حُدِّثَ أَنَّهُ تَرَكَ وَفَاءً صَلَّى عَلَيْهِ وَإِلاَّ قَالَ لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ " صَلُّوا عَلَى صَاحِبِكُمْ " . فَلَمَّا فَتَحَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ الْفُتُوحَ قَامَ فَقَالَ " أَنَا أَوْلَى بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنْ أَنْفُسِهِمْ فَمَنْ تُوُفِّيَ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ فَتَرَكَ دَيْنًا عَلَىَّ قَضَاؤُهُ وَمَنْ تَرَكَ مَالاً فَهُوَ لِوَرَثَتِهِ " . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ . وَقَدْ رَوَاهُ يَحْيَى بْنُ بُكَيْرٍ وَغَيْرُ وَاحِدٍ عَنِ اللَّيْثِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ نَحْوَ حَدِيثِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ صَالِحٍ .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
A Deceased Man Would Be Brought To The Messenger Of Allah While A Debt Was Due Upon Him. So He Would Say: 'Has He Left Anything To Pay Off His Debt?' If He Was Told That He Had Left Something To Pay It Then He Would Pray (The Funeral Prayer) For Him. Otherwise He Would Tell The Muslims: 'Pray For Your Companion.' So When Allah Granted Him The Victories, He Stood And Said: 'I Am More Worthy In The Case Of The Believers Than They Themselves Are. So Whoever Among The Believers Dies And Leaves A Debt Behind, Then It Is Up To Me To Fulfill It. And Whoever Leaves Wealth Behind, Then It Is For His Heirs.'
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1070In-book reference : Book 10, Hadith 106English translation : Vol. 2, Book 5, Hadith 1070
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 1070
This hadith about debt after death gives a clear picture of how the Prophet handled deceased Muslims who left debts. When a man was brought for funeral prayer, the Prophet would ask whether he had left anything to pay his debt. If there was enough, he would pray over him. If not, he would tell the Muslims to pray for their companion. Later, when Allah granted victories, the Prophet said he was more worthy in the case of the believers than they were themselves. Whoever died and left debt, he would fulfill it, and whoever left wealth, it belonged to the heirs. The hadith joins debt, care, and inheritance in one lesson.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet asked about debt before performing funeral prayer in these cases.
- Later, he took responsibility for debts left by believers.
- Wealth left by the deceased is described as belonging to the heirs.
