14/39. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 1266 — Borrowed Property
What Has Been Related About 'The Borrowed Is To Be Returned'
Borrowed Property Hadith: Return What You Took
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 1266
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 1266
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي عَدِيٍّ، عَنْ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنِ الْحَسَنِ، عَنْ سَمُرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " عَلَى الْيَدِ مَا أَخَذَتْ حَتَّى تُؤَدِّيَ " . قَالَ قَتَادَةُ ثُمَّ نَسِيَ الْحَسَنُ فَقَالَ هُوَ أَمِينُكَ لاَ ضَمَانَ عَلَيْهِ . يَعْنِي الْعَارِيَةَ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ . وَقَدْ ذَهَبَ بَعْضُ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَغَيْرِهِمْ إِلَى هَذَا وَقَالُوا يَضْمَنُ صَاحِبُ الْعَارِيَةِ . وَهُوَ قَوْلُ الشَّافِعِيِّ وَأَحْمَدَ . وَقَالَ بَعْضُ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَغَيْرِهِمْ لَيْسَ عَلَى صَاحِبِ الْعَارِيَةِ ضَمَانٌ إِلاَّ أَنْ يُخَالِفَ . وَهُوَ قَوْلُ الثَّوْرِيِّ وَأَهْلِ الْكُوفَةِ وَبِهِ يَقُولُ إِسْحَاقُ .
Samurah Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) Said: "Upon The Hand Is What It Took, Until It Is Returned." Qatadah Said: "Then Al-Hasan Forgot, So He Said: 'It Is Something You Entrusted, He Is Not Liable For It.' " Meaning The Borrowed Property.[Abu 'Eisa Said:] This Hadith Is Hasan Sahih. Some Of The People Pf Knowledge, Among The Companions Of The Prophet (ﷺ) And Others, Followed This Hadith. They Said That The Possessor Of The Borrowed Thing Is Liable. This Is The View Of Ash-Shafi'I And Ahmad. Some Of The People Of Knowledge Among The Companions And Others Said That The Possessor Of The Borrowed This Is Not Liable Unless There Is Dispute. This Is The View Of Sufyan Ath-Thawri And The People Of Al-Kufah, And It Is The View Of Ishaq.
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1266In-book reference : Book 14, Hadith 68English translation : Vol. 1, Book 12, Hadith 1266
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 1266
This hadith about borrowed property is short and practical: “Upon the hand is what it took, until it is returned.” The phrase points to responsibility. When a person takes something, the matter does not end at taking it. It continues until the item is given back. The report then mentions a discussion about whether the borrower is liable in every case or only when there is misuse or dispute. That shows the text was used by scholars in legal detail, but the core lesson remains simple for readers: do not treat borrowed property lightly. Whether it is a tool, money, an animal, or household item, the one who takes it should remember that returning it is part of the trust.
What we learn from this hadith
- Taking something creates responsibility until it is returned.
- Borrowed property should not be treated carelessly.
- The report connects borrowing with trust and liability.
- Scholars discussed details, but the main wording stresses return.
