14/67. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 1307 — Leniency with the Insolvent
What Has Been Related About Giving Respite To The Indigent And Being Kind To Him
Leniency with Debtors Hadith: Mercy in Reckoning
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 1307
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 1307
حَدَّثَنَا هَنَّادٌ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ شَقِيقٍ، عَنْ أَبِي مَسْعُودٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " حُوسِبَ رَجُلٌ مِمَّنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ فَلَمْ يُوجَدْ لَهُ مِنَ الْخَيْرِ شَيْءٌ إِلاَّ أَنَّهُ كَانَ رَجُلاً مُوسِرًا وَكَانَ يُخَالِطُ النَّاسَ وَكَانَ يَأْمُرُ غِلْمَانَهُ أَنْ يَتَجَاوَزُوا عَنِ الْمُعْسِرِ فَقَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ نَحْنُ أَحَقُّ بِذَلِكَ مِنْهُ تَجَاوَزُوا عَنْهُ " . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ . وَأَبُو الْيَسَرِ كَعْبُ بْنُ عَمْرٍو .
Abu Mas'ud Narrated from:
The Messenger Of Allah (ﷺ) Said: "A Man Among Those Before You Was Called To Reckon And Nothing Good Was Found With Him. Except That He Was A Wealthy Man So He Used To Mix With The People And He Would Tell His Servant To Be Lenient With The Insolvent. So Allah, Mighty And Sublime Is He, Said: 'We Are More Worthy Of That Than Him, So Be Lenient With Him.'" [Abu 'Eisa Said:] This Hadith Is Hasan Sahih. Abu Al-Yasar Is Ka'B Bin 'Amr.
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1307In-book reference : Book 14, Hadith 110English translation : Vol. 1, Book 12, Hadith 1307
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 1307
This leniency with debtors hadith tells of a man from earlier people who was brought to account. The narration says no good was found with him except that he was wealthy, mixed with people, and told his servants to be lenient with the insolvent. Allah then said that He was more worthy of such leniency and ordered that the man be treated with leniency. The hadith is not a general excuse to ignore duties. It points to one clear deed: showing ease to people who could not pay. It teaches that mercy in financial dealings is not small in the sight of Allah.
What we learn from this hadith
- The man was remembered for being lenient with insolvent people.
- The hadith highlights mercy in debt collection.
- Wealth should not make a person harsh with people in hardship.
- Leniency shown to others can be a means of receiving mercy.
