With The Indebted
Tuesday, 01 April 2008
Written by Abdul-Rahim Ammar
Not only did the Prophet (SAWS) support the companions in their illnesses or at times of death, but he was also there for them in any crisis even if it was incidental. You see him entering the mosque to find there a man from al-Ansar (the Supporters[1]
called abu-Umamah. The Prophet (SAWS) said, “O abu-Umama! Why do I see you sitting in the mosque when it is not the time for prayer.” He replied, “I am entangled in worries and debts, Messenger of Allah.” He (SAWS) said, “Would I teach you words which when you say Allah, Glorified and Sublime be He, will remove your worries, and settle your debts? He said, “Yes indeed, Messenger of Allah? He (SAWS) said, “Say in the morning and evening, ‘O Allah, I seek refuge with You from worries and grief, I seek refuge with You from incapacity and slackness, I seek refuge with You from cowardice and niggardliness, and I seek refuge with You from being overcome by debt and being put in subjection by men.’ He said, “I did that and Allah Glorified and Sublime be He removed my worries and settled my debt.”[2]
Abu-Saeed al-Khudrei (RA) reported that in the time of Allah's Messenger (SAWS) a man suffered loss in fruits he had bought and his debt increased; so Allah's Messenger (SAWS) told (the people) to give him charity and they gave him charity, but that was not enough to pay the debt in full, whereupon Allah's Messenger (SAWS) said to his creditors, “Take what you find, you will have nothing but that.”[3]
The Prophet (SAWS) was keen on helping the man to pay his debts. He asked his creditors to accept the sum that was collected. Al-Mubarakfury[4] explains this in the Book ‘Explanation of at-Tirmidhy’s traditions’ saying, “It means that the creditors should not take except that which they find, besides giving a respite to ask for the rest until it is possible to pay back.”[5] The Prophet (SAWS) did not drop the man’s debt, but he interceded for him so that his creditors would take an amount and postpone the remainder. See how merciful he was with the indebted!
[1] Residents of Madinah who supported the Prophet (SAWS) after his emigration from Makkah to Madinah.
[2] Abu-Dawood, 1555.
[3] Authentic Hadeeth narrated by Muslim in the book of “Transactions” no. 1556. Also by at-Tirmidhy no. 655, an-Nasaei’e no. 4530, abu-Dawood no. 3469, ibn-Majah no. 2356 and Ahmad no. 113350.
[4] Abul-Ila Muhammad Abdur-Rahman ibn-abdur-Raheem al-Mubarakfury, one of the famous preachers of precedence in India, took a part in founding the Society of People of al-Hadeeth, known for his campaigns against the sectarianism. His book Tohfat al-Ahwadhiy Besharh Game' at-Tirmidhy (The Masterpiece of al-Ahwadhiy for Interpreting at-Tirmidhy’s Comprehensive Book) gained much fame. He died 1353 A.H. See Rubbing, in ablution of the Messenger, 1/152.
[5] Al-Mubarakfury, Tohfat al-Ahwadhiy Besharh Sunan' at-Tirmidhy, 4/397.
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