Allah Almighty says: {And whatever you do of good, indeed Allah is All-Knowing of it.} [Surat al-Baqarah: 215] He also says: {And O my people, give full measure and weight in justice and do not deprive the people of their due.} [Surat Hūd: 85] And He says: {Woe to the defrauders, those who take full measure when they take from others, but they give less when they measure or weigh for them. Do they really not think that they will be resurrected for a momentous Day, a Day when people will stand before the Lord of the worlds?} [Surat al-Mutaffifīn: 1-6]
1) They urge us to be kind and lenient as we buy and sell. This entails a great reward.
2) They issue a stern warning to those who give people less than their due and take more than their own due.
3) The Prophets (peace be upon them) exhorted their respective communities to be just in their business transactions.
1367/1 - Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: “A man came to the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) and demanded repayment of his debt in such a rude manner that the Companions were about to attack him. But the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘Leave him, for the creditor is entitled to make a demand.’ Then he said: “Give him a camel of the same age as the camel that is due to him.” They said: “O Messenger of Allah, we only find a better camel senior to it in age.” He said: “Give it to him, for the best among you are those who settle their debts in the best manner.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
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1) It shows how the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) dealt kindly with the creditor and bore his harsh treatment, for the creditor is entitled to claim his dues.
2) The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) guided us to be benevolent towards the creditor as we repay his debt. If a debtor gives more than the due debt, without this being subject to a precondition, this is regarded as a good settlement of debts.
3) The proper ethics in dealing with others, especially the ill-mannered, is to bear their harm patiently. So, a Muslim preacher should endure people’s harm with patience.
1368/2 - Jābir (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “May Allah have mercy on a man who is lenient when he sells, and when he buys, and when he demands back his money.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri]
1) Leniency in buying and selling is a means for attaining the mercy of Allah Almighty.
2) It urges us to deal forgivingly with people in business transactions and not to put undue restrictions upon them.
1369/3 - Abu Qatādah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) say: “Whoever is pleased to be saved by Allah from the anguish of the Day of Judgment, let him give the insolvent respite or grant him remission.” [Narrated by Muslim]
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1) Recompense is of the same type of action. So, if a Muslim relieves the distress of his fellow Muslim in the life of this world, Allah will relieve his distress on the Day of Judgment.
2) It urges us to be forgiving when it comes to repayment of debts due to us, either by canceling part of it or forgiving it entirely.
1370/4 - Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “There was a man who used to give loans to people. He would say to his servant: ‘When you come to an insolvent person, overlook his debt; perhaps Allah would overlook our sins.’ So the man met Allah (after death), and He overlooked his sins.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
1371/5 - Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “A man from among those who were before you was called to account (by Allah on the Day of Judgment). No good deeds were found in his record except that he, being a rich man, used to enter into transactions with people and used to command his servants to show leniency towards those who were insolvent. Allah Almighty said: ‘We are more entitled to this (leniency) than him. Pardon him.’” [Narrated by Muslim]
1372/6 - Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “A servant of Allah whom Allah granted wealth will be brought before Him, and He will ask him: ‘What did you do in the worldly life?’” Hudhayfah said: {And they will be able to hide nothing from Allah} [Surat an-Nisā’: 42]. “He will say: ‘O Lord, you gave me wealth and I used to enter into transactions with people. It was my nature to be lenient. I used to show leniency towards the solvent and give respite to the insolvent.’ Allah Almighty will say: ‘I am more entitled to that (action) than you. Pardon My servant.’” ‘Uqbah ibn ‘Āmir and Abu Mas‘ūd al-Ansāri (may Allah be pleased with both of them) said: “This is how we heard it from the Prophet’s lips.” [Narrated by Muslim]
1) It points out the merit of giving respite to the insolvent debtor; it is an obligation. The creditor should not press an insolvent debtor to repay the debt.
2) It encourages creditors to forgive the debts of insolvent persons; it is a recommended act of Sunnah that brings forgiveness of the Almighty Lord.
3) Small deeds which are done sincerely for the sake of Allah expiate great sins and lead to winning His mercy.
1373/7 - Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Whoever gives respite to an insolvent person or remits part of his debt, Allah will shade him on the Day of Judgment in the shade of His throne on a day when there will be no shade but His.” [Narrated by Al-Tirmidhi; he classified it as Hasan Sahīh (sound and authentic)]
Give respite: delay the time of repayment.
1) When a creditor gives respite to the insolvent debtor or forgives the debt entirely, he earns shade under the throne of Allah the Most Merciful, as recompense in kind for his merciful deed.
2) Every person will be under the shade of his charity on the Day of Judgment, and those who pardon the debts of insolvent people will be shaded under the throne of Allah, the Most Merciful.
1374/8 - Jābir (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) bought a camel from him, and he weighed out (the price) and paid him more than his due. [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
1375/9 - Abu Safwān Suwayd ibn Qays (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: Makhramah al-‘Abdi and I brought some linen (or cotton) garments from Hajar. The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) came to us and bargained with us for some pants. There was a man present who would weigh merchandise (in scales) for a wage. The Prophet said to him: “Weigh, and add some more.” [Narrated by Abu Dāwūd and Al-Tirmidhi, who classified it as Hasan Sahīh (sound and authentic)]
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1) They show the Prophet’s kind manner in buying and selling. The role model for the believers, he would give people more than what was due to them.
2) It is permissible for a buyer to bargain over the price of the commodity, without underestimation.
3) A lenient and kind buyer would ask the seller to weigh in a way favorable for the latter.