Allah commands writing down a debt that is for a fixed time (2:282) and says that if a person is in hardship, there should be a postponement until things are easy, and to forgive is better (2:280). The Prophet ﷺ said that the delay of a wealthy person in paying his debt is injustice and that the soul of the believer is held back by his debt until it is paid.
1For the borrower
Repay on time, and when he is able, repay at once. A wealthy person who delays is unjust.
Borrow only when needed, and with the intention to repay.
Repay with something equal, or better with no stipulation (the Prophet ﷺ repaid with better than he took).
Write down debts in a will, because a debt remains owed after death and is paid from the estate before the inheritance is divided.
2For the lender
Write the debt and its date, and have witnesses.
Be patient with the one in difficulty and, if possible, forgive some or all of it.
Take nothing extra as a condition, because that is riba.
3The one who cannot pay
He is given time until his circumstances improve. Imprisoning or harming him is not allowed.
A person in debt is among the eight categories who can receive zakat (9:60).
Where the schools differ
The four Sunni schools agree on the main ruling above and differ in these points. No school is preferred here.
A debtor who is able to pay but delays may be compelled to pay by the judge. One who truly cannot pay must be given time, and is not imprisoned.
اى كسانى كه ايمان آورده‌ايد، چون وامى تا مدتى معيّن به يكديگر دهيد، آن را بنويسيد. و بايد در بين شما كاتبى باشد كه آن را به درستى بنويسد. و كاتب نبايد كه در نوشتن از آنچه خدا به او آموخته است سرپيچى كند. و مديون بايد كه بر كاتب املاء كند و از اللّه، پروردگار خود بترسد و از آن هيچ نكاهد. اگر مديون سفيه يا صغير بود يا خود املاء كردن نمى‌توانست، ولىّ او از روى عدالت املاء كند. و دو شاهد مرد به شهادت گيريد. اگر دو مرد نبود، يك مرد و دو زن كه به آنها رضايت دهيد شهادت بدهند، تا اگر يكى فراموش كرد ديگرى به يادش بياورد. و شاهدان چون به شهادت دعوت شوند، نبايد كه از شهادت خوددارى كنند. و از نوشتن مدّت دين خود، چه كوچك و چه بزرگ، ملول مشويد. اين روش در نزد خدا عادلانه‌تر است، و شهادت را استواردارنده‌تر و شك و ترديد را زايل‌كننده‌تر. و هرگاه معامله نقدى باشد اگر براى آن سندى ننويسيد مرتكب گناهى نشده‌ايد. و چون معامله‌اى كنيد، شاهدى گيريد. و نبايد به كاتب و شاهد زيانى برسد، كه اگر چنين كنيد نافرمانى كرده‌ايد. از خداى بترسيد. خدا شما را تعليم مى دهد و او بر هر چيزى آگاه است.
و اگر وامدار تنگدست بود، مهلتى بايد تا توانگر گردد. و اگر دانا باشيد، دانيد كه چون بر او ببخشاييد برايتان بهتر است.
From the Sunnah
Sahih al-Bukhari 2287Authentic collection
The point of the hadith: A wealthy person who delays paying his debt does injustice.
Read the Arabic text
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ، عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " مَطْلُ الْغَنِيِّ ظُلْمٌ، فَإِذَا أُتْبِعَ أَحَدُكُمْ عَلَى مَلِيٍّ فَلْيَتْبَعْ ".
This is general information, not a fatwa. For your own situation, ask a qualified scholar.
Fiqh questions
Debts: writing them, repaying them and being patient
Allah commands writing down a debt that is for a fixed time (2:282) and says that if a person is in hardship, there should be a postponement until things are easy, and to forgive is better (2:280). The Prophet ﷺ said that the delay of a wealthy person in paying his debt is injustice and that the soul of the believer is held back by his debt until it is paid.
Is this a fatwa?
No. It is a summary of well-known rulings with their evidence. For your own case, ask a qualified scholar.
What if my school differs from this answer?
Follow the view of the school you follow and the scholar who teaches you. The page lists the differences of the four schools.
