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.
Enyi mlio amini! Mnapo kopeshana deni kwa muda ulio wekwa, basi andikeni. Na mwandishi aandike baina yenu kwa uadilifu, wala mwandishi asikatae kuandika. Aandike kama alivyo mfunza Mwenyezi Mungu. Na mwenye deni juu yake aandikishe; naye amche Mwenyezi Mungu, Mola wake Mlezi. Wala asipunguze chochote ndani yake. Na akiwa mwenye kudaiwa ni mtu aliye pumbaa au mnyonge au hawezi kuandikisha mwenyewe, basi aandikishe mlinzi wake kwa uadilifu. Na mshuhudishe mashahidi wawili katika wanaume wenu. Ikiwa hapana wanaume wawili, basi mwanamume mmoja na wanawake wawili katika mnao waridhia kuwa mashahidi. Ili ikiwa mmoja wao akipotea, mmoja wao amkumbushe mwengine. Na mashahidi wasikatae waitwapo. Wala msipuuze kuliandika deni likiwa dogo au kubwa mpaka muda wake. Hayo ndiyo haki zaidi mbele ya Mwenyezi Mungu, na ndiyo sawa zaidi kwa ushahidi, na vyema zaidi ili msiwe na shaka. Ila ikiwa ni biashara ya mkono-kwa-mkono baina yenu, basi hapo si vibaya kwenu msipo iandika. Lakini mnapo uziana wekeni mashahidi. Wala asitiwe matatani mwandishi wala shahidi. Na mkifanya hivyo basi hakika hilo ni kosa kwenu. Na mcheni Mwenyezi Mungu. Na Mwenyezi Mungu anakufundisheni. Na Mwenyezi Mungu ni Mjuzi wa kila kitu.
Na akiwa (mdaiwa) ana shida, basi (mdai) angoje mpaka afarijike. Na mkiifanya deni kuwa ni sadaka, basi ni bora kwenu, ikiwa mnajua.
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.
