Fath al-Rabbani

Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: A man from the Children of Israel asked another for a loan of one thousand dinars. The lender said: Bring a witness, so that I may make him a witness over you. He replied: Allah is sufficient as a witness. The lender said: Then bring a guarantor. He replied: Allah is sufficient as a guarantor. The lender said: You have spoken the truth. So he lent him one thousand dinars for a fixed period. The man set out towards the sea and fulfilled his need. When the appointed time arrived, he searched for a means of transport but could not find one. So he took a piece of wood, hollowed it out, placed one thousand dinars inside, wrote a letter to its owner, sealed the hole (with iron or something similar), then took the piece of wood to the sea and said: O Allah! You know that I borrowed one thousand dinars from such-and-such a man. When he asked me for a witness and a guarantor, I said: Allah is sufficient as a guarantor. He was pleased (with Your guarantee), and now I have searched for a means of transport to deliver his right to him, but I have not found one. Now I entrust this wealth to You. Then he threw the piece of wood into the sea. Meanwhile, the lender set out hoping that perhaps (someone) riding a mount would be bringing his money to repay the debt. Suddenly, (at the seashore) he saw a piece of wood in which his money was. He picked up the wood to use as firewood, and when he broke it open, he found the money and the letter. He took them. Later, the borrower himself arrived (with one thousand dinars) and said: I could not find any means of transport (so now I have come to repay the debt). The lender said: Allah Almighty has delivered to me what you sent in the piece of wood. So he returned successfully.