حَدَّثَنَا
مُسْلِمٌ ، حَدَّثَنَا
شُعْبَةُ ، عَنْ
عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ ، عَنْ
رِبْعِيٍّ ، عَنْ
حُذَيْفَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ ، قَالَ : سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ، يَقُولُ : " مَاتَ رَجُلٌ ، فَقِيلَ لَهُ : قَالَ : كُنْتُ أُبَايِعُ النَّاسَ فَأَتَجَوَّزُ عَنِ الْمُوسِرِ وَأُخَفِّفُ عَنِ الْمُعْسِرِ ، فَغُفِرَ لَهُ " . قَالَ
أَبُو مَسْعُودٍ : سَمِعْتُهُ مِنَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ .
Narrated Hudhaifa: I heard the Prophet saying, "Once a man died and was asked, 'What did you use to say (or do) (in your life time)?' He replied, 'I was a businessman and used to give time to the rich to repay his debt and (used to) deduct part of the debt of the poor.' So he was forgiven (his sins.)" Abu Mas`ud said, "I heard the same (Hadith) from the Prophet."
Related hadith on this topic
Explanation & Benefits
Maulana Dawood Raz
Hadith Commentary:
From this, the virtue of showing leniency in demanding repayment is established.
Allah the Exalted has said in the Qur’an: ﴿وَإِنْ كَانَ ذُو عُسْرَةٍ فَنَظِرَةٌ إِلَى مَيْسَرَةٍ وَأَنْ تَصَدَّقُوا خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ﴾ (, al-Baqarah: 280)
That is, if the debtor is in hardship, then granting him respite is better.
And if you remit it as charity, that is even better for you.
In summary, this act is highly beloved to Allah.
Source: Sahih Bukhari: Commentary by Maulana Dawood Raz, Page: 2391
Shaykh Abdul Sattar al-Hammad
Hadith Commentary:
(1)
From this hadith, the virtue of showing gentleness when demanding repayment is understood. The boundless mercy of Allah Ta’ala is also mentioned, in that He forgives great sins in exchange for even a small good deed, because when a person performs a good deed with sincere intention, by Allah’s mercy he is not left at a loss.
(2)
The good deed mentioned in the hadith has been described in another manner by the Noble Qur’an: if the debtor is in difficulty, then grant him more time until ease comes, and if you completely forgo (the debt), that is even better. ()
In any case, displaying gentleness and generosity when demanding repayment is an act extremely beloved to Allah.
Source: Hidayat al-Qari: Commentary on Sahih Bukhari, Urdu, Page: 2391
Shaykh Maulana Abdul Aziz Alvi
Hadith Commentary: Benefits and Issues: The decision regarding entry into Paradise will be made as a result of questioning and answering, after forgiveness has been granted. Since this is an established reality, which is bound to occur, it has been described in such a manner as if it has already taken place. Or, it may be that immediately after death, according to one's deeds, the conditions of Paradise and Hell begin, and for this reason, it has been expressed as entry into Paradise. Because in the first narration, the same questioning and answering by the angels has already taken place after the soul was taken, and forgiveness has already been granted there.
Source: Tuhfat al-Muslim: Commentary on Sahih Muslim, Page: 3995