Bukhari

Hadith Commentary:
Khabab radi Allahu anhu went to the non-Muslim ‘As ibn Wa’il to demand his wages.
From this, the purpose of the chapter is established.
The answer given by ‘As was extremely unreasonable.
Because of this, a note was taken in the Noble Qur’an.
From this hadith, the absolute mujtahid Imam Bukhari rahimahullah has derived several rulings.
Therefore, this hadith has been narrated in multiple places, which is a clear proof of Imam Bukhari’s rahimahullah deep understanding and strength in ijtihad.
A thousand regrets upon those people of turbans and robes who belittle the status of Imam Bukhari rahimahullah, the jurist of the Ummah, and by denying his understanding and insight, only prove their own lack of comprehension.
Hafiz Ibn Hajar rahimahullah, at the end of these chapters, says:
اشْتَمَلَ كِتَابُ الِاسْتِقْرَاضِ وَمَا مَعَهُ مِنَ الْحَجْرِ وَالتَّفْلِيسِ وَمَا اتَّصَلَ بِهِ مِنَ الْإِشْخَاصِ وَالْمُلَازَمَةِ عَلَى خَمْسِينَ حَدِيثًا الْمُعَلَّقُ مِنْهَا سِتَّةٌ الْمُكَرَّرُ مِنْهَا فِيهِ وَفِيمَا مَضَى ثَمَانِيَةٌ وَثَلَاثُونَ حَدِيثًا وَالْبَقِيَّةُ خَالِصَةٌ وَافَقَهُ مُسْلِمٌ عَلَى جَمِيعِهَا سِوَى حَدِيثِ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ مَنْ أَخَذَ أَمْوَالَ النَّاسِ يُرِيدُ إِتْلَافَهَا وَحَدِيثِ مَا أُحِبُّ أَنَّ لِي أُحُدًا ذَهَبا وَحَدِيث لي الْوَاجِد وَحَدِيث بن مَسْعُودٍ فِي الِاخْتِلَافِ فِي الْقِرَاءَةِ وَفِيهِ مِنَ الْآثَارِ عَنِ الصَّحَابَةِ وَمَنْ بَعْدَهُمْ اثْنَا عَشَرَ أثرا وَالله أعلم (Fath al-Bari)
That is, this Book of Loans and Attachment consists of fifty hadiths.
Among them, only six are suspended (mu‘allaq) narrations.
There are thirty-eight repeated hadiths, and the rest are unique.
Imam Muslim agreed with Imam Bukhari rahimahullah on all of them except for a few hadiths mentioned here, and in these chapters, twelve narrations from the Companions and their successors are mentioned.
The elder mentioned in the chain is Masruq ibn al-Ajda‘.
He was from Hamdan and Kufa.
He embraced Islam before the passing of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam.
He lived during the era of the earliest Companions such as Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, ‘Uthman, and ‘Ali radi Allahu anhum.
He was among the leading scholars and jurists.
Marrah ibn Shurahil said that no woman of Hamdan ever gave birth to a son as virtuous as Masruq.
Shu‘bi said: If any household was created for Paradise, it is these: Aswad, ‘Alqamah, and Masruq. Muhammad ibn al-Muntashir said that Khalid ibn ‘Abdullah was the governor (‘amil) of Basra.
He presented a gift of thirty thousand rupees to Masruq.
This was during his time of poverty.
Even then, he refused to accept it.
It is said that in his childhood he was kidnapped, and when he was found, he was named Masruq (“the stolen one”).
Many people narrated from him.
He passed away in 62 AH in Kufa.
Rahimahullah rahmatan wasi‘ah. The city of Kufa was founded by Sa‘d ibn Abi Waqqas radi Allahu anhu.
At that time, he said there:
تكوفوا في هذا الموضع (“Gather in this place.”)
From that day, the city was named Kufa.
Some have mentioned its old name as Kufan.
This city is located in Iraq.
For a long time, it remained a center of knowledge and sciences.

Hadith Commentary:
Previously, Imam Bukhari rahimahullah established a chapter regarding debt with the following words:
(Bab Husn al-Taqadi)
“Demanding repayment with gentleness,” and at this point, he has established a chapter on demanding repayment of a debt.

Generally, there is a saying:
(al-qard miqrad al-mahabbah)
“Debt is the scissors of love.”
It is said that if one wishes to spoil relations with someone, either lend to him or borrow from him.

Perhaps someone might get the impression from such statements that demanding repayment after giving a loan is contrary to good character and courtesy.

Imam Bukhari rahimahullah has established that it is the right of the creditor to demand repayment from the debtor, and there is no harm even in going to him and making him aware of it. Thus, Khabbab radi Allahu anhu went to the non-Muslim ‘As bin Wa’il to demand his wages.

These wages, in effect, were a debt upon Wa’il.

The conduct he displayed was extremely inappropriate and distressing; Allah Ta’ala took notice of it in the Noble Qur’an.

In short, demanding repayment of a debt is permissible and correct, and it is not contrary to moral conduct or courtesy.

And Allah knows best.