Silsilat al-Ahadith al-Sahihah

Lady Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) bought one or a few she-camels from a Bedouin in exchange for a wasq of dates, i.e., Ajwa dates. He (peace be upon him) returned home, searched for the dates, but did not find anything. He (peace be upon him) went to the Bedouin and said: "O servant of Allah! I bought a she-camel from you in exchange for a wasq of dates, but despite searching, I could not find the dates." The Bedouin said: "Alas, breach of promise!" The people rebuked him, saying: "May Allah destroy you, can the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) break a promise?" The Prophet (peace be upon him) said (to his companions): "Do not say anything to him, a person with a right keeps speaking." The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) then returned and came back and said: "O servant of Allah! I bought a she-camel from you, I thought I had the agreed price, but despite searching, I found nothing." The Bedouin said: "Alas! This is deception!" The people scolded and rebuked him, saying: "May Allah ruin you, can the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) deceive?" The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Leave him, a rightful person keeps speaking." The Prophet (peace be upon him) did this two or three times, but no one could understand (the real purpose). Finally, the Prophet (peace be upon him) ordered a companion, saying: "Go to Khawla bint Hakim bin Umayyah and give her my message that if you have a wasq of dates, then lend it to me, I will, inshaAllah, return it to you later." The companion went and returned, saying that Khawla says: "Yes! O Messenger of Allah! I have the dates, send someone to collect them." The Prophet (peace be upon him) ordered a companion: "Go and pay off his debt." He went and paid off the debt. Lady Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) says: That Bedouin passed by the Prophet (peace be upon him) while he was sitting among his companions and said: "May Allah reward you with goodness, you have paid off the debt and in a very excellent manner." The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The best servants in the sight of Allah on the Day of Resurrection will be those who pay off (debts) in a good manner."