Sunan Sa'id

Rabee’ bin Khuthaym, may Allah have mercy on him, had a debt owed to him by a certain person, so he used to say: “So-and-so is sinful; if you are able, then pay the debt, and if you are in hardship, then defer it until a time of ease.” I mentioned this to Ibrahim, may Allah have mercy on him, and he said: “This granting of respite is regarding usury.”

It is narrated from Ibn Sirin (may Allah have mercy on him) that two men brought a case before Shurayh the Judge (may Allah have mercy on him) regarding a matter, and one of them had a right over the other. Shurayh gave judgment in favor of the one who had the right and ordered the other man to be imprisoned. A person present there said: "This man is insolvent, and Allah the Exalted says in His Book: ﴿وَإِنْ كَانَ ذُو عُسْرَةٍ فَنَظِرَةٌ إِلَىٰ مَيْسَرَةٍ﴾ 'And if the debtor is in hardship, then let there be postponement until [a time of] ease.'" Shurayh (may Allah have mercy on him) replied: "This verse is about the matter of usury, and Allah the Exalted says: ﴿إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَنْ تُؤَدُّوا الْأَمَانَاتِ إِلَىٰ أَهْلِهَا﴾ 'Indeed, Allah commands you to render trusts to whom they are due.'"

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) regarding the statement of Allah the Exalted: ﴿وَإِنْ كَانَ ذُو عُسْرَةٍ فَنَظِرَةٌ إِلَىٰ مَيْسَرَةٍ﴾ "And if the debtor is in hardship, then [let there be] postponement until [a time of] ease," that he said: "This verse was revealed concerning the matter of usury."