Written by: Shaykh Hafiz Abdul Sattar Al-Hammad (May Allah preserve him)
"Delaying the repayment of a debt by a wealthy person is an act of injustice."
[Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Borrowing, Debt Repayment, and Bankruptcy: Hadith 2400]
Allah (سبحانہ و تعالٰی) stated in the Qur'an:
"Do not commit injustice, nor be subjected to it."
[Surah Al-Baqarah: 279]
This verse shows that the person who does not repay the original amount of debt is considered unjust, just as the creditor who demands more than what is owed is also unjust. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) warned against borrowing with the intention of wasting the money:
"Whoever borrows with the intention of wasting it, Allah will ruin him."
[Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Borrowing, Debt Repayment, and Bankruptcy: Hadith 2387]
Imam Ibn Hajar (رحمه الله) explained that this destruction can manifest in the person's life through loss of wealth or health, and it can also refer to the punishment in the Hereafter.
[Fath al-Bari, Volume 5, Page 57]
On the Day of Judgment, such a person will be presented as a thief or a robber, as narrated in a Hadith:
"The person who borrows with the intention of not repaying, taking money dishonestly, and dies without repayment, will be presented on the Day of Judgment as a thief."
[Sahih al-Targhib wa al-Tarhib: Hadith 352/2]
Moreover, the person who dies with unpaid debt will have their good deeds used to settle the debt instead of money, as stated in another Hadith:
"If a person dies with a debt of dirhams or dinars, on the Day of Judgment, it will not be paid with dirhams or dinars, but with his good deeds."
[Sunan Ibn Majah, Book of Mortgages: Hadith 2439]
"Delaying the repayment of a debt by a wealthy person is an act of injustice."
[Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Borrowing, Debt Repayment, and Bankruptcy: Hadith 2400]
Benefits:
There is no harm in borrowing money when necessary, but once the circumstances improve and Allah grants ease and abundance, the borrower should repay the debt as soon as possible. If someone deliberately delays repayment, the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) described such behavior as unjust.Allah (سبحانہ و تعالٰی) stated in the Qur'an:
"Do not commit injustice, nor be subjected to it."
[Surah Al-Baqarah: 279]
This verse shows that the person who does not repay the original amount of debt is considered unjust, just as the creditor who demands more than what is owed is also unjust. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) warned against borrowing with the intention of wasting the money:
"Whoever borrows with the intention of wasting it, Allah will ruin him."
[Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Borrowing, Debt Repayment, and Bankruptcy: Hadith 2387]
Imam Ibn Hajar (رحمه الله) explained that this destruction can manifest in the person's life through loss of wealth or health, and it can also refer to the punishment in the Hereafter.
[Fath al-Bari, Volume 5, Page 57]
On the Day of Judgment, such a person will be presented as a thief or a robber, as narrated in a Hadith:
"The person who borrows with the intention of not repaying, taking money dishonestly, and dies without repayment, will be presented on the Day of Judgment as a thief."
[Sahih al-Targhib wa al-Tarhib: Hadith 352/2]
Moreover, the person who dies with unpaid debt will have their good deeds used to settle the debt instead of money, as stated in another Hadith:
"If a person dies with a debt of dirhams or dinars, on the Day of Judgment, it will not be paid with dirhams or dinars, but with his good deeds."
[Sunan Ibn Majah, Book of Mortgages: Hadith 2439]