Written by: Fadhilatul Sheikh Hafiz Abdul Sattar Hammad (May Allah protect him)
يُغْفَرُ لِلشَّهِيدِ كُلُّ ذَنْبٍ إِلَّا الدَّيْنَ
“All the sins of a martyr are forgiven, except for debt.”
[Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Imara: 4883]
A man asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ): “O Messenger of Allah! If I am martyred in the path of Allah with patience, steadfastness, and seeking reward, without retreating but rather advancing, will Allah forgive all my sins due to this martyrdom?” The Prophet (ﷺ) replied: “Yes.” As the man was about to leave, the Prophet (ﷺ) called him back and clarified: “All sins will be forgiven except for debt. Gabriel just informed me of this.”
[Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Imara: 4880]
On another occasion, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“SubhanAllah! SubhanAllah! SubhanAllah! How severe a warning has been revealed!”
The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) asked: “What is this severe warning about?” The Prophet (ﷺ) replied:
“It is regarding debt.”
Further explaining, he said:
“By the One in Whose hand is my soul, if a man is martyred in the path of Allah, then brought back to life, martyred again, brought back to life, and then martyred again, yet he has debt, he will not enter Paradise until his debt is repaid.”
[Musnad Imam Ahmad, Vol. 5, p. 290]
This illustrates the gravity of debt and the obligation upon each believer to settle it before facing Allah.
يُغْفَرُ لِلشَّهِيدِ كُلُّ ذَنْبٍ إِلَّا الدَّيْنَ
“All the sins of a martyr are forgiven, except for debt.”
[Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Imara: 4883]
Points of Reflection:
Sincerely sacrificing one's life in the path of Allah is a highly accepted act that becomes an atonement for all sins. However, if the martyr owes a debt, he will not be freed from accountability for it, as this debt is a right owed to people, and it can only be forgiven by the creditor. The strictness of Allah’s law on this matter is illustrated by the following Hadith:A man asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ): “O Messenger of Allah! If I am martyred in the path of Allah with patience, steadfastness, and seeking reward, without retreating but rather advancing, will Allah forgive all my sins due to this martyrdom?” The Prophet (ﷺ) replied: “Yes.” As the man was about to leave, the Prophet (ﷺ) called him back and clarified: “All sins will be forgiven except for debt. Gabriel just informed me of this.”
[Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Imara: 4880]
On another occasion, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“SubhanAllah! SubhanAllah! SubhanAllah! How severe a warning has been revealed!”
The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) asked: “What is this severe warning about?” The Prophet (ﷺ) replied:
“It is regarding debt.”
Further explaining, he said:
“By the One in Whose hand is my soul, if a man is martyred in the path of Allah, then brought back to life, martyred again, brought back to life, and then martyred again, yet he has debt, he will not enter Paradise until his debt is repaid.”
[Musnad Imam Ahmad, Vol. 5, p. 290]
This illustrates the gravity of debt and the obligation upon each believer to settle it before facing Allah.