What Should a Lender Do if the Borrower Cannot Repay Because of Hardship?
ما واجب الدائن إذا وجد إعسار من المدين؟
What should the lender do if he finds the borrower is not able to pay back due to financial difficulties?
The answer rules that once a debtor's insolvency is established, the lender must give him respite, and may not demand the debt or cause his imprisonment, because Allah commands respite until he can pay (2:280); remitting the debt for a poor debtor is recommended.
Islamic finance balances the strict obligation of repaying debts with profound compassion and mercy for those who fall into genuine financial hardship.
Dealing with an Insolvent Debtor
1. The Obligation of Leniency
If it is established to the lender that the borrower is insolvent and has nothing with which to repay the debt, he must give him respite, and it is forbidden for him to demand the debt and to cause his imprisonment, because Allah commands that he be given respite until he is able to pay.
2. The Quranic Command
(If it is difficult for someone to repay a debt, postpone it until a time of ease. And if you waive it as an act of charity, it will be better for you, if only you knew.) Al-Baqara 2: 280.
3. The Virtue of Waiving the Debt
It is desirable for the creditor to write off the debt if the debtor is poor, so he should be kind as Allah was Kind to him, and Muslims should seek to relieve the poor of their debts.
ما واجب الدائن إذا وجد إعسار من المدين؟
يقرر الجواب أنه إذا ثبت إعسار المدين وجب على الدائن إنظاره، وحرم عليه مطالبته بالدين والتسبب في سجنه، لأمر الله بالإنظار إلى ميسرة (البقرة 2:280)، ويستحب له أن يضع الدين عن المدين الفقير.
يوازن التمويل الإسلامي بين الالتزام الصارم بسداد الديون والرحمة والشفقة العميقة تجاه أولئك الذين يقعون في ضائقة مالية حقيقية.
التعامل مع المدين المعسر
1. وجوب الإمهال
إذا ثبت عند الدائن إعسار المدين، وأنه لا يجد ما يقضي به الدين، وجب عليه إنظاره، ويحرم عليه مطالبته بالدين والتسبب في سجنه؛ لأمر الله بإنظاره حتى يوسر.
2. الأمر القرآني
قال الله تعالى: (وَإِن كَانَ ذُو عُسْرَةٍ فَنَظِرَةٌ إِلَىٰ مَيْسَرَةٍ ۚ وَأَن تَصَدَّقُوا خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ ۖ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ) البقرة 2:280.
3. فضل إسقاط الدين
ويستحب للدائن أن يضع عنه الدين إذا كان المدين فقيراً، فيحسن كما أحسن الله إليه، ويسن للمسلمين أن يسعوا في التخفيف من الديون على الفقراء.
1. Respite Is an Obligation | الإنظار واجب
Allah commands that a debtor in hardship be given time until he is able to pay (Al-Baqarah 2:280). The Prophet said that whoever gives respite to someone in difficulty, or remits his debt, Allah will shade him on the Day of Resurrection under the shade of His Throne, on a day when there is no shade but His (Jami at-Tirmidhi 1306, graded sahih by al-Albani).
وَإِن كَانَ ذُو عُسْرَةٍ فَنَظِرَةٌ إِلَىٰ مَيْسَرَةٍ (سورة البقرة: 280)
أمر الله تعالى بإنظار المدين المعسر إلى ميسرة (البقرة 2:280). وقال النبي ﷺ: "من أنظر معسرا أو وضع له أظله الله يوم القيامة تحت ظل عرشه يوم لا ظل إلا ظله" (جامع الترمذي 1306، صححه الألباني).
2. Letting a Debtor Off | التجاوز عن المعسر
The Prophet told of a merchant who lent to people and, whenever he saw a debtor in hardship, told his young men: let him off, that Allah may let us off; and Allah let him off (Sahih al-Bukhari 2078). The Quran itself says that remitting the debt as charity is better for the lender, if only he knew (Al-Baqarah 2:280).
وَأَن تَصَدَّقُوا خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ ۖ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ (سورة البقرة: 280)
أخبر النبي ﷺ عن تاجر كان يداين الناس، فإذا رأى معسرا قال لفتيانه: "تجاوزوا عنه، لعل الله أن يتجاوز عنا"، فتجاوز الله عنه (صحيح البخاري 2078). وقد قال الله تعالى إن التصدق على المعسر بالدين خير للدائن إن كان يعلم (البقرة 2:280).
3. Delay by One Who Can Pay | مطل القادر
The duty of patience is owed to a debtor who truly cannot pay. A debtor who is able to pay and delays is committing injustice, as the Prophet said (Sahih al-Bukhari 2288), so the creditor may demand his right from him. This is why the answer conditions respite on the debtor's insolvency being established.
إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَن تُؤَدُّوا الْأَمَانَاتِ إِلَىٰ أَهْلِهَا (سورة النساء: 58)
وجوب الصبر إنما هو في حق المدين العاجز عن الوفاء، أما القادر الذي يماطل فقد قال فيه النبي ﷺ: "مطل الغني ظلم" (صحيح البخاري 2288)، فللدائن أن يطالبه بحقه. ولهذا قيد الجواب وجوب الإنظار بثبوت إعسار المدين.
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
Can a lender force an insolvent borrower to go to prison?
No. The answer states that once the borrower is shown to be insolvent, with nothing to repay the debt, it is forbidden to demand the debt or cause his imprisonment. The lender must give him time until he is able to pay (Al-Baqarah 2:280).
Is it mandatory to forgive the debt of a poor person?
No. Respite is the obligation; remitting the debt is recommended, and the Quran says that giving it as charity is better for the lender (Al-Baqarah 2:280).
What is the reward for giving respite to a debtor in hardship?
The Prophet said that whoever gives respite to someone in difficulty, or remits his debt, Allah will shade him on the Day of Resurrection under the shade of His Throne (Jami at-Tirmidhi 1306, graded sahih by al-Albani).
Does the same apply to a debtor who can pay but delays?
No. Respite is owed to a debtor who truly cannot pay. The Prophet said that delay by a wealthy debtor is injustice (Sahih al-Bukhari 2288), so the creditor may demand his right from him.