for damaged property, and other rights owed to people. These must be discharged as promptly as circumstances allow; delaying them is unlawful.

The evidence is both textual and rational.

As for the textual evidence, the Prophet ﷺ said: “The soul of the believer is held in suspense by his debt until it is paid on his behalf.” This hadith is weak, but it is supported by the hadith of Abu Qatadah concerning the man who was brought to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. He asked, “Does he owe any debt?” They replied, “Yes, two dinars.” So he held back and did not offer the funeral prayer over him. Abu Qatadah then said, “The two dinars are my responsibility, O Messenger of Allah.” He asked, “Have the creditor’s rights been fulfilled, and has the deceased been released from them?” He replied, “Yes.” Then he stepped forward and offered the prayer. (1)

As for the rational evidence: the basic rule regarding an obligation is that one must hasten to fulfil it, and it is not permissible to delay an obligation unless there is evidence requiring its delay.