Al-Muqaddimāt al-Mumahhidāt - Ibn Rush al-Jadd - (2/318)

Al-Muqaddimāt al-MumahhidātIbn Rush al-Jadd

name—when you are one of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him!’ He replied, ‘The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, named me Surraq, and I shall never give up that name.’ I asked, ‘Why did he name you Surraq?’ He said, ‘I met a Bedouin who had two camels for sale. I bought them from him and said, “Come with me so that I can pay you.” I entered my house, then slipped out through a rear exit and spent the proceeds from the two camels on my own needs. I stayed out of sight until I thought the Bedouin had left. But when I came out, he was still waiting. He seized me and brought me before the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, and I told him what had happened. The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, asked, “What made you do what you did?” I replied, “I spent the proceeds on my own needs, Messenger of Allah.” He said, “Then pay him.” I replied, “I have nothing.” He said, “You are Surraq. Bedouin, take him and sell him until you recover what you are owed.” People began offering him bids for me. He turned to them and asked, “What do you want?” They replied, “We want to buy him from you and set him free.” He said, “By Allah, none of you needs him more than I do. Go; I have set you free.” Then he glorified Allah.’”

This is among the rulings of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, in light of the words of the Most High:

“If the debtor is in hardship, then let there be a postponement until a time of ease.” [Al-Baqarah: 280]

And Allah grants success.

Section

When a man is overwhelmed by debt and his creditors bring proceedings against him, the ruling is that he is to be barred from financial dealings, whatever assets he is found to possess are to be placed under legal restriction, and he is to be detained for investigation. Once his creditors have assembled and sworn their oaths, whatever assets are found belonging to him are divided among them in proportion to their claims. As for the debt that remains outstanding against him, he is required to swear an oath once his period of investigative detention has ended—a period that varies according to whether the sum involved is small or large. As reported from Ibn al-Mājishūn, he swears by Allah, besides whom there is no deity, that he has no assets, apparent or concealed, and that should he acquire any wealth, he will pay the creditor his due.

الاسم - وأنت رجل من أصحاب رسول الله ﷺ! فقال: إن رسول الله- ﷺ سماني سرقا، فلن أدع ذلك أبدا، فقلت: ولم سماك سرقا؟ قال: لقيت رجلا من أهل البادية ببعيرين له يبيعهما فابتعتهما منه، وقلت له: انطلق معي حتى أعطيك، فدخلت بيتي، ثم خرجت من خلف لي، وقضيت بثمن البعيرين حاجتي. وتغيبت حتى ظننت أن الأعرابي قد خرج، فخرجت- والأعرابي مقيم- فأخذني فقدمني إلى رسول الله ﷺ فأخبرته الخبر، فقال رسول الله ﷺ: ما حملك على ما صنعت؟ فقلت: قضيت بثمنهما حاجتي يا رسول الله، قال: فاقضه، قلت: ليس عندي شيء قال: أنت سرق، اذهب يا أعرابي فبعه حتى تستوفي حقك؛ فجعل الناس يسومونه بي، ويلتفت إليهم فيقول: ما تريدون؟ فيقولون: نريد أن نبتاعه منك ونعتقه؛ قال: فوالله ما منكم أحوج إليه مني، اذهب فقد أعتقتك، ثم سبح الله». هذا من حكم رسول الله ﷺ، لِقَوْلِهِ تَعَالَى: ﴿وَإِنْ كَانَ ذُو عُسْرَةٍ فَنَظِرَةٌ إِلَى مَيْسَرَةٍ﴾ [البقرة: ٢٨٠]، وبالله التوفيق. فصل فالحكم في الرجل إذا غرق في الدين وقام به غرماؤه أن يضرب على يده، ويحجر عليه فيما يوجد له من المال، ويحبس استبراء؛ فإذا اجتمع أهل دينه قسم ما وجد له من مال بينهم بالحصص بعد أيمانهم، واستحلف فيما بقي قبله من الدين- إذا انقضى أمد استبرائه بالحبس؛ وذلك يختلف في قلة المال وكثرته على ما روي عن ابن الماجشون: بالله الذي لا إله إلا هو ما له مال ظاهر ولا باطن، ولئن وجد مالا ليؤدين إليه حقه.