although the judge is permitted to do so. However, whenever he considers it appropriate to require the debtor himself to sell the property and repay the debt—whether to deter him and others like him from delaying payment, because the judge is occupied with other matters, or because some harm is feared from his undertaking it—the debtor is to be punished by beating until he undertakes it himself.

If he says:

“Selling it now for immediate payment would cause me a loss. Instead, I will sell it on deferred terms and assign you the payment owed by the purchaser,”

and the creditors say:

“We will not accept an assignment, but we agree that it may be sold with payment deferred until that date, and that he should collect the payment and repay us. Any amount lost in dealings with the purchaser is to be borne from his own funds,”

then the creditors’ request is to be granted. The judge may sell the property and appoint someone to collect the payment and repay the creditors, while also punishing the debtor for neglecting his obligation.

The creditors may demand the immediate sale of whatever can be sold for immediate payment, provided it is sold at its fair market price. The debtor must comply with this demand. The judge may carry this out, as explained above, and punish him for neglecting his obligation. And Allah knows best.

He was asked:

About someone who owed a debt but did not repay it until a claim was brought against him before the judge and others, and travel expenses were incurred: is the debtor liable for those expenses or not?

He replied:

All praise is due to Allah. If the person who owes the payment is able to pay