He was also asked:

A man was in debt to another man with whom he had been trading in merchandise for seven years. The amount owed had reached five hundred dirhams, of which he had repaid three hundred. The creditor held a house as security and had brought him before the judge.

The debtor said, “Let him give me eight days, and I will repay him,” but the creditor would not grant him this respite. Is it permissible to imprison him?

He replied:

If a man has merchandise and asks for time to sell it and repay his creditor from the proceeds, he must be allowed the time needed for that. Likewise, if he can arrange to repay his debt by borrowing or some other means, and asks not to be placed under restraint until he has done so, his request must be granted. It is not permissible to prevent him from doing this by imprisoning him. And Allah knows best.

He was also asked:

A man owed debts to several people but was unable to pay the amount due. They all agreed to grant him a respite and have him released, on the understanding that he would trade with the money he still had left and repay them. They carried out this arrangement, except for one of them, who refused to do