He was asked:

A man owed a debt, and his creditor had him imprisoned. The debtor was poor and had no wealth, but had become entitled to the benefits of an orchard through a lawful endowment. Its yield was insufficient to repay the debt during the stated period up to the time of repayment.

He replied:

If he is insolvent, he may neither be imprisoned nor pressed for payment. Rather, he must be granted respite until he has the means to pay.

If he has nothing with which to repay the debt except the benefits of the endowment established for him, the creditor should recover as much as possible from the rental income of the endowed property. If he is found to possess other wealth, the creditor should recover from it whatever is possible. And Allah knows best.

He—may Allah have mercy on him—was also asked:

If someone owes an obligation but refuses to fulfill it, must his acknowledgment be obtained through punishment?

He replied:

The ruling of Islamic law is that anyone who owes an obligation, is capable of fulfilling it, but refuses to do so is to be punished by beating and imprisonment, repeatedly, until