This shows how serious a matter debt is and that one must never take it lightly. Sadly, in our own age many of us are lax regarding debt: you will see someone purchase an item he does not even need—something purely for luxury—on credit, in instalments or the like, and he thinks nothing of it. You may also see a poor man buy a car for eighty thousand while he could acquire one for twenty thousand. All of this arises from scant understanding of the faith and weak certainty in Allah. Strive not to buy anything on instalment; and if necessity leaves you no choice, then limit yourself to the bare minimum, keeping as far away from debt as you can. We ask Allah to protect us and you from whatever angers Him, and to clear our debts and yours, and the debts owed to His servants.
- Abu Hurayrah—may Allah be pleased with him—reported that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Do you know who the bankrupt one is?” They replied, “In our understanding, the bankrupt is the person who has neither money nor goods.” He said, “The truly bankrupt in my community is the one who will come on the Day of Resurrection with prayer, fasting, and zakah, yet he will have insulted this person, slandered that one, consumed the wealth of this one, shed the blood of that one, and beaten this one. Each of them will be given from his good deeds, and if his good deeds are exhausted before he has settled what he owes, their sins will be taken from them and cast upon him, after which he will be thrown into the Fire.” Narrated by Muslim.