Chapter: Hastening to Settle the Deceased’s Debts and to Prepare Him for Burial—except when death is sudden, in which case one waits until it is certain he has died.

943 – Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet ﷺ said: “The soul of the believer remains suspended because of his debt until it is paid on his behalf.” Al-Tirmidhi recorded this narration and declared it hasan (sound).

944 – Husayn ibn Wuhwah (may Allah be pleased with him) related that Talhah ibn al-Baraʾ ibn ʿAzib (may Allah be pleased with him) fell ill, so the Prophet ﷺ came to visit him. He said, “I think Talhah has reached the point of death. Inform me when that happens and make haste with him, for it is not fitting that a Muslim’s corpse be kept among his family.” Reported by Abu Dawud.

[Explanation]
The compiler (may Allah have mercy on him), in his book Riyadh al-Salihin, states: “Chapter on hastening to settle the debt of the deceased and to speed up his preparation—unless he dies suddenly, in which case one waits until death is certain.”