the Almighty, who rewarded him in the very way he had treated people: just as that man was lenient with others, Allah was lenient with him and forgave him. This is because Allah is in the servant’s aid so long as the servant is in his brother’s aid, and because reward is commensurate with good deeds. The ḥadīth of Abū Hurayrah—and the two reports that follow—clearly prove the merit of giving the insolvent extra time, overlooking their debts, and absolving them outright.

Realize that doing so does not diminish your wealth in the least, for the Prophet ﷺ said, “Charity never decreases wealth.” On the contrary, it brings blessing, goodness, increase, and growth to your property.

Granting respite to an insolvent debtor is an obligation. When your debtor is unable to pay, you must allow him time and it is impermissible to distress or press him, for Allah says, “and if the debtor is in hardship, then grant him respite until ease.” There is a difference between remitting the debt—canceling it for the insolvent—and merely granting delay. Granting delay is obligatory, while remission is recommended; yet remission is unquestionably superior, for it clears the debtor’s liability completely, whereas delay leaves the liability in place, though the creditor may not demand payment until the debtor can afford it.

Some people—may Allah protect us—have debts owed to them by the poor, yet they harm them, beat them, hound them for payment, drag them before the authorities, and imprison them, keeping them from