i begin with the Name of Allaah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
Thread: Hadith: "Whoever alleviates (the situation of) one in dire straits (who cannot repay his debt), Allaah will alleviate his lot in both this world and the Hereafter." Recorded by Muslim
Undoubtedly, the Day of Judgement can be a very difficult & compelling day. Allaah has described it a difficult day for the disbelievers." The sovereignty that day will be the true sovereignty, belonging to the Most Gracious. And it will be a hard day on the disbelievers." Q25:26
"Truly, that Day will be Hard Day - Far from easy for the disbelievers." Qur'an 74:9-10 Shaykh Nasir As-Sa'ady in his tafseer said the understanding here is that it will be an easy Day for the believers.
The only way to be rescued from such difficulties on the Day of Judgement is by striving to please Allaah so as to attain His Mercy. One of such ways is by relieving one in dire straits who cannot repay his debt.
"They fulfill (their) vows, and they fear a Day whose evil will be wide-spreading. And they give food, inspite of their love for it to the poor, the orphan, and the captive, (Saying): "We feed you seeking Allaah's Countenance only. We wish for no reward nor thanks from you." Q76
"Verily, We fear from our Lord a Day, hard and distressful, that will make the faces look horrible (from extreme dislike of it)." Qur'an 76:10
May Allaah save us from the horror of the Day of Judgement. Someone said it so beautifully that relieving one brother's debt is an act that is beloved to Allaah and has obvious implications for the strength of the brotherhood.
Ibn Rajabn in Jami' said there are basically two ways by which one can relieve a person's debt&gain the blessings mentioned in the hadith. First, the loaner can wait until the impoverished debtor has the means to repay the debt. In fact, this is an obligation commanded by Allaah.
It is not right for a Muslim to demand his money back from a brother who he knows sincerely cannot afford to pay him. Allaah says: "And if the debtor is in straitened circumstances, then grant him time until it is easy for him to repay." Q2:280
The second option is to reduce the debt or to forgive the debt completely...Allaah says: "But if you remit it (the debt) by way of charity, that is better for you if you did but know." Qur'an 2:280
"This hadith also includes giving the one in debt charity or a gift to help him pay off his debts."
"There was a trader who used to give loans to the people. If he noticed that one was in straitened circumstances, he would tell his boy (working for him), 'Excuse him so that Allaah may overlook (and forgive our sins) for us." Therefore, Allaah overlooked and forgave him." Hadith
This hadith is in Bukhari and Muslim
Another hadith in Muslim, the Prophet (SAW) said: "Whoever would be pleased to have Allaah save him from a distress on the Day of Resurrection should then relieve one in straitened circumstances or completely remove his debt."
"If a Muslim makes life very difficult for another Muslim by making him repay a debt that he simply cannot afford to pay, then Allaah may also make life difficult for him both in this life and on the Day of Judgement." Sharh Rayaadh
