MENTIONING debts, the writer’s memory is directed to the story of the time of the Prophet PBUH where he refused to complete the funeral prayer for those who did not pay their debts.

Anas bin Malik said: “We were with the Prophet PBUH, and then he came to someone who was being prayed. He also asked, “Do your friends have debts?” They replied, “Yes.”

Then he said: “Then what good is it for you if I pray to a person whose spirit does not ascend to heaven? If there is someone who guarantees his debt, I will perform prayers for him because indeed my prayers will be beneficial to him.” (Narrated by at-Tabarani)

Based on the hadith, matters related to debt cannot be taken lightly. It still needs to be explained even though we are no longer in this mortal world.

What is the law of debt? Is it true that the spirits of those who do not pay off their debts will be unsettled? Will the debt be claimed in the hereafter?

Must be for daruriat matters

To base the question, Sinar Islam interviewed preacher Ustaz Hadi Talhah.

USTAZ HADI

He explained that debt is actually a mandatory thing in Islam when we really need a certain amount of money to make ends meet.

However, he said, priority should be given to matters of daruriat rather than hajiat.

“The necessity is in the things we need to meet the needs of our lives, such as being in debt to buy food, drinks, shelter, vehicles and so on.

“As for debts that are not necessary, such as debts to buy televisions, household appliances and other things that are not needed in Islam, it is not very encouraged,” he said when met at the Ara Damansara Mosque, Petaling Jaya, Selangor recently.

Ustaz Hadi explained, Islam outlines several guidelines when in debt. Those who are in debt are circumcised to write for the record.

Said ALLAH SWT: “O you who have believed, when you contract a debt for a specified term, write it down. Let a scribe write it between you in justice. The scribe should not refuse to write as Allah has taught him. The one who has the obligation should dictate, and let him fear Allah, his Lord, and not leave anything out of it. If the one who has the obligation is of limited understanding or weak or unable to dictate, then let his guardian dictate in justice. Bring two witnesses from among your men. If two men are not available, then one man and two women from those whom you accept as witnesses, so that if one of the women errs, the other can remind her. Do not be weary to write it, whether it is small or large, for its specified term. This is more just in the sight of Allah and stronger as evidence and more likely to prevent doubt between you, except when it is an immediate transaction which you conduct among yourselves. For then, there is no blame upon you if you do not write it. Take witnesses when you conclude a contract. Let no scribe be harmed or any witness. If you do so, it is grave disobedience. Fear Allah, and Allah teaches you. Allah is Knowing of all things”” (Surah al-Baqarah, verse 282)

The religious expert explained that the purpose of the debt was to have evidence to prevent disputes in the future.

“So it is good to have a record and there are also two witnesses to witness the debt being reported so that there will be no dispute later in the day. That’s actually why the debt was recorded,” he said.

When he is in debt, Ustaz Hadi advises that the debt be paid off. If not explained, it will cause the spirit of a slave to be ‘hanging’ (unsettled) after his death.

“The meaning is that the spirit does not arrive to be given mercy by ALLAH SWT. When a person dies, then the spirit will go to a place that Allah is blessed with and a place where Allah is not merciful. Therefore, he wandered or ‘hanged’ until his debt was explained by his family members.

“That is why we have to avoid debt and pray to Allah so that we do not become among those who are in debt,” he said.

He also quoted a prayer to avoid debt. The prayer was organized by the Prophet Muhammad PBUH to Mu’az bin Jabal, namely ‘Allahumma inni a’uzubika minal hammi walhazan wa’a’uzubuki minal ajzi walkasal, wa’a’uzubika minal jubni wal buhl, wa’a’uzubika min ghalabatid daini waqahrir rijal’ (O Allah, O Lord, I take refuge in you from sorrow and sorrow, from weakness and laziness, from fear and ignorance, and from debt and human pressure).

“That’s why we pray a lot so that we are not among the people who are in debt. We are worried that we will not be able to pay our debts and cause our spirits to depend, not to receive the grace of ALLAH SWT,” he said.

Not in heaven

Meanwhile, preacher Dr Mohd Farid Ravi Abdullah shared his knowledge about the consequences for those who owe money and did not explain it.

DR MOHD FARID RAVI

He said that the action was actually ‘trapping’ himself far from Allah’s paradise. In a hadith narrated by at-Tirmidhi, it is stated that when a person dies, he is free to enter paradise as long as there are no three things that bind him, namely the void, the debt and the theft of public property.

In another hadith, the Prophet PBUH said: “The soul of a believer depends on his debt so that the debt is paid off for him.” (Narrated by at-Tirmidhi)

Therefore, Dr Mohd Farid reminds us not to ‘mess’ with debt.

“If a person is in debt, he works and pays it back, he actually becomes worship. In fact, ALLAH SWT will give him more sustenance to pay the debt.

“However, if someone ‘runs’ from the debt, then we will see that Allah will further narrow his sustenance and various calamities will befall him. He also became a human being who was not good at thanking for the one leniency that Islam gives.

“Basically, the person (who gives the debt) can choose not to help because that is his property. However, on the basis of humanity, friendship and brotherhood, he is also given (debt assistance),” he said.

Is it true that the creditor will seek back the borrower in the hereafter to reclaim his debt if it is not paid? Dr Mohd Farid said: “That’s right. To pay off the debt of the person who owes it, perhaps he has some deeds (goodness) that he brings. So, with that practice, it will be ‘transferred’ to the person to whom he owes earlier. Therefore, bankruptcy is the practice of those who fail to pay off the debt.”

Debt payment efforts

Whatever Dr Mohd Farid explained, we need to make an effort to pay the debt. According to the Senior Lecturer of the Department of Quran and Sunnah, Faculty of Islamic Studies and Civilization, Selangor International Islamic University College, if it cannot be completed within the promised period, inform the creditor about the constraints.

PAY debts to creditors even if the debt is small.

“Let’s say we owe RM1,000 and promise to pay it next month after getting our salary. However, when the time comes, we may have other commitments such as a car accident or a sick child who forces the money to be prioritized for the commitment, negotiate with the creditor.

“It is better to be honest with the creditor in repaying the debt. However, the person who owes the debt has to feel that it is a debt, not people’s money and so on. If he needs a side job, he has to do it to earn money and pay off the debt.

“Therefore, after the funeral prayers, the imam or the heirs of the deceased will tell them that if anyone wants to claim the debt of the deceased, they can claim it from the heirs,” he said.

In another matter, Dr Mohd Farid also reprimanded the attitude of the community who usually make announcements regarding the debt claims after the funeral prayers are fulfilled.

“It should have been asked or told before the funeral prayers. The Prophet Muhammad PBUH also asked before the funeral prayer. This is because the person who wants to pray for the deceased must make sure that their hearts do not have anything (hidden) with the deceased,” he explained.

To one question, the religious man also reminded us not to immediately be reluctant to pay debts even though the debtor was a rich person.

“Don’t even think in your head “Oh, even if you borrow RM1,000, if you don’t pay, he (the lender) is not poor”.

“Remember! Whether he is rich, a millionaire or a tycoon, it is not about us. The question for those of us who owe money is to find a way (how) to pay the debt. That’s it. Let alone RM1,000. Even if the value is only RM1 (we owe), it is still his (the creditor’s right). He has the right to sue back. So don’t look for excuses not to pay debts or delay it,” he explained.

Avoid debt if you can’t afford to pay

Bank loans are also included in the debt that must be paid and are ‘threatened’ with severe threats as mentioned in several hadiths if they are deliberately not paid.

Among the threats is that the soul of the debtor will be ‘hanging’ (unsettled) as long as he does not pay off his debt, besides the debt will be paid to the creditor with the reward of the debtor’s charity in the hereafter.

Therefore, the ex-Mufti of the Federal Territories, Datuk Seri Dr Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri advised the public to do their best to avoid getting into debt unless they are confident that they can afford to pay it back.

DR ZULKIFLI

“However, there are various ways to ensure that the loan is repaid, such as taking a takaful plan to guarantee debt payment and so on. We must strive to ensure that we can pay off the debt.

“Furthermore, the debt is al-dayn al-muajjal (debt that can be deferred). Therefore, it can be postponed to certain times if there are constraints,” he was quoted as saying in the article Al-Kafi #1325: Does Bank Debt Cause Spirits and Practices to Hang which was published on the official website of the Federal Territories Mufti’s Office last July.

Meanwhile, for debts that have been legalized by the creditor, but still want to be paid by the debtor, Sinar Islam interviewed preacher Ustaz Elyas Ismail to unravel the problem.

USTAZ ELYAS

He said, if the situation occurs, the debtor can turn the amount he wants to pay as alms.

“We can give alms to others in the form of money or we buy things and the intention of the reward is for our friend because he helped us lend him money in the past,” he explained.

In addition, the religious explained the cleric, we can also pray for the person who lent the money.

“One of the advantages of people praying for others is that the angels will take that person’s prayer and return it to the person who prayed earlier.

“So, pray for the person who lent us the money. The prayer will also ‘come home’ to us. The important thing is that our relationship with our friends or people who borrowed money is always in good condition until heaven,” he said.