Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
If someone owes one money but seems to have forgotten about it – should the person who it is owed to remind that person?
Walaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,
1. There is nothing wrong with reminding the person in a tactful manner. This is one’s own right.
2. It is recommended to relieve people who owe one money if one is able, especially if the person is in financial difficulty.
Imam Nawawi mentions in Riyad al-Salihin (Gardens of the Righteous’, tr. Ust. A. Bewley):
240. Chapter: On the excellence of being generous in buying and selling, taking and giving, settling debts and accounts well, giving slightly more in the measure and weighing, and the prohibition against being stingy. The excellence of granting a delay to the wealthy and the one in hardship, or cancelling the debt
Allah says, “Whatever good you do, Allah knows it,” (W2:213; H2:215) and the Almighty says, “‘My people! give full measure and full weight, with justice; do not diminish people’s goods” (W11:84; H11:85) The Almighty says, “Woe to the stingers! Those who, when they take a measure from people, exact full measure, but when they give them a measure or weight, hand over less than is due. Do such people not realise that they will be raised up on a Terrible Day, the Day mankind will stand before the Lord of all the worlds?” (83:1-6)
1367. Abu Hurayra reported that a man came to ask the Prophet to pay a debt he owed him and spoke rudely to him. The Companions made for him but the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “Let him be. Anyone with a right is allowed to speak.” Then he said, “Give him one the right age for the one he is owed.” They said, “Messenger of Allah, we can only find an older, more valuable one.” He said, “Give to him. The best of you is he who is most generous in settlement.” [Agreed upon]
1368. Jabir reported the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “May Allah show mercy to a man who is generous when he sells, when he buys and when he asks for settlement.” [al-Bukhari]
1369. Abu Qatada said, “I heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, “Whoever wants Allah to save him from the calamity of the Day of Rising should give more time to someone in financial difficulties or absolve him.” [Muslim]
1370. Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “There was a man who used give people credit. He used to say to his slave, “When you come to someone in difficulties, give him more time, perhaps Allah will excuse us.’ Then he met Allah and He did excuse him.” [Agreed upon]
1371. Abu Mas’ud al-Badri reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “A man among those before you underwent the reckoning and no good at all was found for him except that, being a wealthy man, he used to do business with people and used to order his employees to make allowances for anyone in difficulties. So Allah, the Mighty and Exalted, said, ‘We have more right to do that than you,’ and they pardoned him.” [Muslim]
1372. Hudhayfa said, “One of the slaves of Allah Almighty to whom Allah gave money will be brought before Him, and He will say to him, “What did you do in the world?” He will say – and they cannot conceal anything from Allah – “O my Lord, You gave me wealth and I used to do business with people. Part of my character was excusing others. I used to be easy with those who were wealthy and give time to pay to those in difficulties.’ Allah Almighty will say, ‘I have more right to do that than you. Pardon My slave.'” ‘Uqba ibn ‘Amr and Abu Mas’ud al-Ansari said: “This is how we heard it from the mouth of the Messenger of Allah.” [Muslim]
1373. Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “Anyone who grants a respite to someone in difficulty or absolves him, on the Day of Rising Allah will give him shade under the shade of His throne on a day when there is no shade but His shade.” [at-Tirmidhi]
1374. Jabir reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, bought a camel from him for [two uqiyyas and a dirham or two dirhams] and he weighed it out for him and then gave extra.” [Agreed upon]
1375. Abu Safwan Suwayd ibn Qays said, “Makhrama al-‘Abdi and I brought some clothes from Hajar and the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, came to us and bargained with us over some trousers. I had a weigher who was paid to weigh. The Prophet* said to the weigher, ‘Weigh and give more.'” [Abu Dawud and at-Tirmidhi]
And Allah alone gives success.
Wassalam,
Faraz Rabbani