Long before our time, among the Children of Israel, a man borrowed 1,000 dinars. No witness. No guarantor. No paper — and not one coin was lost.
1,000 dinars borrowed — for a fixed term.
No witness. No paper. “Allah suffices as both.”
Term due — and not one ship sails there.
He hollows a log. Gold and a letter sealed inside.
“O Allah — I entrust it to You.” He casts it in.
The lender saws driftwood for his fire — gold, and the letter.
A companion died owing 2 dinars. The Prophet ﷺ would not pray over him. Abū Qatādah stood: “They are on me.” Next day the Prophet ﷺ asked, “Have you paid?” “Yes.” He said: “Now his skin has become cool for him.”
Jābir's father fell at Uḥud leaving heavy debt; the date harvest could not cover it. The Prophet ﷺ walked around the heap and made du'ā. Every creditor was paid in full — and the heap stood as if untouched.
إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَن تُؤَدُّوا الْأَمَانَاتِ إِلَىٰ أَهْلِهَا
“Render trusts back to those they belong to.”
Qur'an · An-Nisā' 4:58
نَفْسُ الْمُؤْمِنِ مُعَلَّقَةٌ بِدَيْنِهِ
“The believer's soul stays suspended by his debt.”
Tirmidhī 1078 · ḥasan
خِيَارُكُمْ أَحْسَنُكُمْ قَضَاءً
“The best of you are the best in repaying.”
Bukhārī 2305