Question:
Assalamualaikum hazrat Mufti Sb
If a person passes away with debts, will he be sinful?
The hadith mentions regarding his soul being held back and the lilke.
Jazakallah
Answer:
In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
At the outset, it is important to understand that Islam has highly emphasized the importance of paying off one’s debts before he passes away. Great emphasis on fulfilling one’s debts and the severity in not doing so can be found in numerous Ahadith. The hadith you refer to is the following:
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم: “نَفْسُ الْمُؤْمِنِ مُعَلَّقَةٌ بِدَيْنِهِ حَتَّى يُقْضَى عَنْهُ” (جامع الترمذي:1078)
Translation: Abu Hurairah (Radhiyallahu Anhu) narrated that:The Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “The believer’s soul is suspended by his debt until it is settled for him.”
(Jami Al-Tirmidhi:1078)
Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) also refused to perform the Janazah Salah of an individual who was in debt until anothercompanion took the responsibility upon himself to pay the debt.
Based on the above, one can understand the severity of not fulfilling one’s debts before passing away. Thus, one who has outstanding debts should record it in his Wasiyyat(Will) and take the necessary steps to ensure that the debt be paid from his estate. If any individual was to volunteer to pay off the outstanding debts, then that is a good deed that will be rewarded by Allah.
In hislifetime, heshould endeavour to pay off all debts by making adjustments inhis comforts. However, despite all efforts, if hehappens to pass away without fulfilling his debts, then it is hoped that Allah Ta’ala will judge the person according to hisintention.
