Author: Said Yai bin Imanul Huda, MA

Islam is a noble religion. Islam already oversees all aspects in social life, including debt and credit. Not only does Islam allow a man to owe other, it also regulates the etiquettes and rules in debt.
The basic ruling of debt is permissible (jaa-iz)

Allah the Glorified and Exalted mentioned some of the etiquettes in debt inside the Qur’an. Allaj the Glorified and Exalted decreed,

{ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا تَدَايَنْتُمْ بِدَيْنٍ إِلَى أَجَلٍ مُسَمًّى فَاكْتُبُوهُ }

“Believers! Whenever you contract a debt from one another for a known term, commit it to writing.” (Chapter Al Baqara/The Cow:282)

Even the Messenger of Allah -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- once indebted to other. At the end of his life, he still owed a jew, and his debt was paid with the armor that he mortgaged to that person
It is narrated from ‘Aisha -may Allah be pleased with her- that she said,

( أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- اشْتَرَى طَعَامًا مِنْ يَهُودِيٍّ إِلَى أَجَلٍ فَرَهَنَهُ دِرْعَهُ )

“The Prophet -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- bought food from a jew not in cash, thus he mortgaged his armor to him.” (Narrated by Al-Bukhari no. 2200)
Continue Reading