Gentleness in financial transactions

Gentleness means that a Muslim should adopt high manners in his dealings with others. So, a Muslim should be tolerant, merciful, avoid competition, should not bother anyone, give respite to an insolvent, and forgive the offensive.

Jabir ibn `Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "May Allah's Mercy be on him who is lenient in his buying, selling, and in demanding back his money." [Reported by Al Bukhari].[1]

Ibn Hajar said: It contains: Exhorting to leniency in dealings, using high manners, avoiding differences, and exhorting to avoid narrowing people when asking for debts, and taking pardon of them).[2]

Part of gentleness in dealing is: Leniency in demanding for rights.

`A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: "The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) heard voices of altercation of two disputants at the door; both the voices were quite loud. The one demanded some remission and desired that the other one should show leniency to him, whereupon the (other one) was saying: By Allah will not do that. Then there came Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) to them and said: Where is he who swears by Allah that he would not do good? He said: Messenger of Allah, it is I. He may do as he desires." [Reported by and Al Bukhari and Muslim].[3]

As for her saying: (The one demanded some remission and desired that the other one should show leniency to him) i.e., to reduce the debt and treat him leniently when demanding rights. [4]

As for the Prophet's saying: (He may do as he desires ) i.e., reducing the debt or showing gentleness.[5]

Of the required gentleness in dealing is: Giving respite to the insolvent and delaying the demand or forgiving indebted, because whoever does so will be in the shade of the Most Merciful on a Day there is no shade therein, remove his distress, and forgive his sins.

It was reported in the Hadith of Abu Al Yusr: (Whoever gives respite to an insolvent or reduces his debt Allah will shade Him in His Shade). [Reported by Muslim].[6]

The Hadith is reported at At-Tabarany with the following wordings: "Whoever gives respite to an insolvent or treats him leniently, Allah will shade him under His Shade."[7]

Abu Qatadah asked a debtor to pay him back, and he hid from him. Then he found him and he said: "I am insolvent." He said: "By Allah?" He said: "By Allah." He said: "I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) say: 'Whoever would like Allah to save him from the hardships of the Day of Resurrection, let him give respite to the one who is in difficulty, or let him go." [Reported by Muslim].[8]

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "There was a merchant who used to lend the people, and whenever his debtor was in straitened circumstances, he would say to his employees, 'Forgive him so that Allah may forgive us.' So, Allah forgave him." [Reported by Al Bukhari and Muslim].[9]

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[1] Al Bukhari, the book of transactions, chapter on easiness and tolerance in buying and selling (2076).

[2] Fathul-Bary 4: 359.

[3] Previously reported, P. 91.

[4] Commentary of Sahih Muslim by An-Nawawy 10: 220.

[5] Fathul-Bary 5: 363.

[6] Sahih Muslim book of asceticism and heart-softening items, chapter on the long Hadith of Jabir and the story of Abu Al Yusr 4: 2302 Hadith 74 (3006).

[7]Al Mu`jam Al Awsat 5: 271 (4534).

[8] Sahih Muslim book of Al Musaqah, chapter on the virtue of granting a delay to the insolvent 3: 1196 Hadith No. 32 (1563).

[9] Al Bukhari, the book of dealings, chapter on giving respite to an insolvent (2078) and Muslim the book of Al Musaqah, chapter on the virtue of those who give respite to an insolvent 3: 1196 Hadith No. 31 (1562), and reported a similar Hadith from Hudhayfah and others.