Class 7
BEST OF YOU
THE PEOPLE WHO REPAY WITH GRATITUDE
The Prophet ﷺ said,
“The best of you are those who are the best in paying off debts”
(Bukhari & Muslim)
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: A man was owed a young camel by the Prophet ﷺ and he came to him to ask him to pay it off. He ﷺ said: “Give it to him. They looked for a young camel and they could not find anything except one that was of older & better than it. He ﷺ said: “Give it to him.” And he said: You have paid me off, may Allah reward you. The Prophet ﷺ said: “The best of you are those who are the best in paying off debts.” (Bukhari & Muslim)
This hadeeth might amaze many of us, how can just repaying be the loan that one had taken would make someone be counted amongst the best. Firstly, if we read the full hadeeth we would understand it about showing our gratitude to the one who had helped us in our time of need. And secondly, debt is a serious matter in Islam, one that unfortunately many in our ummah has taken lightly, so the one who is mindful of paying the debts off and showing gratitude when doing so is commended.
Seriousness of Debt
In this materialistic world where the focus has become running after the whims and fulfilling whatsoever the heart desires, we tend to lose focus on our real goals and begin taking certain matters that are forbidden or discouraged in Islaam, too lightly.
And the matter of taking loans and being in debt is definitely one of them.
And we are NOT talking about taking an “interest based” loan. That is HARAAM for sure. The kind of loan we are discussing here is one without interest……one that does NOT involve riba….. The kind that is allowed, yet discouraged in Islaam.
Many people have a very casual approach to being in debt and take out loans, not for some urgent need but, because they want to keep up with others in buying new cars or furniture or other temporary luxuries of this life.
Taking loans and being in debt is a GRAVE…..GRAVE matter. Islam takes the matter of debt very seriously and warns against it and urges the Muslim to avoid it as much as possible. And yet, we don’t see it as such.
The fuqaha’ define dayn (debt) as an obligation to be fulfilled. The linguistic meaning of the word dayn (debt) in Arabic has to do with submission and humiliation. The connection between the shar’i meaning and the linguistic meaning is clear. The debtor is a prisoner, as the Prophet ﷺ said: “Your companion is being detained by his debt.” (Abu Dawood; classed as hasan by al-Albaani).
In another hadeeth Muhammad ibn Jahsh (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: We were sitting with the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ when he raised his head towards the sky, then he put his palm on his forehead and said: “Subhaan-Allaah! What a strict issue has been revealed to me!” We remained silent and were afraid. The following morning I asked him, “O Messenger of Allaah, what is this strict issue that has been revealed?” He ﷺ said, “By the One in Whose hand is my soul, if a man were killed in battle for the sake of Allaah, then brought back to life, then killed and brought back to life again, then killed, and he owed a debt, he would not enter Paradise until his debt was paid off.” (Nasaa’I; classed as hasan by al-Albaani).
Also the Prophet ﷺ refrained from offering the funeral prayer for one who had died owing two dinars, until Abu Qataadah (may Allaah be pleased with him) promised to pay it off for him. When he saw him the following day and said, I have paid it off, the Prophet ﷺ said: “Now his skin has become cool for him.” (Musnad Ahmad; classed as hasan).
Al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: This hadeeth indicates how difficult the issue of debt is, and that it should not be undertaken except in cases of necessity. End quote.
The Prophet ﷺ said,
“Whoever dies free from three things – arrogance, cheating and debt – will enter Paradise.” (Tirmidhi; classed as sahih by Albaani).
“The soul of the believer is suspended because of his debt until it is paid off.” (Tirmidhi).
These stern warnings about debt only came because of the negative consequences to which it leads both on an individual level and on a community level.
REPAY YOUR LOAN
The Prophet ﷺ said: “The one who takes people’s wealth intending to pay it back, Allaah will pay it back for him, and the one who takes it intending to destroy it, Allaah will destroy him.” (Bukhaari).
So make firm intention of repaying your loan as soon as possible, seek help from Allah to enable you to pay off your debt and that He makes it easy for you. Work and strive hard to pay off the debt by putting your trust in Allaah, and praying to Him, remember that He will help you to pay off this debt.
Paying extra to show gratitude
We read in the first hadeeth covered in this class, the Prophet ﷺ repayed with something better than what he ﷺ had taken. Also Jaabir ibn ‘Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “The Prophet ﷺ owed me a debt, so he paid me back and gave me something extra”. (Bukhari & Muslim)
But giving extra is only accepted, if the borrower gives back more than he took without any prior stipulation or agreement at the time of taking the loan. But if that was done by prior agreement, it is not permissible to give the extra amount or to accept it, because it is one of the forms of riba.
Duas from the Sunnah for paying off debts
In the Sunnah there are a number of du’aa’s which specifically seek the help of Allaah in praying off debts. They are:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْهَمِّ وَالْحَزَنِ، وَالْعَجْزِ وَالْكَسَلِ، وَالْبُخْلِ وَالْجُبْنِ، وَضَلَعِ الدَّيْنِ وَغَلَبَةِ الرِّجَالِ
Allāhumma innī a`ūdhu bika mina ‘l-ḥammi wa ‘l-ḥazan, wa ‘l-`ajzi wa ‘l-kasal, wa ‘l-bukhli wa ‘l-jubn, wa ḍala`id-dayni wa ghalabatir-rijāl.
O Allah! I seek refuge with You from worry and grief, from incapacity and laziness, from cowardice and miserliness, from being heavily in debt and from being overpowered by (other) men.
(Bukhari)
اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّ السَّمَوَاتِ وَرَبَّ الأَرْضِ وَرَبَّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ رَبَّنَا وَرَبَّ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ فَالِقَ الْحَبِّ وَالنَّوَى وَمُنْزِلَ التَّوْرَاةِ وَالإِنْجِيلِ وَالْفُرْقَانِ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ أَنْتَ آخِذٌ بِنَاصِيَتِهِ اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ الأَوَّلُ فَلَيْسَ قَبْلَكَ شَىْءٌ وَأَنْتَ الآخِرُ فَلَيْسَ بَعْدَكَ شَىْءٌ وَأَنْتَ الظَّاهِرُ فَلَيْسَ فَوْقَكَ شَىْءٌ وَأَنْتَ الْبَاطِنُ فَلَيْسَ دُونَكَ شَىْءٌ اقْضِ عَنَّا الدَّيْنَ وَأَغْنِنَا مِنَ الْفَقْرِ
Allaahumma Rabb al-samawaati wa’l-ard wa Rabb al-‘arsh il-‘azeem, Rabbaanaa wa Rabba kulli shay’in, Faaliq al-habb wa’l-nawa wa munzil al-Tawraati wa’l-Injeeli wa’l-Furqaan, a’oodhu bika min sharri kulli shay’in anta aakhidhun bi naasiyatihi. Allaahumma anta al-awwal fa laysa qablaka shay’un, wa anta al-aakhir fa laysa ba’daka shay’un, wa anta al-zaahir fa laysa fawqaka shay’un wa anta al-baatin fa laysa doonaka shay’un. Iqdi ‘annaa al-dayna wa aghninaa min al-faqri
O Allaah, Lord of the seven heavens and the exalted Throne, our Lord and Lord of all things, splitter of the seed and the date-stone, Revealer of the Tawraat and the Injeel and the Furqaan [Qur’aan], I seek refuge in You from the evil of all things You shall seize by the forelock [have total mastery over]. O Allaah, You are the First so there is nothing before You, and You are the Last so there is nothing after You. You are al-Zaahir [the greatest and highest] so there is nothing above You, and You are al-Baatin [aware of the subtlest secrets] so there is nothing closer than You. Settle our debt for us and spare us from poverty).”
(Muslim)
Ali [may Allah be pleased with him] narrated: that a Mukatib came to him and said: “Indeed I am not capable of my Kitabah so aid me.” He said: “Should I not teach you words that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ taught me? If you had a debt upon you similar to the mountain of Sir, Allah would fulfill it for you. He said...
اللَّهُمَّ اكْفِنِي بِحَلاَلِكَ عَنْ حَرَامِكَ وَأَغْنِنِي بِفَضْلِكَ عَمَّنْ سِوَاكَ
Allaahumma akfini bi halaalika ‘an haraamika wa aghnini bi fadlika ‘amman siwaaka
O Allaah, suffice me with what You have permitted so that that I have no need of that which You have forbidden, and make me independent of means by Your bounty so that I have no need of anyone besides You.
(Tirmidhi)
May Allah protect us all from debt, enable those who are in debt to repay it.
GRATITUDE
The Prophet ﷺ said,
"Whoever is not grateful to the people, he is not grateful to Allah."
(Tirmidhi & Abu Dawood; Sahih)
Allah has mentioned gratitude alongside iman. He keeps reminding us to be grateful. Why? Because human beings tend to be ungrateful! This is something we need to put extra care on, since Allah keeps warning us about it so many times in the Quran. In fact the Quran begins with Alhamdulillah. The very first chapter of the Quran starts with “Praise be to Allah.”
Gratitude is one of the most important characteristics we can develop to lead a more positive and happier life. It brings immense benefits to us, physically, mentally, and spiritually.
Shukr, or thankfulness, is a quality that will lead to success both in this life and in the next. Allah (SWT) promises us rahma (mercy) and an increase in His favors upon us if we are grateful.
And when your Lord proclaimed, ‘If you are grateful, I will surely increase you …” [Quran, 14:7]
Gratitude is essential to Islamic character and that practicing gratitude in Islam is the means to greater prosperity. We have to be grateful for everything that we have in which health, wealth, breath, family, friends and for all other things whether it’s too small or big and most importantly for being a Muslim and from the Ummah of Prophet ﷺ. Allah loves those who are being grateful to Him for everything that they have.
Gratitude (Shukr) is the path to loving Allah. Shukr is the only argument one needs against kufr. It is the cure for sadness and materialism as well and is the motivation to do better tomorrow. Thanks and gratitude to someone are basically repay the kindness and giving praise to the one who has done good and kind things to us, like repaying with something extra to the one who gave us a loan at the time of our need. The kindest One is the Almighty Allah so we should always be thankful to Him for everything.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “'Let one of you acquire a thankful heart, a tongue that remembers Allah and a believing wife who will help him with regard to the Hereafter.' ” (Ibn MAjah & Tirmidhi)
WHY BE GRATEFUL?
There are countless blessing and we cannot list them all here but we will try to enlist some here as to why is it a must for all of us to be grateful of Allah (make Shukr)?
1. We can never count Allah's Blessings: Be ever grateful to Allah for everything that you possess including your wealth, health, status, intellectual abilities and life. Allah says: "Is, then, He Who creates comparable to any that cannot create? Will you not, then, take heed? For should you try to count Allah's blessings, you could never compute them" (An-Nahl 16:17-19).
2. Shaytan challenged Allah that we wouldn’t be grateful. “Then I will come to them from before them and from behind them and on their right and on their left, and You will not find most of them grateful [to You].” [7:17] Are we going to let Shaytan have what he wants, or are we going to give him a fight?
3. The opposite of Shukr (gratitude) is Kufr (disbelief):
4. True worship means sincere thankfulness to Allah.
5. Shukr leads to Allah's pleasure
6. The last call of the people of Paradise is Alhamdulillah.
7. Gratitude is a purpose of our creation: "It is He Who brought you forth from the wombs of your mothers when you knew nothing; and He gave you hearing and sight and intelligence and affection: that you may give thanks (to Allah)"(An-Nahl, 16:78).
8. Shukr is a quality of success in this life and in the Hereafter.
9. Shukr leads to abundance in Allah's favors
Please join our free online certificate course “MOST REPEATED AYAAT”, to learn more about the virtues of Quran, the things that Allah has emphasised on most and the lessons from it. https://learn-islam.org/most-repeated-ayaat (available online now, register and learn).
Note these are not part of the ongoing course, it is an independent course that can be done at your own pace and at your own convenience.
TIPS FOR THE TEST
Do not have to memorise the ayahs or hadeeths word for word and their references, but remember their meanings and the msg being given.
Those in Debt, try to memorize one of the Duas but more importantly recite it every day.
ASSIGNMENT
There will be an Assignment Question asked in the Test. Marks will be given based on the following: -
Implement any 3 of the deeds covered from week 2. 5 Marks
Talk about any 3 topics covered in this week’s classes with atleast 3 people. 5 Marks.
Inform a minimum of 15 friends/family about LEARN ISLAM (we have around 30 courses for adults and along with courses for children, all for free and certificates are also given) 3 Marks.
Pray for the Ummah, pray for the ease of all the poor & oppressed Muslims and pray that Allah make us all strong in imaan and give us the hidayah to work for the aakhirah and to help each other. Pray for this applying any three Sunnahs from class 4. - 2 Marks
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