تَعَوَّذُوا بِاللَّهِ مِنْ غَلَبَةِ الدَّيْنِ وَ غَلَبَةِ الرِّجَالِ وَ بَوَارِ الْأَيِّمِ[4].
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘You must seek protection with Allah against over- powering debts, dominating (increasing) number of men and single women.’”
قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّهُ ذُكِرَ لَنَا أَنَّ رَجُلًا مِنَ الْأَنْصَارِ مَاتَ وَ عَلَيْهِ دِينَارَانِ دَيْناً فَلَمْ يُصَلِّ عَلَيْهِ النَّبِيُّ ص وَ قَالَ صَلُّوا عَلَى صَاحِبِكُمْ حَتَّى ضَمِنَهُمَا [عَنْهُ] بَعْضُ قَرَابَتِهِ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع ذَلِكَ الْحَقُ[1] ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص إِنَّمَا فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ لِيَتَّعِظُوا وَ لِيَرُدَّ بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ وَ لِئَلَّا يَسْت
“I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘We are told that a man from al-Ansar died while he owed two dinar to pay. The Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, did not perform Salat (prayer) on his dead body and said, “You must perform Salat (prayer) on
قَالَ لِي أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع مَنْ طَلَبَ هَذَا الرِّزْقَ مِنْ حِلِّهِ لِيَعُودَ بِهِ[2] عَلَى نَفْسِهِ وَ عِيَالِهِ كَانَ كَالْمُجَاهِدِ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَإِنْ غُلِبَ عَلَيْهِ[3] فَلْيَسْتَدِنْ عَلَى اللَّهِ وَ عَلَى رَسُولِهِ مَا يَقُوتُ بِهِ عِيَالَهُ فَإِنْ مَاتَ وَ لَمْ يَقْضِهِ كَانَ عَلَى الْإِمَامِ قَضَاؤُهُ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَقْضِهِ كَانَ عَلَيْهِ وِزْرُهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَقُولُ-
“Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), said to me, ‘Whoever works to provide sustenance for himself and his family is considered a Mujahid (fighter) for the cause of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious. If poverty over-powers him, he then should borrow upon the responsibility of Allah and His Messenger for his sustenance and his famil
إِنِّي لَأُحِبُّ لِلرَّجُلِ أَنْ يَكُونَ عَلَيْهِ دَيْنٌ يَنْوِي قَضَاءَهُ.
“He (the Imam) (a.s.), has said, ‘I like for a man, who is indebted, to sincerely have the intention of paying it off.’”
سَأَلَ الرِّضَا ع رَجُلٌ وَ أَنَا أَسْمَعُ فَقَالَ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَقُولُ- وَ إِنْ كانَ ذُو عُسْرَةٍ فَنَظِرَةٌ إِلى مَيْسَرَةٍ[5] أَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ هَذِهِ النَّظِرَةِ الَّتِي ذَكَرَهَا اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِي كِتَابِهِ لَهَا حَدٌّ يُعْرَفُ إِذَا صَارَ هَذَا الْمُعْسِرُ إِلَيْهِ لَا بُدَّ لَهُ مِنْ أَنْ يُنْتَظَرَ وَ قَدْ أَخَذَ مَالَ هَذَا الرَّجُلِ وَ أَنْفَقَهُ عَلَى عِيَالِ
“A man asked al-Rida’ (a.s.), when I was listening, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, says, “If one has difficulty to pay his debts, he should be given respite until he is able to pay.” (2:281) Explain to me the limits of this “respite” of which Allah, most
كُلُّ ذَنْبٍ يُكَفِّرُهُ الْقَتْلُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِلَّا الدَّيْنَ لَا كَفَّارَةَ لَهُ إِلَّا أَدَاؤُهُ أَوْ يَقْضِيَ صَاحِبُهُ[3] أَوْ يَعْفُوَ الَّذِي لَهُ الْحَقُّ.
“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘Being killed for the cause of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, serves as expiation for all kinds of sins except debts, for which there is no expiation other than paying it back or those liable pay or the owner of the lending right waives it in favor of the borrower.’”
الْإِمَامُ يَقْضِي عَنِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ الدُّيُونَ مَا خَلَا مُهُورَ النِّسَاءِ.
‘The Imam pays off the debts of the believing people except Muhur (dowry) of women.’”
جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ- ع يَدَّعِي عَلَى الْمُعَلَّى بْنِ خُنَيْسٍ دَيْناً عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ ذَهَبَ بِحَقِّي فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع ذَهَبَ بِحَقِّكَ الَّذِي قَتَلَهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِلْوَلِيدِ قُمْ إِلَى الرَّجُلِ فَاقْضِهِ مِنْ حَقِّهِ فَإِنِّي أُرِيدُ أَنْ أُبَرِّدَ عَلَيْهِ جِلْدَهُ الَّذِي كَانَ بَارِداً.
“Once a man came to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying that al-Mu‘alla’ ibn Khunays owed him a certain amount and said, ‘He has destroyed my rights.’ Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), said, ‘Your rights are destroyed by the one who murdered him (al-Mu‘alla’).’ He (the Imam) then told al- Walid to pay back his rights, ‘I like to cool d
قُلْتُ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ الثَّانِي ع إِنِّي أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَلْزَمَ مَكَّةَ أَوِ الْمَدِينَةَ وَ عَلَيَّ دَيْنٌ فَمَا تَقُولُ فَقَالَ ارْجِعْ فَأَدِّهِ إِلَى مُؤَدَّى دَيْنِكَ وَ انْظُرْ أَنْ تَلْقَى اللَّهَ تَعَالَى وَ لَيْسَ عَلَيْكَ دَيْنٌ إِنَّ الْمُؤْمِنَ لَا يَخُونُ.
‘You must return to pay off what you owe, and bear in mind that you must go before Allah, most High, when there is no debts due on you. A believing person does not commit treachery.’”
مَا أُحْصِي مَا سَمِعْتُ- أَبَا الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى ع يُنْشِدُ - فَإِنْ يَكُ يَا أُمَيْمُ عَلَيَّ دَيْنٌ فَعِمْرَانُ بْنُ مُوسَى يَسْتَدِينُ
‘O mother, if I may become indebted (consider) that Moses son of ‘Imran would also borrow.’”
إِيَّاكُمْ وَ الدَّيْنَ فَإِنَّهُ مَذَلَّةٌ بِالنَّهَارِ وَ مَهَمَّةٌ بِاللَّيْلِ وَ قَضَاءٌ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَ قَضَاءٌ فِي الْآخِرَةِ.
‘Beware of debts; it humiliates during the day and causes sadness during the night and it is payable both in this world and in the hereafter.’”