The Case of One Who Borrows But Does Not Intend To Pay Back

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ مَاتَ وَ عَلَيْهِ دَيْنٌ قَالَ إِنْ كَانَ أُتِيَ عَلَى يَدَيْهِ‌[2] مِنْ غَيْرِ فَسَادٍ لَمْ يُؤَاخِذْهُ اللَّهُ [عَلَيْهِ‌] إِذَا عَلِمَ بِنِيَّتِهِ [الْأَدَاءَ] إِلَّا مَنْ كَانَ لَا يُرِيدُ أَنْ يُؤَدِّيَ عَنْ أَمَانَتِهِ فَهُوَ بِمَنْزِلَةِ السَّارِقِ وَ كَذَلِكَ الزَّكَاةُ أَيْضاً وَ كَذَلِكَ مَنِ اسْتَحَلَّ أَنْ يَذْهَبَ بِمُهُورِ النِّسَاءِ.

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who dies owing debts. He (the Imam) said, ‘If such debts have become due upon him and it is free of his involvement in corruption, Allah will not hold him responsible if He will find in him the intention to pay back. However, if he di

مَنِ اسْتَدَانَ دَيْناً فَلَمْ يَنْوِ قَضَاهُ كَانَ بِمَنْزِلَةِ السَّارِقِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘One who borrows without the intention to pay back is considered a thief.’”