Islam discourages debt and gives great weight to repaying it, yet want, illness or business losses often push people into it. A piece by Prothom Alo's religion desk sets out the ways of getting free.
The first is a firm intention to repay. Sahih Bukhari, hadith 2387, says that whoever takes people's wealth meaning to repay it, Allah will arrange its repayment for him, and whoever takes it meaning to waste it, Allah will destroy him.
The second is prayer. Sunan Abu Dawud, hadith 1555, tells how the Prophet (peace be upon him) told Abu Umamah, who sat sorrowful in the mosque over his debts, to seek refuge morning and evening from worry, weakness, laziness, miserliness, cowardice, the burden of debt and domination by others. Sunan Tirmidhi, hadith 3563, carries a further prayer for sufficiency through lawful provision.
Practical steps must go with the prayer. The debtor should give up waste and luxury and, once the basic needs of the household are met, put what is left towards repayment first.
Creditors have their instruction too. Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 280, says a debtor in hardship should be given time until things ease.
Source: Prothom Alo
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