Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

assalamalykum,

i have a doubt regarding authencity of the hadees. i sbscribed myself to a hadees site wich sends 1 hadees daily, named AHAD. there i read many hadees wich says, that Prophet SAS(pbuh) used to take debts, n those hadees are regarding loans & bankruptcy. but sum1 told me, that Prophet was never a needy, n never took debts form anybody.

i searched the reference in the Sahi Bukhari wich i have at home. the reference is given as `Bukhari, vol 3 no. 579` n the topic was given as ` Loans & Bankruptcy`. i dont even know how to search in the book wich i have bcoz it is in Urdu. but wen i searched vol 3, Baab 579, there was no such hadees. does it mean that the hadees is not authentic, or my method of searching is wrong???

plz reply as soon as possible.

jaza kallah khair. 

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Answer:

Prophet (saws) took debt

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Statement: but sum1 told me, that Prophet was never a needy, n never took debts form anybody.

Dear and beloved sister in Islam, the truth is that the financial condition of the Prophet (saws) was extremely precarious …. So much so that even the very basic needs of the Prophet (saws) and his family could not be fulfilled. Hadrat Aisha (r.a.) would later confirm that she could not remember three days in a row when the Prophet (saws) or his family had eaten a stomach-full

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 3049 Narrated by Abdullah al-Hawzani

I met Bilal, the Mu'adhdhin of the Messenger of Allah (saws) at Aleppo, and said: ‘O Bilal, tell me, what was the financial position of the Messenger of Allah (saws)?’ He (Bilal) said: ‘He (saws) had nothing! It was I who managed it on his behalf since the day Allah made him a Prophet until he (saws) died. When a Muslim man came to him and he (saws) found him naked, he ordered me (to clothe him). I would go, borrow (some money), and purchase a cloak for him. I would then clothe him and feed him…….

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 8.461 Narrated by Aisha

The family of Muhammad (saws) had never eaten their fill, (even) of wheat bread for three successive days since they had migrated to Medina till the death of the Prophet (saws).

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 7.287A Narrated by Abu Huraira

The family of Muhammad (saws) did not (have enough to) eat their fill for three successive days till he died.

There are several authentic narrations regarding the times the Prophet (saws) would take on a debt upon himself to fulfill his and his family’s basic needs or to fulfill the needs of the poor and needy in the community….

Sahih Muslim Hadith 3896 Narrated by Abu Rafi

Allah's Messenger (saws) took from a man as a loan a young camel (below six years). Then the camel of Sadaqah were brought to him. He ordered Abu Rafi to return to that person the young camel (as a return to the debt). Abu Rafi' returned to the Prophet (saws) and said: ‘I did not find among them but better camels above the age of six.’ He (the Prophet (saws)) said: ‘Give that to him for the best men are those who are best in paying off the debt.’

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 3.777 Narrated by Abu Huraira

Allah's Messenger (saws) owed a man some debt (and that man demanded it very harshly). The companions of the Prophet (saws) wanted to harm him, but the Prophet (saws) said to them, "Leave him, as the creditor has the right to speak harshly."

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 3.579 Narrated by Jabir bin Abdullah

I went to the Prophet (saws) while he was in the Mosque. After the Prophet (saws) told me to pray two Rakat, he (saws) repaid me the debt he owed me.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan