باب فضل السماحة في البيع والشراء والأخذ والعطاء وحسن القضاء وإرجاح المكيال والميزان والنهي عن التطفيف، وفضل إنظار الموسر المعسر، والوضع عنه
Here Imam an-Nawawi gathers the manners of the marketplace, and the spirit running through every hadith is samahah: an easy, generous graciousness in how we buy, sell, lend, and collect what we are owed. Faith is not left at the shop door; it shapes how we weigh goods, set prices, and treat a debtor who cannot pay.
Two movements stand out. First, deal with open-handed kindness, giving good measure and even adding a little. Second, and most stressed, show mercy to the one in hardship: give him time, or forgive the debt outright. Notice the repeated promise that whoever is easy on others, Allah will be easy on him, and watch how the Prophet (peace be upon him) himself modelled this in his own dealings.
Hadith 1367
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه أن رجلا أتى النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يتقاضاه فأغلظ له فهم به أصحابه، فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : "دعوه فإن لصاحب الحق مقالا" ثم قال: "أعطوه سنا مثل سنه" قالوا: يا رسول الله لا نجد إلا أمثل من سنه، قال: "أعطوه فإن خيركم أحسنكم قضاء" ((متفق عليه)) .
A man demanded of the Prophet (ﷺ) for repayment of a loan and was harsh to him. His Companions were about to attack him, but he (ﷺ) said, "Leave him, as the creditor is entitled to make a demand. Give him a camel of the same age as the camel that is due to him." They said: "We find a better camel senior to it in age." He (ﷺ) said, "Then buy it and give it to him; verily the best of you is the one who is the best in discharging his obligations (repayment of loans)." [Al- Bukhari and Muslim].
In plain words
When a creditor was harsh in demanding repayment, the Prophet (peace be upon him) defended his right and repaid him with something even better, saying the best person is the one who repays his debts well. Honouring what we owe, and doing it graciously, is praised.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1367 In-book reference : Book 11, Hadith 83
Hadith 1368
Jabir (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن جابر رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: "رحم الله رجلا سمحًا إذا باع وإذا اشترى وإذا اقتضى" ((رواه البخاري)).
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "May Allah show mercy to a man who adopts a kind attitude when he sells, buys and demands for the repayment of loans." [Al-Bukhari].
In plain words
May Allah have mercy on the one who is gentle and easy when he sells, buys, and asks for repayment. An open-handed, kind spirit in dealings draws Allah's mercy.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1368 In-book reference : Book 11, Hadith 84
Hadith 1369
Abu Qatadah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن أبي قتادة رضي الله عنه قال: سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: "من سره أن ينجيه الله من كرب يوم القيامة، فلينفس عن معسر أو يضع عنه" ((رواه مسلم)).
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "He who likes Allah to deliver him from the calamities of the Day of Resurrection, let him either give respite to a debtor or grant him remission (of loans) in straitened circumstances." [Muslim].
In plain words
Whoever wishes to be saved from the distress of the Day of Resurrection should give a struggling debtor more time or cancel the debt. Mercy shown to the hard-pressed is repaid by Allah's mercy.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1369 In-book reference : Book 11, Hadith 85
Hadith 1370
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: "كان رجل يداين الناس، وكان يقول لفتاه: إذا أتيت معسرا فتجاوز عنه، لعل الله أن يتجاوز عنا فلقي الله فتجاوز عنه" ((متفق عليه))
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "There was a person who used to loan money to the people and he used to say to his servant: 'When an insolvent person comes to you, show him leniency so that Allah may forbear our faults.' So when he met Allah (i.e., when he died), Allah forgave him." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
In plain words
A man who told his servants to be lenient with those who could not pay was forgiven by Allah when he died. Easing matters for others moves Allah to ease matters for us.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1370 In-book reference : Book 11, Hadith 86
Hadith 1371
Abu Mas'ud Al-Badri (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن أبي مسعود البدري رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : "حوسب رجل ممن كان قبلكم فلم يوجد له من الخير شيء إلا أنه كان يخالط الناس، وكان موسرًا وكان يأمر غلمانه أن يتجاوزوا عن المعسر قال الله عز وجل: "نحن أحق بذلك منه، تجاوزوا عنه" ((رواه مسلم)).
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "A person from amongst the people who lived before you was called to account by Allah on the Day of Resurrection. No good deeds were found in his credit except that he being a rich man had (financial) dealings with people and had commanded his servants to show leniency to those who were in straitened circumstances. Upon this Allah, the Exalted, and Majestic said: 'I am more entitled to this attribute, so waive (his faults)."' [Muslim].
In plain words
A man with no good deeds except that he had told his servants to go easy on those in hardship was forgiven, as Allah declared Himself more deserving of that mercy. Leniency toward debtors can outweigh much else on the scales.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1371 In-book reference : Book 11, Hadith 87
Hadith 1372
Hudhaifah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن حذيفة رضي الله عنه قال: أتي الله تعالى بعبد من عباده آتاه الله مالا فقال له ماذا عملت في الدنيا؟ قال: ولا يكتمون الله حديثا- قال: يا رب آتيتني مالك فكنت أبايع الناس، وكان من خلقي الجواز فكنت أتيسر على الموسر وأنظر المعسر فقال الله تعالى: “ "أنا أحق بذا منك، تجاوزوا عن عبدي" فقال عقبة بن عامر، وأبو مسعود الأنصاري رضي الله عنهما هكذا سمعناه من في رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم. ((رواه مسلم)).
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "A slave of Allah whom He had endowed with wealth, will be brought before Him. Allah will ask him: 'What did you do in the world?' (They cannot conceal anything from Allah.) He will say: 'O my Rubb, You endowed me with Your wealth; I used to enter into transactions with people and it was my nature to be lenient to the insolvent ones. I used to give respite to those who were in straitened circumstances.' Whereupon Allah will say: 'I am more entitled than you to do this. So forgive my slave'." 'Uqbah bin 'Amir and Abu Mas'ud Al- Ansari (May Allah be pleased with them) said, "Thus we heard it from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)." [Muslim].
In plain words
A wealthy man who was lenient and gave time to those in hardship was forgiven, for Allah said He is more entitled to forgive. Mercy in our dealings invites Allah's mercy upon us.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1372 In-book reference : Book 11, Hadith 88
Hadith 1373
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : "من أنظر معسرًا أو وضع له، أظله الله يوم القيامة تحت ظل عرشه يوم لا ظل إلا ظله" . ((رواه الترمذي وقال: حديث حسن صحيح)).
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "He who gives respite to someone who is in straitened circumstances, or grants him remission, Allah will shelter him in the shade of His Throne, on the Day of Resurrection, when there will be no shade except its shade." [At- Tirmidhi].
In plain words
Whoever gives a struggling debtor more time, or cancels the debt, will be sheltered in Allah's shade on the Day when there is no shade but His. Compassion to the hard-pressed earns a place of safety with Allah.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1373 In-book reference : Book 11, Hadith 89
Hadith 1374
Jabir (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن جابر، رضي الله عنه أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم اشترى منه بعيرًا فوزن له فأرجح. ((متفق عليه))
The Prophet (ﷺ) purchased a camel from me and weighed more than its price. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
In plain words
The Prophet (peace be upon him) bought a camel and paid more than its price. He showed by example the open-handed generosity he taught in our dealings.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1374 In-book reference : Book 11, Hadith 90
Hadith 1375
Abu Safwan Suwaid bin Qais (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن أبي صفوان سويد بن قيس، رضي الله عنه قال: جلبت أنا ومخرمة العبدي بزًا من هجر، فجاءنا النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فساومنا سراويل، وعندي وزان يزن بالأجر، فقال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم للوزان "زن وأرجح" ((رواه أبو داود والترمذي وقال: حديث حسن صحيح)).
Makhramah Al-'Abdi and I procured some drapery from Hajar and brought them to Makkah. The Prophet (ﷺ) came and bargained with us for some trousers and we sold them to him. We had a person who weighed the cloth in order to fix the price. The Prophet (ﷺ) said to him, "Weigh and add a little to it." [Abu Dawud and At- Tirmidhi].
In plain words
Buying from some traders, the Prophet (peace be upon him) told the one weighing the goods to weigh generously and add a little. Giving good measure, even a little extra, is part of fair and kind dealing.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1375 In-book reference : Book 11, Hadith 91