The dangers of getting into debt
Debt is sometimes unavoidable. Situations arise that mean finances are no longer balancing – people borrow because of illness, loss of income, family responsibilities etc. However, the Prophet ﷺ repeatedly warned us not to take debt lightly. Debt can turn financial security into anxiety, place pressure on a person’s character, and remains an obligation even after death. This means we need to try our best to avoid getting into debt.
Do not bring fear upon yourselves
Uqbah ibn Amir (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
لَا تُخِيفُوا أَنْفُسَكُمْ بَعْدَ أَمْنِهَا
“Do not bring fear upon yourselves after having been secure.”
They asked, “What is that, O Messenger of Allah?” He replied:
الدَّيْنُ
“Debt.”
(Ahmad)
It is a striking description of debt. A person who was previously secure can suddenly find themselves living with fear – worrying about repayments, deadlines, demands from creditors and what will happen if their circumstances change. The warning is not just about being financially indebted, but losing peace of mind and placing yourself under an obligation to another person.
Even martyrdom does not erase debt
The seriousness of debt becomes even clearer in the hadith concerning the martyr.
Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-As (may Allah be pleased with them both) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
يُغْفَرُ لِلشَّهِيدِ كُلُّ ذَنْبٍ إِلَّا الدَّيْنَ
“Every sin of a martyr is forgiven except debt.”
(Muslim)
In another narration, the Prophet ﷺ said:
إِنْ قُتِلْتَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ صَابِرًا مُحْتَسِبًا مُقْبِلًا غَيْرَ مُدْبِرٍ كَفَّرَ اللَّهُ عَنْكَ خَطَايَاكَ إِلَّا الدَّيْنَ
“If you are killed in the path of Allah, patient and seeking His reward, advancing and not retreating, Allah will expiate your sins, except debt.”
(Muslim)
Martyrdom carries an immense reward and is a means of forgiveness, yet the rights owed to other people remain. This teaches us that the right of another person cannot be disregarded. And that one’s relationship with Allah does not absolve one of one’s obligations to others.
The Prophet ﷺ frequently sought refuge from debt
Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Prophet ﷺ used to say in his prayer:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْمَأْثَمِ وَالْمَغْرَمِ
“O Allah, I seek refuge in You from sin and debt.”
Someone asked him why he sought refuge from debt so frequently. He ﷺ replied:
إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ إِذَا غَرِمَ حَدَّثَ فَكَذَبَ، وَوَعَدَ فَأَخْلَفَ
“When a person falls into debt, he speaks and lies, and he makes promises and breaks them.”
(Bukhari and Muslim)
Here the Prophet ﷺ highlights another danger of debt: financial pressure can begin to affect a person’s character.
Someone may promise, “I will pay you next week,” although they know they cannot. They may avoid the lender, make excuses or begin lying about their circumstances. One financial problem can therefore lead to spiritual and moral problems. This does not mean that every debtor behaves in this way. The hadith is a warning about what can happen when debt becomes overwhelming and is not managed with honesty and responsibility.
Debt mentioned alongside disbelief
Abu Said al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet ﷺ sought refuge in Allah saying:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْكُفْرِ وَالدَّيْنِ
“O Allah, I seek refuge in You from disbelief and debt.”
A man asked, “O Messenger of Allah, do you place debt alongside disbelief?” He replied, “Yes.”
(Nasai and Ahmad)
This particular narration has weakness in its chain, so it should not be used alone to establish a ruling. However, its meaning can be understood alongside the authentic narrations in which the Prophet ﷺ repeatedly sought Allah’s protection from debt.
In another narration, the Prophet ﷺ sought refuge saying:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْكُفْرِ وَالْفَقْرِ
“O Allah, I seek refuge in You from disbelief and poverty.”
(Nasai)
Al-Tibi explained that severe debt can push a person towards qualities associated with hypocrisy, such as lying and breaking promises. Severe poverty can also become a spiritual test if a person does not respond with patience. This does not mean that poverty or debt is itself a sign of weak faith. Many of the righteous experienced poverty and hardship. Rather, extreme financial pressure can become a trial for faith. A person may become resentful, despair of Allah’s mercy or turn to prohibited means of obtaining money.
Debt can remain after death
The responsibility of debt does not necessarily end when a person dies.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
نَفْسُ الْمُؤْمِنِ مُعَلَّقَةٌ بِدَيْنِهِ حَتَّى يُقْضَى عَنْهُ
“The soul of the believer remains held back by his debt until it is settled on his behalf.”
(Tirmidhi, hasan)
This is why outstanding debts should be treated seriously when dealing with a deceased person’s estate. Allah says regarding inheritance:
مِنۢ بَعْدِ وَصِيَّةٍۢ يُوصَىٰ بِهَآ أَوْ دَيْنٍ
“After any bequest they may have made or debt.”
(Surat al-Nisa, 4:12)
The estate cannot be distributed among the heirs, until the deceased person’s debts have been dealt with.
The Prophet ﷺ initially refrained from leading the funeral prayer of a debtor
The Prophet ﷺ gave the Companions a powerful message about the seriousness of unpaid debt. When a deceased person was brought to him, he would ask whether the person had left any debt. On one occasion, when he was informed that the deceased had outstanding debt, he said:
صَلُّوا عَلَى صَاحِبِكُمْ
“Pray over your companion.”
When Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him) undertook responsibility for the debt, the Prophet ﷺ then prayed over him.
(Bukhari)
The Prophet ﷺ was not saying that a Muslim who dies in debt does not deserve the funeral prayer. Rather, his initial refusal to lead it himself was a powerful warning to the community about the seriousness of leaving people’s money unpaid. Later, when Allah granted the Muslims greater wealth, the Prophet ﷺ undertook responsibility for the debts of believers who died unable to repay them. He said:
أَنَا أَوْلَى بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنْ أَنْفُسِهِمْ، فَمَنْ تُوُفِّيَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فَتَرَكَ دَيْنًا فَعَلَيَّ قَضَاؤُهُ
“I am closer to the believers than their own selves. Whoever among the believers dies leaving a debt, its repayment is upon me.”
(Bukhari and Muslim)
This shows the balance of the Sunnah. There is a strong warning against unnecessary debt, but there is also compassion and support for someone who genuinely cannot repay.
Not all debt is blameworthy
These hadith do not mean that borrowing money is haram. The Prophet ﷺ himself borrowed when there was a need.
Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated:
اشْتَرَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مِنْ يَهُودِيٍّ طَعَامًا بِنَسِيئَةٍ، وَرَهَنَهُ دِرْعَهُ
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ bought some food from a Jewish man on deferred payment and gave him his armour as security.”
(Bukhari and Muslim)
The issue is not debt, but borrowing unnecessarily, borrowing beyond one’s means, failing to take repayment seriously or borrowing without a genuine intention to repay.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
مَنْ أَخَذَ أَمْوَالَ النَّاسِ يُرِيدُ أَدَاءَهَا أَدَّى اللَّهُ عَنْهُ، وَمَنْ أَخَذَ يُرِيدُ إِتْلَافَهَا أَتْلَفَهُ اللَّهُ
“Whoever takes people’s wealth intending to repay it, Allah will repay it on his behalf. Whoever takes it intending to destroy it, Allah will destroy him.”
(Bukhari)
The intention matters. Someone who borrows because of genuine need, intends sincerely to repay and does everything reasonably possible to fulfil the obligation is not the same as someone who borrows carelessly or dishonestly.
The lender also has responsibilities. If the debtor is genuinely experiencing hardship, Allah commands:
وَإِن كَانَ ذُو عُسْرَةٍۢ فَنَظِرَةٌ إِلَىٰ مَيْسَرَةٍۢ
“If the debtor is in difficulty, then give him time until it is easy for him to repay.”
(Surat al-Baqarah, 2:280)
Islam therefore protects both sides. The borrower must take repayment seriously, while the lender must show patience towards someone facing genuine hardship.
Think carefully before taking on debt
The prophetic guidance encourages us to distinguish between what we need and what we merely want. Modern life can make borrowing seem normal: borrowing for a car, a holiday, a wedding, furniture or a lifestyle that is beyond our present means.
Before taking on a debt, ask yourself whether it is genuinely necessary, whether you can realistically repay it, what would happen if your income fell, and whether there is another way to manage without borrowing.
Debt should never be treated as free money. It is an obligation, and the repeated warnings of the Prophet ﷺ show that it can affect our peace of mind, our character and even our affairs after death.
At the same time, someone already struggling with debt should not despair. They should make a sincere intention to repay, be truthful with those they owe, reduce unnecessary expenditure, seek lawful means of increasing their income and ask Allah for help.
Among the beautiful supplications taught by the Prophet ﷺ is:
اللَّهُمَّ اكْفِنِي بِحَلَالِكَ عَنْ حَرَامِكَ، وَأَغْنِنِي بِفَضْلِكَ عَمَّنْ سِوَاكَ
“O Allah, suffice me with what You have made lawful instead of what You have forbidden, and by Your grace make me independent of everyone besides You.”
(Tirmidhi)
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