Repaying Debt of a Dead Person (Hadith No. 1989)

Bismillah.

Hadith no. 1988 (below) is a repeat. Read it here.

Volume 3, Book 37, Number 492 :
Narrated by Salama bin Al-Akwa (radiallaahu `anhu)
A dead person was brought to the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) so that he might lead the funeral prayer for him. He asked, “Is he in debt?” When the people replied in the negative, he led the funeral prayer. Another dead person was brought and he asked, “Is he in debt?” They said, “Yes.” He (refused to lead the prayer and) said, “Lead the prayer of your friend.” Abu Qatada (radiallaahu `anhu) said, “O Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam)! I undertake to pay his debt.” Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) then led his funeral prayer.

Today’s Hadith:

Volume 3, Book 37, Number 493 :
Narrated by Jabir bin ‘Abdullah (radiallaahu `anhu)
Once the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said (to me), “If the money of Bahrain comes, I will give you a certain amount of it.” The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) had breathed his last before the money of Bahrain arrived. When the money of Bahrain reached, Abu Bakr (radiallaahu `anhu) announced, “Whoever was promised by the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) should come to us.” I went to Abu Bakr (radiallaahu `anhu) and said, “The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) promised me so and so.” Abu Bakr (radiallaahu `anhu) gave me a handful of coins and when I counted them, they were five-hundred in number. Abu Bakr (radiallaahu `anhu) then said, “Take twice the amount you have taken (besides).”

One should hasten to repay debt of another person, especially if they take over the position of the one who died, like Abu Bakr (radiallaahu `anhu) became Khalifah after Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam)’s death so now he was in charge of people’s affairs. Whatever Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) promised them, he had to make sure they got it.