Selling, Trading, Debt. Islamic Way.

There are many hadiths on selling, trading, and, debt. including:

"May Allah have mercy on the man who is generous when he buys, sells, and demands (his due)" [Bukhari]


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."

The Prophet (ﷺ) purchased a camel from me and weighed more than its price.

"The truthful, honest merchant is with the prophets and the truthful ones and the martyrs."

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."

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)."'

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."

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)."


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."

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."

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)."'

Although relieving debts for those in hardship is encouraged, not paying debt is a big NO

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Allah forgives every sin of a martyr, except his debt."

Oh, PS: Prophet Muhammad did business with Jews.

The Prophet (ﷺ) purchased food grains from a Jew on credit and mortgaged his iron armor to him.

Anas went to the Prophet (ﷺ) with barley bread having some dissolved fat on it. The Prophet (ﷺ) had mortgaged his armor to a Jew in Medina and took from him some barley for his family.