The Ruling of the Religion Regarding the Rights of the Created and the Intercession of the Prophet

Question:
Honorable Shaykh, how do we reconcile the absolute statement regarding praying for one who died owing a debt? And how do we reconcile the absolute statement regarding praying for one who died owing a debt with the action from the Book? And how do we include the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) in the prayer for the man who owed two [debtors], until one of the Companions supplicated and sought peace for him, and that the religion is not among the sins?

Answer:
Yes, because the debt is a right of the created, and the prayer of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) is an accepted intercession, but it does not drop the right of the created from this person. The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) refrained [from praying for him] for this reason, for the right of the created is not dropped by the intercession of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). The rights of the created are based on contention; they are not dropped except by one of two things: either by paying them to their owners or by forgiving them. Neither the prayer of the Messenger nor martyrdom in the cause of Allah drops it. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said regarding the martyr that Jibril (peace be upon him) whispered to him: He said: “Except the debt, except the debt. The martyr is not forgiven until it is paid on his behalf.” The debt is a great matter because it is a right of the created. Yes.