A Warning and Advice from the Shaykh: Regarding those who do not consider the circumstances of poor debtors who are unable to pay and throw them into prison for that reason.

The Shaykh : And on this occasion, I warn those merchants who have been afflicted with stinginess, from whom mercy for creation and fear of the Creator have been removed. When a debt falls upon a poor person who is not a deceiver—we know he is not a deceiver—but who has been struck by calamities that deprived him of his wealth, some of the wealthy creditors do not show him mercy, may Allah protect us from that. They complain about him until he is imprisoned, separated from his family, and remains in prison for a long time. They gain nothing from this, and he gains nothing either, while they have disobeyed their Creator who provided them with wealth. Perhaps one day they will become poor as he became poor, or they will meet their Lord and He will punish them. For Allah says: I do not know where these merchants who imprison these poor people are going. We know they did not deceive and did not corrupt people's wealth, but they were struck by calamities that swept away their wealth, such as a drop in prices or the destruction of their assets. Then they imprison them. What is the benefit of imprisonment? If he is imprisoned, will money fall from the sky? No. If he is free, perhaps he can obtain it by begging from people, or by working, or by trading, or something similar. But if he is imprisoned, what is the benefit? Only the loss of his family and children and the confinement of his offspring. And these are oppressors, and Allah will punish them on the Day of Resurrection unless Allah forgives them. For Allah said: Look at how this phrase was formulated: "a respite" with the predicate omitted, so that the first thing to reach the ear is the granting of a respite. It did not say "upon them is a respite." It said "a respite until ease." It said "their affair is a respite," meaning their affair is granting a respite until ease. They have no affair other than this. And yet they demand payment from the debtor, burden him, and imprison him. They do not show him mercy and do not fear the Creator who sustained them with provision. So beware of this action. As I also...