I have a debt and I cannot pay it off except by selling my house, so should I sell it and pay the debt?

The Shaykh : They always say in proverbs, "The owner of the house knows best what is in it."

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : So you are the one who decides whether to sell the house to pay off the debt you owe, or if you have work, or if you have children.

The questioner : If it is not within my means, I will sell the house and settle the debt, otherwise the debt will remain on me.

The Shaykh : Do you have children?

The questioner : I have children who do simple work; they eat from it, and that is all. One day they work, and one day they do not work.

The Shaykh : They must help you to the extent of their ability.

The questioner : They are not able to help me settle the debt...

The Shaykh : I cannot tell you to sell to pay the debt, or not to pay the debt.

The questioner : It is not as if it says to you, "No debtor enters Paradise, O my master. May Allah prolong your life."

Another questioner : He said to him, "I have no money..." and he found that there were additions... then the other party stopped and did not bring sheep, nor did he inform that he would request it after the place was prepared... two thousand dinars. Does this harm of three hundred dinars amount to anything, or does it not amount to anything?

The Shaykh : What was the reason it stopped?

The questioner : It stopped, as you say, meaning... that this place is not his place of work, or that the sheep will not be profitable.

The Shaykh : ...specified, or how?

The questioner: Yes ... .

The Shaykh : If there was a prior agreement, he must compensate.

The questioner : He must compensate.