Is the prayer valid behind a person in debt?

Question:
The questioner: Abdullah Muhammad says: Is the prayer valid behind a person who has a debt, even though he is poor and a memorizer of the Qur'an, and they do not allow him to lead the prayer, saying to him: "You have a debt." Is it permissible to pray behind this person?

Answer:
Yes, it is permissible to pray behind him, even if he has a debt. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) initially, when a person in debt was brought to him, said: Then he abandoned that practice, and he would pray over them while they had debts—(peace and blessings be upon him)—and he would pay off the debt of a person who had no means to repay it. This was part of the nobility of his character (peace and blessings be upon him) and his generosity: if a person died with a debt and had nothing, he would pay off his debt and pray over him. This abrogated the previous ruling regarding abandoning the prayer. Therefore, a person with a debt is prayed over, and he should strive to pay off his debt afterwards from his wealth or from other means.
The point is that abandoning the prayer was the initial ruling, and then it was abrogated. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would pray over a person with a debt before it was repaid. May Allah send blessings upon him. Yes.

The presenter: May Allah send blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad. May Allah reward you with good, O Shaykh.