24788 - Abu Bakr narrated to us, he said: Shababa (ibn) (1) Sawwar narrated to us, he said: Layth (ibn Sa'd) (2) narrated to us from (Bukayr) (3) from 'Iyad ibn 'Abd Allah ibn Sa'd from Abu Sa'id who said: A man was afflicted in the time of the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم with fruits he had bought (and his) (4) debt became great, so the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said: "Give charity to him," (so the people gave charity to him) (5), (but it did) (6) not reach (that) (7) to fulfill his debt, so the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said: "Take what you find, and you have nothing except that," meaning: the creditors (8).

It is narrated from Hazrat Ka'b bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) passed by a person who owed another two awqiyah. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) gestured with his hand to the person and said: "Reduce one part from it." The person said, "Alright, O Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)!" Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) addressed the other and said: "Pay him what remains of his due."

It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Salih Al-Hanafi that during the caliphate of Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), a certain people became indebted. Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) wrote to their governor: Postpone one third of the debt until they become solvent, forgive one third, and collect one third immediately. So they acted accordingly.