Sahih al-Bukhari 2291

Hadith text

Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "An Israeli man asked another Israeli to lend him one thousand Dinars. The second man required witnesses. The former replied, 'Allah is sufficient as a witness.' The second said, 'I want a surety.' The former replied, 'Allah is sufficient as a surety.' The second said, 'You are right,' and lent him the money for a certain period. The debtor went across the sea. When he finished his job, he searched for a conveyance so that he might reach in time for the repayment of the debt, but he could not find any. So, he took a piece of wood and made a hole in it, inserted in it one thousand Dinars and a letter to the lender and then closed (i.e. sealed) the hole tightly. He took the piece of wood to the sea and said. 'O Allah! You know well that I took a loan of one thousand Dinars from so-and-so. He demanded a surety from me but I told him that Allah's Guarantee was sufficient and he accepted Your guarantee. He then asked for a witness and I told him that Allah was sufficient as a Witness, and he accepted You as a Witness. No doubt, I tried hard to find a conveyance so that I could pay his money but could not find, so I hand over this money to You.' Saying that, he threw the piece of wood into the sea till it went out far into it, and then he went away. Meanwhile he started searching for a conveyance in order to reach the creditor's country. One day the lender came out of his house to see whether a ship had arrived bringing his money, and all of a sudden he saw the piece of wood in which his money had been deposited. He took it home to use for fire. When he sawed it, he found his money and the letter inside it. Shortly after that, the debtor came bringing one thousand Dinars to him and said, 'By Allah, I had been trying hard to get a boat so that I could bring you your money, but failed to get one before the one I have come by.' The lender asked, 'Have you sent something to me?' The debtor replied, 'I have told you I could not get a boat other than the one I have come by.' The lender said, 'Allah has delivered on your behalf the money you sent in the piece of wood. So, you may keep your one thousand Dinars and depart guided on the right path

Abu Huraira (رضی اللہ عنہ) bataate hain: Nabi ne farmaya: "Bani Israel ke ek shaks ne doosre Bani Israel se hazaar Dinar ka qarz maanga. Doosre shaks ne gawah maange. Pehle shaks ne jawab diya: 'Allah gawah ke liye kaafi hai.' Doosre ne kaha: 'Mujhe zamanat chahiye.' Pehle ne jawab diya: 'Allah zamanat ke liye kaafi hai.' Doosre ne kaha: 'Tumne sach kaha,' aur usse muqarrar muddat ke liye paisa diya. Qarzdaar samundar paar gaya. Jab usne apna kaam khatam kiya, usne (paisa lane ke liye) sawari dhoondi taake woh waqt par qarz wapas kar sake, magar usse koi nahi mili. Isliye usne ek lakdi ka tukda liya aur usme ek surakh banaya, usme hazaar Dinar aur qarz dene wale ke liye ek khat daala, phir surakh ko kaskar band kiya. Woh lakdi ka tukda samundar ke paas gaya aur kaha: 'Aye Allah! Tujhe pata hai maine falaan-falaan se hazaar Dinar ka qarz liya tha. Usne mujhse zamanat maangi thi magar maine usse kaha Allah ki zamanat kaafi hai aur usne teri zamanat qubool ki. Phir usne gawah maanga aur maine usse kaha Allah gawah ke liye kaafi hai, aur usne tujhe gawah maana. Beshak, maine bahut koshish ki koi sawari dhoondne ki taake main uska paisa ada kar sakoon magar mujhe nahi mili, isliye main yeh paisa tujhe sonpta hoon.' Yeh kehte huye, usne lakdi ka tukda samundar mein phenka jab tak woh door tak chala gaya, phir woh chala gaya. Isi dauran woh sawari dhoondte hue qarz dene wale ke shehar ki taraf jaane ka intezaam karta raha. Ek din qarz dene wala apne ghar se bahar nikla yeh dekhne ke koi kashti aayi hai jismein uska paisa laaya gaya ho, aur achanak usne lakdi ka tukda dekha jismein uska paisa rakha tha. Woh use jalane ke liye ghar le gaya. Jab usne use kaata, usme apna paisa aur khat paaya. Thodi der baad, qarzdaar hazaar Dinar lekar aaya aur kaha: 'Allah ki qasam, main tumhare liye kashti dhoondne ki koshish karta raha taake main tumhara paisa laakar de sakoon, magar mujhe isse pehle koi nahi mili jis par main aaya hoon.' Qarz dene wale ne pucha: 'Kya tumne mujhe kuch bheja tha?' Qarzdaar ne jawab diya: 'Maine tumhe bataya na, mujhe is se pehle koi kashti nahi mili jispar main aaya hoon.' Qarz dene wale ne kaha: 'Allah ne tumhari taraf se woh paisa pahuncha diya jo tumne lakdi ke tukde mein bheja tha. Isliye tum apne hazaar Dinar rakh lo aur seedhe raaste par chale jaao.'"

Sahih al-Bukhari 2291 · Book 39, Hadith 2