What should I do if I can't repay my debt?

The short answer

Keep the sincere intention to repay, tell your creditor honestly, and pay what you can. The Quran tells lenders to give a debtor in hardship time until things ease, and debtors are one of the eight groups entitled to zakat. Allah promises to help the one who borrows intending to repay, and the Prophet ﷺ taught a dua for exactly this.

Explanation

First, do not despair. "Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity" 1. Being unable to pay because of genuine hardship is not the same as refusing to pay.

The lender is told to be patient. "If someone is in hardship, then [let there be] postponement until [a time of] ease. But if you give [from your right as] charity, then it is better for you" 2. The Prophet ﷺ said that whoever wants Allah to save him from the torments of the Day of Resurrection should give time to the one in difficulty or cancel the debt 3. So speak to your creditor honestly and ask for time or a payment plan.

The community is told to help. Those in debt are one of the eight categories of zakat 4, and asking others for help is permitted for someone who has taken on a debt, "till he pays that off" 5. When a man in the Prophet's time was ruined by a failed crop purchase, the Prophet ﷺ asked people to give him charity. When that was still not enough, he told the creditors to take what they could find, and that was all they would get 6. Islamic law recognises genuine insolvency.

Your intention matters. "Whoever takes the money of the people with the intention of repaying it, Allah will repay it on his behalf" 7. Keep paying what you can, however small, and avoid new debt, especially interest.

Turn to Allah. Ali (RA) taught a dua from the Prophet ﷺ, saying that even with a debt like a mountain, Allah would settle it: Allahumma-kfini bi halalika 'an haramika, wa aghnini bi fadlika 'amman siwak ("O Allah, suffice me with what You have made lawful instead of what You have forbidden, and make me independent of all besides You") 8.

The evidence

  1. 1
    Quran Al-Baqara · 2:286

    Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity.

    لَا يُكَلِّفُ ٱللَّهُ نَفۡسًا إِلَّا وُسۡعَهَاۚ لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتۡ وَعَلَيۡهَا مَا ٱكۡتَسَبَتۡۗ رَبَّنَا لَا تُؤَاخِذۡنَآ إِن نَّسِينَآ أَوۡ أَخۡطَأۡنَاۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تَحۡمِلۡ عَلَيۡنَآ إِصۡرࣰ ا كَمَا حَمَلۡتَهُۥ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِنَاۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تُحَمِّلۡنَا مَا لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِۦۖ وَٱعۡفُ عَنَّا وَٱغۡفِرۡ لَنَا وَٱرۡحَمۡنَآۚ أَنتَ مَوۡلَىٰنَا فَٱنصُرۡنَا عَلَى ٱلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلۡكَٰفِرِينَ ۝٢٨٦

    Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity. It will have [the consequence of] what [good] it has gained, and it will bear [the consequence of] what [evil] it has earned. "Our Lord, do not impose blame upon us if we have forgotten or erred. Our Lord, and lay not upon us a burden like that which You laid upon those before us. Our Lord, and burden us not with that which we have no ability to bear. And pardon us; and forgive us; and have mercy upon us. You are our protector, so give us victory over the disbelieving people

  2. 2
    Quran Al-Baqara · 2:280

    Give a debtor in hardship time until ease; remitting the debt as charity is better.

    وَإِن كَانَ ذُو عُسۡرَةࣲ فَنَظِرَةٌ إِلَىٰ مَيۡسَرَةࣲۚ وَأَن تَصَدَّقُواْ خَيۡرࣱ لَّكُمۡ إِن كُنتُمۡ تَعۡلَمُونَ ۝٢٨٠

    And if someone is in hardship, then [let there be] postponement until [a time of] ease. But if you give [from your right as] charity, then it is better for you, if you only knew

  3. 3
    Hadith Sahih Muslim 1563
    Sahih Muslim

    Whoever gives respite to an insolvent debtor or remits the debt is saved from the torments of the Day of Resurrection.

    Abdullah b. Abu Qatada reported that Abu Qatada (Allah be pleased with him) demanded (the payment of his debt) from his debtor but he disappeared; later on he found him and he said:I am hard up financially, whereupon he said: (Do you state it) by God? He said: By God. Upon this he (Qatada) said: I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: He who loves that Allah saves him from the torments of the Day of Resurrection should give respite to the insolvent or remit (his debt)

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْهَيْثَمِ، خَالِدُ بْنُ خِدَاشِ بْنِ عَجْلاَنَ حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ أَيُّوبَ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ أَبِي كَثِيرٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي قَتَادَةَ، أَنَّ أَبَا قَتَادَةَ، طَلَبَ غَرِيمًا لَهُ فَتَوَارَى عَنْهُ ثُمَّ وَجَدَهُ فَقَالَ إِنِّي مُعْسِرٌ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ آللَّهِ قَالَ آللَّهِ ‏.‏ قَالَ فَإِنِّي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ ‏ "‏ مَنْ سَرَّهُ أَنْ يُنْجِيَهُ اللَّهُ مِنْ كُرَبِ يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ فَلْيُنَفِّسْ عَنْ مُعْسِرٍ أَوْ يَضَعْ عَنْهُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

  4. 4
    Quran At-Tawba · 9:60

    Those in debt are among the eight categories who may receive zakat.

    ۞إِنَّمَا ٱلصَّدَقَٰتُ لِلۡفُقَرَآءِ وَٱلۡمَسَٰكِينِ وَٱلۡعَٰمِلِينَ عَلَيۡهَا وَٱلۡمُؤَلَّفَةِ قُلُوبُهُمۡ وَفِي ٱلرِّقَابِ وَٱلۡغَٰرِمِينَ وَفِي سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱبۡنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِۖ فَرِيضَةࣰ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمࣱ‏ ۝٦٠

    Zakah expenditures are only for the poor and for the needy and for those employed to collect [zakah] and for bringing hearts together [for Islam] and for freeing captives [or slaves] and for those in debt and for the cause of Allah and for the [stranded] traveler - an obligation [imposed] by Allah. And Allah is Knowing and Wise

  5. 5
    Hadith Sahih Muslim 1044
    Sahih Muslim

    Asking for help is permissible for one who has incurred debt, until it is paid off.

    Qabisa b. Mukhariq al-Hilali said:I was under debt and I came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and begged from him regarding it. He said: Wait till we receive Sadaqa, so that we order that to be given to you. He again said: Qabisa, begging is not permissible but for one of the three (classes) of persons: one who has incurred debt, for him begging is permissible till he pays that off, after which he must stop it; a man whose property has been destroyed by a calamity which has smitten him, for him begging is permissible till he gets what will support life, or will provide him reasonable subsistence; and a person who has been smitten by poverty. the genuineness of which is confirmed by three intelligent members of this peoples for him begging is permissible till he gets what will support him, or will provide him subsistence. Qabisa, besides these three (every other reason) for begging is forbidden, and one who engages in such consumes that what is forbidden

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، وَقُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، كِلاَهُمَا عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ زَيْدٍ، قَالَ يَحْيَى أَخْبَرَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ هَارُونَ بْنِ رِيَابٍ، حَدَّثَنِي كِنَانَةُ بْنُ نُعَيْمٍ الْعَدَوِيُّ، عَنْ قَبِيصَةَ بْنِ، مُخَارِقٍ الْهِلاَلِيِّ قَالَ تَحَمَّلْتُ حَمَالَةً فَأَتَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَسْأَلُهُ فِيهَا فَقَالَ ‏"‏ أَقِمْ حَتَّى تَأْتِيَنَا الصَّدَقَةُ فَنَأْمُرَ لَكَ بِهَا ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ ثُمَّ قَالَ ‏"‏ يَا قَبِيصَةُ إِنَّ الْمَسْأَلَةَ لاَ تَحِلُّ إِلاَّ لأَحَدِ ثَلاَثَةٍ رَجُلٍ تَحَمَّلَ حَمَالَةً فَحَلَّتْ لَهُ الْمَسْأَلَةُ حَتَّى يُصِيبَهَا ثُمَّ يُمْسِكُ وَرَجُلٍ أَصَابَتْهُ جَائِحَةٌ اجْتَاحَتْ مَالَهُ فَحَلَّتْ لَهُ الْمَسْأَلَةُ حَتَّى يُصِيبَ قِوَامًا مِنْ عَيْشٍ - أَوْ قَالَ سِدَادًا مِنْ عَيْشٍ - وَرَجُلٍ أَصَابَتْهُ فَاقَةٌ حَتَّى يَقُومَ ثَلاَثَةٌ مِنْ ذَوِي الْحِجَا مِنْ قَوْمِهِ لَقَدْ أَصَابَتْ فُلاَنًا فَاقَةٌ فَحَلَّتْ لَهُ الْمَسْأَلَةُ حَتَّى يُصِيبَ قِوَامًا مِنْ عَيْشٍ - أَوْ قَالَ سِدَادًا مِنْ عَيْشٍ - فَمَا سِوَاهُنَّ مِنَ الْمَسْأَلَةِ يَا قَبِيصَةُ سُحْتًا يَأْكُلُهَا صَاحِبُهَا سُحْتًا ‏"‏ ‏.‏

  6. 6
    Hadith Sahih Muslim 1556
    Sahih Muslim

    The Prophet ﷺ had charity collected for a ruined debtor and told creditors to take only what was found.

    Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (Allah be pleeased with him) reported that in the time of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) a man suffered loss in fruits he had bought and his debt increased; so Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) told (the people) to give him charity and they gave him charity, but that was not enough to pay the debt in full, whereupon Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said to his creditors:" Take what you find, you will have nothing but alms

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا لَيْثٌ، عَنْ بُكَيْرٍ، عَنْ عِيَاضِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ أَبِي، سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ قَالَ أُصِيبَ رَجُلٌ فِي عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي ثِمَارٍ ابْتَاعَهَا فَكَثُرَ دَيْنُهُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ تَصَدَّقُوا عَلَيْهِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ فَتَصَدَّقَ النَّاسُ عَلَيْهِ فَلَمْ يَبْلُغْ ذَلِكَ وَفَاءَ دَيْنِهِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لِغُرَمَائِهِ ‏"‏ خُذُوا مَا وَجَدْتُمْ وَلَيْسَ لَكُمْ إِلاَّ ذَلِكَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

  7. 7
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 2387
    Sahih Bukhari

    Whoever borrows intending to repay, Allah will repay on his behalf.

    Narrated Abu Huraira:The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Whoever takes the money of the people with the intention of repaying it, Allah will repay it on his behalf, and whoever takes it in order to spoil it, then Allah will spoil him

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الأُوَيْسِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ بِلاَلٍ، عَنْ ثَوْرِ بْنِ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي الْغَيْثِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ مَنْ أَخَذَ أَمْوَالَ النَّاسِ يُرِيدُ أَدَاءَهَا أَدَّى اللَّهُ عَنْهُ، وَمَنْ أَخَذَ يُرِيدُ إِتْلاَفَهَا أَتْلَفَهُ اللَّهُ ‏"‏‏.‏

  8. 8
    Hadith Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3563
    Hasan graded by Al-Albani

    A dua taught by the Prophet ﷺ for relief from debt, even one as large as a mountain.

    Ali [may Allah be pleased with him] narrated:that a Mukatib came to him and said: “Indeed I am not capable of my Kitabah so aid me.” He said: “Should I not teach you words that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) taught me? If you had a debt upon you similar to the mountain of Sir, Allah would fulfill it for you. He said: ‘Say: O Allah, suffice me with Your lawful against Your prohibited, and make me independent of all those besides You (Allāhummakfinī biḥalālika `an ḥarāmika, wa aghninī bi faḍlika `amman siwāka).’”

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، أَخْبَرَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ حَسَّانَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ سَيَّارٍ، عَنْ أَبِي وَائِلٍ، عَنْ عَلِيٍّ، رضى الله عنه أَنَّ مُكَاتَبًا، جَاءَهُ فَقَالَ إِنِّي قَدْ عَجَزْتُ عَنْ كِتَابَتِي فَأَعِنِّي ‏.‏ قَالَ أَلاَ أُعَلِّمُكَ كَلِمَاتٍ عَلَّمَنِيهِنَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لَوْ كَانَ عَلَيْكَ مِثْلُ جَبَلِ صِيرٍ دَيْنًا أَدَّاهُ اللَّهُ عَنْكَ قَالَ ‏ "‏ قُلِ اللَّهُمَّ اكْفِنِي بِحَلاَلِكَ عَنْ حَرَامِكَ وَأَغْنِنِي بِفَضْلِكَ عَمَّنْ سِوَاكَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ ‏.‏

This answer was compiled with the help of AI, using only the verified texts shown here. Every reference links to its source. If you find a mistake, please report it. Updated 2026-09-24

Report an issue

Tell us what is wrong. Every report is read.

What is the problem?