Caution: Translations of Quran and Ḥadīth may lead to possible misapplications and misinterpretations. This site is intended for students of sacred knowledge that are proficient in comprehending classical Arabic and have a strong foundation in Islamic sciences. Also note that religious injunctions rely on several aspects beyond what one may glean through reading individual aḥādīth.
bukhari:2606ʿAbdullāh b. ʿUthmān b. Jabalah from my father > Shuʿbah > Salamah > Abū Salamah > Abū Hurayrah

Messenger of Allah ﷺ owed a man some debt (and that man demanded it very harshly). The companions of the Prophet ﷺ wanted to harm him, but the Prophet ﷺ said to them, "Leave him, as the creditor has the right to speak harshly." He then added, "Buy (a camel) of the same age and give it to him." They said, "We cannot get except a camel of an older age than that of his." He said, "Buy it and give it to him, as the best amongst you is he who pays back his debt in the most handsome way.'  

البخاري:٢٦٠٦حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ جَبَلَةَ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي أَبِي عَنْ شُعْبَةَ عَنْ سَلَمَةَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا سَلَمَةَ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ؓ قَالَ

كَانَ لِرَجُلٍ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ دَيْنٌ فَهَمَّ بِهِ أَصْحَابُهُ فَقَالَ دَعُوهُ فَإِنَّ لِصَاحِبِ الْحَقِّ مَقَالاً وَقَالَ اشْتَرُوا لَهُ سِنًّا فَأَعْطُوهَا إِيَّاهُ فَقَالُوا إِنَّا لاَ نَجِدُ سِنًّا إِلاَّ سِنًّا هِيَ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ سِنِّهِ قَالَ فَاشْتَرُوهَا فَأَعْطُوهَا إِيَّاهُ فَإِنَّ مِنْ خَيْرِكُمْ أَحْسَنَكُمْ قَضَاءً  


See similar narrations below:

Collected by Bukhārī, Muslim, Tirmidhī, Aḥmad, Nasāʾī's Kubrá, Bayhaqī
bukhari:2390Abū al-Walīd > Shuʿbah > Salamah b. Kuhayl > Abū Salamah Bibaytinā > Abū Hurayrah

A man demanded his debts from Messenger of Allah ﷺ in such a rude manner that the companions of the Prophet intended to harm him, but the Prophet ﷺ said, "Leave him, no doubt, for he (the creditor) has the right to demand it (harshly). Buy a camel and give it to him." They said, "The camel that is available is older than the camel he demands. "The Prophet ﷺ said, "Buy it and give it to him, for the best among you are those who repay their debts handsomely. "  

البخاري:٢٣٩٠حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْوَلِيدِ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ أَخْبَرَنَا سَلَمَةُ بْنُ كُهَيْلٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا سَلَمَةَ بِبَيْتِنَا يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ؓ

أَنَّ رَجُلاً تَقَاضَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَأَغْلَظَ لَهُ فَهَمَّ أَصْحَابُهُ فَقَالَ دَعُوهُ فَإِنَّ لِصَاحِبِ الْحَقِّ مَقَالاً وَاشْتَرُوا لَهُ بَعِيرًا فَأَعْطُوهُ إِيَّاهُ وَقَالُوا لاَ نَجِدُ إِلاَّ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ سِنِّهِ قَالَ اشْتَرُوهُ فَأَعْطُوهُ إِيَّاهُ فَإِنَّ خَيْرَكُمْ أَحْسَنُكُمْ قَضَاءً  

bukhari:2306Sulaymān b. Ḥarb > Shuʿbah > Salamah b. Kuhayl > Abū Salamah b. ʿAbd al-Raḥman > Abū Hurayrah

A man came to the Prophet ﷺ demanding his debts and behaved rudely. The companions of the Prophet ﷺ intended to harm him, but Messenger of Allah ﷺ said (to them), "Leave him, for the creditor (i.e. owner of a right) has the right to speak." Messenger of Allah ﷺ then said, "Give him a camel of the same age as that of his." The people said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! There is only a camel that is older than his." Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Give (it to) him, for the best amongst you is he who pays the rights of others handsomely."  

البخاري:٢٣٠٦حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ عَنْ سَلَمَةَ بْنِ كُهَيْلٍ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا سَلَمَةَ بْنَ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ؓ

أَنَّ رَجُلاً أَتَى النَّبِيَّ ﷺ يَتَقَاضَاهُ فَأَغْلَظَ فَهَمَّ بِهِ أَصْحَابُهُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ دَعُوهُ فَإِنَّ لِصَاحِبِ الْحَقِّ مَقَالاً ثُمَّ قَالَ أَعْطُوهُ سِنًّا مِثْلَ سِنِّهِ قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لاَ نَجِدُ إِلاَّ أَمْثَلَ مِنْ سِنِّهِ فَقَالَ أَعْطُوهُ فَإِنَّ مِنْ خَيْرِكُمْ أَحْسَنَكُمْ قَضَاءً  

muslim:1601aMuḥammad b. Bashhār b. ʿUthmān al-ʿAbdī > Muḥammad b. Jaʿfar > Shuʿbah > Salamah b. Kuhayl > Abū Salamah > Abū Hurayrah

Messenger of Allah ﷺ owed (something) to a person. He behaved in an uncivil manner with him. This vexed the Companions of the Prophet ﷺ, whereupon Allah's Apostle ﷺ said: He who has a right is entitled to speak, and said to them (his Companions): Buy a camel for him and give that to him. They said: We do not find a camel (of that age) but one with better age than that. He said: Buy that and give that to him, for best of you or best amongst you are those who are best in paying off debt.  

مسلم:١٦٠١aحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ الْعَبْدِيُّ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ عَنْ سَلَمَةَ بْنِ كُهَيْلٍ عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ

كَانَ لِرَجُلٍ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ حَقٌّ فَأَغْلَظَ لَهُ فَهَمَّ بِهِ أَصْحَابُ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ إِنَّ لِصَاحِبِ الْحَقِّ مَقَالاً فَقَالَ لَهُمُ اشْتَرُوا لَهُ سِنًّا فَأَعْطُوهُ إِيَّاهُ فَقَالُوا إِنَّا لاَ نَجِدُ إِلاَّ سِنًّا هُوَ خَيْرٌ مِنْ سِنِّهِ قَالَ فَاشْتَرُوهُ فَأَعْطُوهُ إِيَّاهُ فَإِنَّ مِنْ خَيْرِكُمْ أَوْ خَيْرَكُمْ أَحْسَنُكُمْ قَضَاءً  

tirmidhi:1317Muḥammad b. al-Muthanná > Wahbb. Jarīr > Shuʿbah > Salamah b. Kuhayl > Abū Salamah > Abū Hurayrah

"A man behaved in a rude manner while trying to collect a debt from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. So his Companions were about to harm him. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: 'Leave him, for indeed the owner of the the right has the right to speak.' Then he said: 'Purchase a camel for him and give it to him.' So they searched out but they did not find a camel but of a better ager than his camel. So he said: 'Buy it and give it to him. For indeed the best of you is the best in repaying.'"  

الترمذي:١٣١٧حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى حَدَّثَنَا وَهْبُ بْنُ جَرِيرٍ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ عَنْ سَلَمَةَ بْنِ كُهَيْلٍ عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ

أَنَّ رَجُلاً تَقَاضَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَأَغْلَظَ لَهُ فَهَمَّ بِهِ أَصْحَابُهُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ دَعُوهُ فَإِنَّ لِصَاحِبِ الْحَقِّ مَقَالاً ثُمَّ قَالَ اشْتَرُوا لَهُ بَعِيرًا فَأَعْطُوهُ إِيَّاهُ فَطَلَبُوهُ فَلَمْ يَجِدُوا إِلاَّ سِنًّا أَفْضَلَ مِنْ سِنِّهِ فَقَالَ اشْتَرُوهُ فَأَعْطُوهُ إِيَّاهُ فَإِنَّ خَيْرَكُمْ أَحْسَنُكُمْ قَضَاءً  

ahmad:9880Muḥammad b. Jaʿfar > Shuʿbah > Salamah b. Kuhayl > Abū Salamah > Abū Hurayrah

[Machine] A man had a right upon the Messenger of Allah ﷺ , and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ defended him strongly. The companions of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ understood from it and the Prophet ﷺ said to them, "Indeed, the person who has the right should be given what he deserves." He said to them, "Buy something for him, even if it is just a little." They replied, "We couldn't find anything better than his own." He then said to them, "Buy something for him and give it to him." And he said, "Indeed, the best among you are those who fulfill their obligations."  

أحمد:٩٨٨٠حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ عَنْ سَلَمَةَ بْنِ كُهَيْلٍ عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ

كَانَ لِرَجُلٍ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ حَقٌّ فَأَغْلَظَ لَهُ فَهَمَّ بِهِ أَصْحَابُ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ وَقَالَ لَهُمُ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ إِنَّ لِصَاحِبِ الْحَقِّ مَقَالًا وَقَالَ لَهُمْ اشْتَرُوا لَهُ سِنًّا فَأَعْطُوهُ فَقَالُوا إِنَّا لَا نَجِدُ إِلَّا سِنًّا أَفْضَلَ مِنْ سِنِّهِ فَقَالَ اشْتَرُوا لَهُ فَأَعْطُوهُ وَقَالَ إِنَّ مِنْ خَيْرِكُمْ أَوْ خَيْرُكُمْ أَحْسَنَكُمْ قَضَاءً  

ahmad:9390ʿAffān > Shuʿbah > Salamah b. Kuhayl > Abū Salamah b. ʿAbd al-Raḥman Biminá > Abū Hurayrah

"A man behaved in a rude manner while trying to collect a debt from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. So his Companions were about to harm him. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: 'Leave him, for indeed the owner of the the right has the right to speak.' Then he said: 'Purchase a camel for him and give it to him.' So they searched out but they did not find a camel but of a better ager than his camel. So he said: 'Buy it and give it to him. For indeed the best of you is the best in repaying.'" (Using translation from Tirmidhī 1317)   

أحمد:٩٣٩٠حَدَّثَنَا عَفَّانُ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ قَالَ أَنْبَأَنِي سَلَمَةُ بْنُ كُهَيْلٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا سَلَمَةَ بْنَ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بِمِنًى يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ

أَنَّ رَجُلًا أَتَى رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ يَتَقَاضَاهُ فَأَغْلَظَ لَهُ قَالَ فَهَمَّ بِهِ أَصْحَابُهُ فَقَالَ دَعُوهُ فَإِنَّ لِصَاحِبِ الْحَقِّ مَقَالًا قَالَ اشْتَرُوا لَهُ بَعِيرًا فَأَعْطُوهُ إِيَّاهُ قَالُوا لَا نَجِدُ إِلَّا سِنًّا أَفْضَلَ مِنْ سِنِّهِ قَالَ فَاشْتَرُوهُ فَأَعْطُوهُ إِيَّاهُ فَإِنَّ مِنْ خَيْرِكُمْ أَحْسَنَكُمْ قَضَاءً  

nasai-kubra:6168ʿAmr b. Manṣūr > Abū Nuʿaym > Sufyān > Salamah b. Kuhayl > Abū Salamah > Abū Hurayrah

"A man had lent a camel of a certain age to the Prophet and he came to get it back. He said: "Give it to him" But they could only find a camel that was older than it. He said: "Give it to him." He said: "You have repaid me well," The Messenger of Allah said; "The best of you is the one who is best in repaying" (Using translation from Nasāʾī 4618)  

الكبرى للنسائي:٦١٦٨أَخْبَرَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو نُعَيْمٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ عَنْ سَلَمَةَ بْنِ كُهَيْلٍ عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ

كَانَ لِرَجُلٍ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ سِنٌّ مِنَ الْإِبِلِ فَجَاءَ يَتَقَاضَاهُ فَقَالَ «أَعْطُوهُ» فَلَمْ يَجِدُوا لَهُ إِلَّا سِنًّا فَوْقَ سِنِّهِ قَالَ «أَعْطُوهُ» فَقَالَ أَوْفَيْتَنِي فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «إِنَّ خِيَارَكُمْ أَحْسَنُكُمْ قَضَاءً»  

bayhaqi:11283Abū Bakr b. Fūrak > ʿAbdullāh b. Jaʿfar b. Aḥmad b. Fāris > Yūnus b. Ḥabīb > Abū Dāwud > Shuʿbah > Salamah b. Kuhayl > Abū Salamah b. ʿAbd al-Raḥman b. ʿAwf Biminá > Abū Hurayrah

[Machine] An Arab man demanded a debt from the Prophet ﷺ that he owed him. He was harsh with him, so the companions of the Prophet ﷺ understood this. The Prophet ﷺ said to leave him, for the one with the right has a response. Then he said to fulfill it. They said that they could only find a coin better than his coin. He said to buy it and give it to him, for the best among you is the best in fulfilling (debts). They mentioned this Hadith in Sahih from the narration of Shu'bah.  

البيهقي:١١٢٨٣أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ فُورَكٍ أنبأ عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ فَارِسٍ ثنا يُونُسُ بْنُ حَبِيبٍ ثنا أَبُو دَاوُدَ ثنا شُعْبَةُ عَنْ سَلَمَةَ بْنِ كُهَيْلٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا سَلَمَةَ بْنَ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ عَوْفٍ بِمِنًى يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ

أَنَّ أَعْرَابِيًّا تَقَاضَى عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ دَيْنًا كَانَ لَهُ عَلَيْهِ فَأَغْلَظَ لَهُ فَهَمَّ بِهِ أَصْحَابُ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ دَعُوهُ؛ فَإِنَّ لِصَاحِبِ الْحَقِّ مَقَالًا ثُمَّ قَالَ اقْضُوهُ فَقَالُوا لَا نَجِدُ إِلَّا سِنًّا أَفْضَلَ مِنْ سِنِّهِ قَالَ اشْتَرُوهُ وَأَعْطُوهُ؛ فَإِنَّ خَيْرَكُمْ أَحْسَنُكُمْ قَضَاءً أَخْرَجَاهُ فِي الصَّحِيحِ مِنْ حَدِيثِ شُعْبَةَ  

bayhaqi:10939Abū Muḥammad ʿAbdullāh b. Yūsuf al-Aṣbahānī > Abū Bakr Muḥammad b. al-Ḥusayn al-Qaṭṭān > ʿAlī b. al-Ḥasan al-Hilālī > Abū al-Walīd al-Ṭayālisī > Shuʿbah > Salamah b. Kuhayl > Abū Salamah > Abū Hurayrah

A man demanded his debts from Messenger of Allah ﷺ in such a rude manner that the companions of the Prophet intended to harm him, but the Prophet ﷺ said, "Leave him, no doubt, for he (the creditor) has the right to demand it (harshly). Buy a camel and give it to him." They said, "The camel that is available is older than the camel he demands. "The Prophet ﷺ said, "Buy it and give it to him, for the best among you are those who repay their debts handsomely. " (Using translation from Bukhārī 2390)   

البيهقي:١٠٩٣٩حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُحَمَّدٍ عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ الْأَصْبَهَانِيُّ أنا أَبُو بَكْرٍ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ الْقَطَّانُ ثنا عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ الْهِلَالِيُّ ثنا أَبُو الْوَلِيدِ الطَّيَالِسِيُّ ثنا شُعْبَةُ أنا سَلَمَةُ بْنُ كُهَيْلٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا سَلَمَةَ يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ

أَنَّ رَجُلًا تَقَاضَى رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ فَأَغْلَظَ لَهُ فَهَمَّ أَصْحَابُهُ بِهِ فَقَالَ دَعُوهُ فَإِنَّ لِصَاحِبِ الْحَقِّ مَقَالًا اشْتَرُوا لَهُ بَعِيرًا فَأَعْطُوهُ قَالُوا إِنَّا نَجِدُ لَهُ سِنًّا أَفْضَلَ مِنْ سِنِّهِ قَالَ اشْتَرُوا فَأَعْطُوهُ إِيَّاهُ فَإِنَّ خَيْرَكُمْ أَحْسَنُكُمْ قَضَاءً  

رَوَاهُ الْبُخَارِيُّ فِي الصَّحِيحِ عَنْ أَبِي الْوَلِيدِ وَأَخْرَجَهُ مُسْلِمٌ مِنْ حَدِيثِ غُنْدَرٍ عَنْ شُعْبَةَ