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.
darimi:3111Abū al-Nuʿmān > Abū ʿAwānah > Mughīrah

[Machine] About Al-Harith al-Ukli, regarding a man who confessed upon his death to having a thousand dirhams as investment and a thousand dirhams as debt, and he did not leave behind anything except a thousand dirhams. He said, "Begin with the debt, for if there is any remaining, it will be an increase for the owner of the investment."  

الدارمي:٣١١١أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو النُّعْمَانِ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ عَنْ مُغِيرَةَ

عَنْ الْحَارِثِ الْعُكْلِيِّ فِي رَجُلٍ أَقَرَّ عِنْدَ مَوْتِهِ بِأَلْفِ دِرْهَمٍ مُضَارَبَةً وَأَلْفٍ دَيْنًا وَلَمْ يَدَعْ إِلَّا أَلْفَ دِرْهَمٍ قَالَ «يُبْدَأُ بِالدَّيْنِ فَإِنْ فَضَلَ فَضْلٌ كَانَ لِصَاحِبِ الْمُضَارَبَةِ»