Bankruptcy

Narrated Abu Hurairah (radi Allahu anhu) that Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) asked: "Do you know who is bankrupt?" They (the Companions of the Prophet) replied: "A bankrupt man amongst us is one who has neither dirham with him nor wealth." Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: "The poor of my Ummah would be he who would come on the Day of Resurrection with prayers and fasts and Zakat but since he hurled abuses upon others, brought calumny against others, unlawfully consumed the wealth of others, shed the blood of others and beat others, his virtues would be credited to the accounts of others (who suffered at his hands). And if his good deeds fall short to clear the account, then the other's sins will be entered in (his account) and he will be thrown in the Fire of Hell." [Sahih Muslim]

So a person may arrive on the Day of Judgement with a mountain of good deeds, content in his wealth of hasanaat: But that mountain will be as if made of ashes which the slightest breath can blow away.

The bankrupt man discussed in this hadith was not poor to begin with. He had mounds of good deeds. But he lost everything because of having to repay all the people whom he had harmed or whom he owed anything to in any form. On that Day the only currency available will be one’s deeds. Therefore, he will have to part with some of his good deeds to settle his accounts with others. And should he run out of good deeds to give to others, he will have to take on some of their bad deeds till he no longer owes anybody anything.

It is a sobering thought; how one who comes content in his wealth, can end up bankrupt! We should try to ensure we don’t end up that way. If we owe anyone money, time, an apology, or anything else we should do our best to settle our accounts while still in this world.