Many people, at some point in their lives end up in financial debt. Nobody likes it, but it just happens. Taking loans is perfectly permissible in Islam, as long as it doesnt entail riba (usury) and it isnt for a purpose that is against Islam.
Hereunder are seven ways to remove the noose of debt from our necks.
Duas for the Fulfillment of Debts
1) Sayyidah Aaishah (radiyallahuanha) says: Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) would seek refuge from debts at the end of his Salah (i.e, before the salam). When he was asked about why he did it so frequently, Rasulullah (sallallahualayhi wasallam) said:
When a man falls in to debt, he speaks lies and breaches his promises.
(Sahih Bukhari, Hadith: 832 and 2397)
The words of that dua are:
?????????? ??? ?????? ???? ???? ????????? ???????????
Allahumma inni audhu bika minal ma-thami wal maghram
O Allah! I seek your protection from sin and debts.
Note: If one cannot recite this before the salam, one could recite it after the salam with the hope that Allah Taala accepts it.
2) Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) taught the following dua to Sayyiduna Muad ibn Jabal (radiyallahuanhu) for removal of debts:
?????????? ??????? ?????????? ??????? ????????? ???? ???????? ?????????? ????????? ??????? ???????? ????????? ???? ???????? ????????? ???? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ??????? ????? ????? ?????? ???????? ??????? ?????????? ???????????? ??????????? ???? ???????? ?????????? ????????? ???? ???????? ?????????? ???????? ?????????? ????? ???? ???????? ???? ???????
Allahumma Malikal Mulk, Tu-til mulka man tasha u watanziul mulka mimman tasha u, wa tuizzu man tasha u, watudhillu man tasha u, biyadikal khayru innaka ala kulli shay in Qadir Rahmanad Dunya wal Akhirati tutihima man tasha u wa tamnau minhuma man tasha u irhamni rahmatan tughni ni biha an Rahmati man siwak
Translation: O Allah! Possessor of the kingdom, You give the kingdom to whom You will, and You take the kingdom from whom You will. You grant honour to whom You will and disgrace whom You will. In Your Hand is all good. Verily, You are able to do all things. [O] Most Merciful of this world and the Hereafter, You grant them to whomsoever You wish and You deprive whomsoever You wish. Shower upon me such mercy, which will make me independent from the mercy of those besides You.
Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said to Sayyiduna Muadh (radiyallahuanhu):
If you recite this dua, your debts will be cleared even if they equal to mount Uhud.
(Al Mujamus saghir; see Majmauz Zawaid vol.10 pg.186).
Hafiz Haythami (rahimahullah) has classified its narrators as reliable and Allamah Mundhiri (rahimahullah) has declared the chain as good. (Majmauz Zawaid vol.10 pg.186 and Targhib, vol.2 pg.614)
In another narration, Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) is reported to have taught a similar dua to Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radiyallahuanhu). (Mustadrak Hakim, vol.1 pg.515) In a narration of Ibn Abi Shaybah, Abdullah ibn Sabit says: Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) would himself recite these words and give it great importance. (see Shaykh Awwamahs footnote on Majalis of Ibn Nasirud Din, pg.201)
The words are:
?????????? ?????? ??????? ?????? ??????? ???????? ???????? ?????????????? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ???????????? ??????????? ??????? ???????? ???????? ???????????? ???? ???? ???????? ???? ???????
Allahumma Farijal hammi Kashifal ghammi Mujiba dawatil Mudtarrin, Rahmanad Dunya wal Akhirati wa Rahimahuma irhamnil yawma Rahmatan wasiatan tughnini biha ar Rahmati man siwak
3) Sayyiduna Ali (radiyallahuanu) said that Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) prescribed the following dua for the settling of debts:
???????? ???????? ?????????? ???? ???????? ?????????? ?????????? ??????? ?????
Allahummak fini bi halalika an haramik wa aghnini bi fadhlika amman siwak.
Translation: O Allah! Let the Halal things you provide suffice me from haram, and by Your Grace, keep me independent from all besides You.
(Sunan Tirmidhi Imam Tirmidhi rahimahullah has classified this narration as hasan (sound) Hadith 3563.)
4) In a narration of Sunan Abi Dawud, Sayyiduna Abu Said (radiyallahu anhu) reported that Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) taught an Ansari Sahabi the following dua for the repayment of his overwhelming debts:
???????? ???? ??????? ???? ???? ??????? ?????????? ????? ?? ???? ???????? ????????? ????? ?? ?? ???????? ????????? ????? ?? ???? ???????? ??????? ???????? ??????
Allahumma inni audhu bika minal hammi wal hazan, wa audhu bika minal ajzi wal kasl, wa audhu bika minal jubni wa bukhl, wa audhu bika min ghalabatid dayn wa qahrir rijal.
Translation: O Allah! I seek refuge in You from worries and difficulty, and I seek refuge in You from inability and laziness, and I seek refuge in You from cowardice and miserliness, and I seek refuge in You from the dominance of debt and being subjected to man.
Note: This dua should be recited morning and evening.
(Abu Dawud, Hadith 1550)
5) Recite abundantly:
?? ??? ??? ??? ??? ?????
La Hawla wala quwwata illa billah
(Sunan Tirmidhi and Mustadrak Hakim, see Targhib, vol.2 pgs. 444 and 617)
Repentance
6) Abundant Istighfar (seeking forgiveness) is also a potent way to remove financial and other worries. (surah Nuh, Ayah: 10-11)
Rasulullah (sallallahualayhi wasallam) has said: Whoever steadily recites istighfar (like the words: Astaghfirullah) will find Allah creating ease for him from every difficulty and relief from every worry and Allah will provide sustenance for him from where he cannot fathom
(Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith: 1513. Imam Hakim has declared this narration as sahih-authentic- see Targhib, vol.2, pg.617)
Intention
7) Most important is ones intention to repay the debt. The Hadith promises Allahs help for those who sincerely want to settle their debts. (Sahih Bukhari, Hadith: 2387, also see Targhib, vol.2 pg.598)
May Allah Taala keep us all debt free. Amin.