Question
Salaam alaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh. I would like to know if I get the reward of the shade of Allah on the Day of Judgement for paying off some or all of my sister’s debts while she is alive or dead. I read that the lender that forgives the debt of a borrower can earn the shade of Allah on the Day of Judgement, and if he extends the period of repayment, he gets the reward of a charity of that amount or double. What is the reward for me paying off the debt on behalf of someone to the person they owe? JazakAllahu khayran.
Answer
Alhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa ala alihi wa sahbihi ajmain.
The Reward for the One Who Forgives Debt
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Whoever grants respite to one in difficulty or forgives him, Allah will shade him under His shade on the Day of Resurrection.” (Muslim, 3006).
This specific reward applies to the creditor who forgives or gives more time, since he directly waives his own right.
The Reward for Paying the Debt of Others
While the above hadith does not apply to the one who pays off another’s debt, there are other hadith that show immense reward for such acts:
- The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Whoever relieves a believer of one of the hardships of this world, Allah will relieve him of one of the hardships of the Day of Resurrection.” (Muslim, 2699). - The Prophet ﷺ also said about those under Allah’s shade:
“Seven will be shaded by Allah under His shade on the Day when there is no shade but His…” among them: “a man who gives charity and conceals it to the extent that his left hand does not know what his right hand gives.” (Bukhari, 1423; Muslim, 1031).
Thus, if you pay off your sister’s debt sincerely for Allah’s sake, without seeking thanks, praise, or recognition, it falls under the category of charity done secretly and relief of distress — both of which bring immense reward and can be a cause of Allah’s shade on the Day of Judgement.
And Allah knows best.