Waiving a Loan in Favor of a Dead Person

“Once I said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘A man who died had borrowed (money) from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Sayabah, whom we asked to waive the loan in favor of the dead person, but he refused. He (the Imam) said, “Woe is upon him! Why does he not realize that for every dirham, he can receive the reward for ten dirhams, were he to waive it in favor of the dead person? In not waiving the loan in favor of the dead person, he can only receive the reward of one dirham for every dirham.’””

“Once Muhammad ibn Bishr al-Washsha’ came to visit abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), asking the Imam to speak to Shihab to relieve him of repayment of a loan until the end of the time for Hajj. He owed him one thousand dinars. The Imam sent someone to call him. He (Shihab) came and the Imam said to him, ‘As you know Muhammad’s condition, he has cut off his association with others to keep himself close to us. He has mentioned he owes you one thousand dinars. These (dinars) are not consumed or spent on marriage. They are payable as loan to men. I wish you to waive it in his favor.’ He (Imam) then said, ‘You perhaps think that He will take from his (borrower’s) good deeds and give it to you.’ He (Shihab) said, ‘That is what we are told would happen.’ Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), then said, ‘Allah is most Honorable and Just. How would He take away the good deeds of one of His servants who stands up for worship on cold nights, fasts on hot days, and walks seven times around the house (Ka‘bah), and give it away to another? In fact, Allah has a great deal of extra blessings to compensate a believing person.’ He (Shihab) said, ‘He is free (I waive the loan in his favor).”’