Book of the Insolvent (Al-Muflis)

The insolvent person (al-muflis) is he who has no wealth and lacks that with which he may satisfy his need. This is why, when the Prophet (peace be upon him) said to his companions, "Do you know who the insolvent is?" they replied, "O Messenger of Allah, the insolvent among us is one who has no dirhams and no goods." He said, "The insolvent is not that; rather, the insolvent is he who comes on the Day of Resurrection with good deeds like mountains, but he comes having oppressed this one, struck that one, and taken the property of this one, so this one takes from his good deeds, and that one takes from his good deeds. If he runs out before what is due from him is fulfilled, their bad deeds will be taken and cast upon him, then he will be cast into the Fire." This was reported by Muslim with this meaning (1). Their statement was an account of the literal insolvent, while the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) statement, "The insolvent is not that" (2), was a metaphor; he did not intend to negate the literal meaning, but rather intended that the insolvency of the Hereafter is more severe and greater, such that the insolvent of the world becomes, in comparison to it, like the wealthy. Similar to this is his (peace be upon him) saying, "The strong man is not the one who can wrestle; rather, the strong man is the one who controls himself during anger" (3). And his saying, "The winner is not the one whose camel wins the race; rather, the winner is the one who is forgiven" (4). And his saying, "Wealth is not by the abundance of possessions,