The Demand for Justice

The Prophet of Islam once took a loan from a man in Madinah. Then one day, this man came and used harsh language while demanding the Prophet of Islam to pay off his debt. The companions of the Prophet of Islam wanted to punish him for his insolence. But the Prophet stopped them. He said that the rightful owner has the right to speak. (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 2306)

This is a lesson in dealing gently with others. If for some reason, the other person becomes angry or speaks harshly, the listeners should deal with him patiently. If a man cannot tolerate harsh words, he should not even borrow from others. After taking a loan, however, he must give the lender the right to express his feelings as he wishes. In this case, the borrower should exercise restraint. He cannot, on the contrary, advise the lender to be patient.