“Whosoever comes to a person and takes some money as a loan...
“Whosoever comes to a person and takes some money as a loan from him while he has the intention of not paying him back is a common thief.” Imām Ja’far al-Sādiq (as) is reported[^5] to have said: مَنْ اسْتَدَانَ دَيْنًا فَلَمْ يَنْوِِ قَضاءَهُ، كَانَ بِمِنْزِلَةِ السَّارِقِ. “Whosoever takes a loan and has no intention to pay it back, is the same as a thief.” In the above traditions such people are termed as thieves.
Essentially then, the very notion of ‘spiritual progress’ is far-fetched for them. Those who are regularly habituated in taking loans from here and there should also realize the dangerous consequences that await them. Traditions of the Ahlu’l Bayt (as) have alluded to some such dangers as follows: Imām ‘Alī (as) is reported to have said[^6]: كَثْرَةُ الدَّيْنِ تُصَيِّرُ الصَّادِقَ كَاذِبَاً، وَالْمُنْجِزَ مُخْلِفاً.
“Excess of debt turns the truthful one into a liar and one who fulfills [his promises] to become unfaithful.” Imām Muhammad al-Bāqir (as) is reported[^7] to have said: كُلُّ ذَنْبٍ يُكَفِّرُهُ القَتْلُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللٌّهِ إلاَّ الدَّيْنَ، لاَ كَفَّارَةَ لَهُ إِلاَّ أَدَاؤهُ، أَوْ يَقْضِي صَاحِبُهُ، أَوْ يَعْفُو الَّذِي لَهُ الحَقُّ.
“Martyrdom in Allāh’s way expiates every sin, save debt, for it has no compensation save its repayment, or payment by the inheritor ( sāhibuhu ) or forgiveness from the creditor...” Imām Ja’far al-Sādiq (as) is reported to have said[^8]: خَفِّفُوْا الدَّيْنَ، فَإِنَّ فِي خِفَّةِ الدَّيْنِ زِيَادَةَ العُمُرِ. “Lessen your debts, for surely in the reduction of your debts is the increment of life.” When Should One Take a Loan?
These above traditions should not be mistaken to mean that one has no right to take any loan whatsoever. Rather, in times of difficulty believers are allowed to take loans within the framework of Islamic laws. The Infallible progeny of the Holy Prophet (s) also took loans during their lifetime. But that which is very important is to understand properly the correct circumstance of taking a loan. A substantial number of people take loans to live a life of leisure or extravagance.
So long as the believer has not learnt to observe an Islamic discipline, he would always have to live a life of hardship. Imām Zaynu’l ‘Ābidīn (as) teaches his followers in supplication 30 of the Sahīfah al-Sajjādiyyah to adopt some sublime traits in order to avoid debt and be freed from the same.