Borrowed 1,000 Dinars and had no witness but God
From Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him), from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), that he mentioned a man from the Children of Israel who asked one of the Children of Israel to lend him a thousand dinars. The lender said, “Bring me witnesses so I may have them testify.” The borrower replied, “Allah is sufficient as a witness.” The lender said, “Then bring me a guarantor.” The borrower replied, “Allah is sufficient as a guarantor.” The lender said, “You have spoken the truth.”
So the lender gave him the money for a specified term. The borrower then set out by sea to attend to his affairs. When the due date approached, he sought a vessel to carry him back before the deadline, but could not find one. He took a piece of wood, hollowed it out, placed the thousand dinars and a letter addressed to his creditor inside, sealed the opening, and brought it to the sea. He said, “O Allah, You know that I borrowed a thousand dinars from so-and-so. He asked me for a guarantor, so I said, ‘Allah is sufficient as a guarantor,’ and he was pleased with that. He asked me for a witness, so I said, ‘Allah is sufficient as a witness,’ and he was pleased with that. I exerted every effort to find a vessel to send what was due to him, but I could not. So I entrust it to You.”
He then cast the wood into the sea until it entered it, and turned away, still hoping to find a vessel that would take him back to his homeland. Meanwhile, the man who had lent the money went out to see if a vessel had arrived with his money. He found the piece of wood containing the money and took it home to be used as firewood. When he split it open, he found the money and the letter. The borrower then arrived and presented the thousand dinars, saying, “By Allah, I struggled tirelessly to find a vessel to bring you your money, but I could not find one before the one I arrived on.” The lender asked, “Did you send anything to me?” The borrower replied, “Let me tell you that I could not find a vessel before the one I arrived on.” The lender said, “Then Allah has discharged your obligation regarding what you sent in the wood.” So the borrower departed with the thousand dinars, reassured and at peace.
