The Debts of a Trustworthy Man

Al-Zubayr was a man of great wealth in land, yet he never took a governorship or a salary for public office. Before the Battle of the Camel he told his son 'Abdullah that he feared he would be killed, and that his biggest worry was his debts. He asked 'Abdullah to settle them, adding, "If you are unable on any part, ask my Master for help."

'Abdullah did not at first understand who the Master was, until his father said it was Allah. After al-Zubayr's death, 'Abdullah found that the debts were very large, much of them from people who had left money with al-Zubayr for safekeeping. Al-Zubayr had insisted on treating these deposits as loans, so that the money would be his responsibility if it were lost.

'Abdullah sold the estates and paid every creditor in full, and what was left was divided among the heirs (Sahih al-Bukhari 3129). Whenever he was in difficulty, 'Abdullah would pray, "O Master of al-Zubayr, settle his debt," and Allah would make a way.