Asking elders and friends for repayment of one’s loan

Question

Question: Zayd’s loan is owed by a person from whom he cannot ask for his loan: either that person’s eminence prevents it, or excessive closeness prevents it. The case of eminence preventing it is that Zayd’s loan is owed by his teacher, his spiritual guide or some elder; the case of excessive closeness is that the person is Zayd’s friend, and he feels ashamed to ask him for the loan. Thus Zayd cannot make a demand of them.

Answer

He should first make the demand; if the debtor refuses to pay, he may then recover it by another means. In dealings, eminence and friendship ought not to be an obstacle; otherwise he should forgive the loan and free them of the obligation — in this there is regard both for eminence and for friendship.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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