English translation
2291. Narrated Abū Hurairah رضي الله عنه: The Prophet ﷺ said, "An Isrāēlī man asked another Isrāēlī to lend him one thousand Dīnār. The second man required witnesses. The former replied, 'Allāh is sufficient as a witness.' The second said, 'I want a surety.' The former replied, 'Allāh is sufficient as a surety.' The second said, 'You are right,' and lent him the money for a certain period. The debtor went across the sea. When he finished his job, he searched for a conveyance so that he might reach in time for the repayment of the debt, but he could not find any. So, he took a piece of wood and made a hole in it, inserted in it one thousand Dīnār and a letter to the lender and then closed (i.e., sealed) the hole tightly. He took the piece of wood to the sea and said, 'O Allāh! You know well that I took a loan of one thousand Dīnār from so-and-so. He demanded a surety from me but I told him that Allāh's Guarantee was sufficient and he accepted Your Guarantee. He then asked for a witness and I told him that Allāh was sufficient as a witness. No doubt, I have tried hard to find a conveyance so that I could pay back his money but could not find, so I hand over this money to You.' Saying that, he threw the piece of wood into =said, "I offered the morning prayer with 'Abdullāh bin Mas'ūd. When the Salāt (prayer) ended, a man got up and informed him that he had gone to the mosque of Bani Ḥanīfa and heard the Mu'adhḏhin of 'Abdullāh bin An-Nawwāḥa saying, 'I testify that Musailama (the liar) is Allāh's Messenger." Ibn Mas'ūd sent for Ibn An-Nawwāḥa and had put him to death. He then consulted his companions regarding Ibn An-Nawwāḥa's followers who were one hundred and seventy men. 'Adī bin Ḥātim suggested that they be killed. Jarīr and Al-Ash'ath got up and said, 'No, but let them repent and let their tribes stand sureties for them.' So, they repented and their tribes stood sureties for them." (Ibid. p. 375) the sea till it went out far into it, and then he went away. Meanwhile he started searching for a conveyance in order to reach the creditor's country. One day the lender came out of his house to see whether a ship had arrived bringing his money, and all of a sudden he saw the piece of wood in which his money had been deposited. He took it home to use as fire-wood. When he sawed it, he found his money and the letter inside it. Shortly after that, the debtor came bringing one thousand Dīnār to him and said, 'By Allāh, I had been trying hard to get a boat so that I could bring you your money, but failed to get one before the one I have come by.' The lender asked, 'Have you sent something to me?' The debtor replied, 'I have told you I could not get a boat other than the one I have come by.' The lender said, 'Allāh has delivered on your behalf the money you sent in the piece of wood. So, you may keep your one thousand Dīnār and depart, guided on the right path'."