Giving Time to pay to the Person who is having financial difficulties is desired in all Transactions
Question :
Has Islam made a distinction between civil dealings (i.e., between individual persons) and business dealings in the matter of giving time to those who owe debts until they are able to pay?
Answer:
Allâh, the Most High said:
"But if you repent, you shall have your capital sums. Deal not unjustly (by asking for more than your capital sums), and you shall not be dealt with unjustly (by receiving less than your capital sums). And if the debtor is having difficult times (i.e., he has no money), then grant him time until it is easy for him to repay.
These Verses are discussing the laws of Riba. Allâh commanded the person who practices Riba to repent from it as the poor person has to bear the burden of the loan because by the passage of time it increases until it becomes doubled and multiplied. He commanded him to limit himself to requesting the original capital sum of his money and to give the poor person time to pay that. He should not make matters hard on him in requesting the money until the person is able to pay that. This generally includes all people who owe a debt, whether it is in business or a debt between individual civilians or a right from the financial rights or some pay that is owed. It is obligatory to give the person time due to his difficult circumstances until Allâh makes his situation better financially. It is not permissible to lock him up or deal harshly with him, as the Fiqh scholars have mentioned in the chapters regarding restricting people from dealings and other things.
Source:
Ash-Shaykh Ibn Jibreen
Fatawa Islamiyah, Vol. 3 Pages 431-432