REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Prophet Muhammad was once charged a debt in a very abusive manner by a Jew. However, the Prophet Muhammad's treatment of the Jews was not reciprocated in a similar way.
Excerpted from the book Harsh Harem Muamalat Contemporary, the work of Contemporary Muamalat Fikih Expert Erwandi Tarmizhi, the Jew charges in a very crude way. This made some of the companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) want to hit him.
Seeing the circle of his companions, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “Let him! Surely the owner of the right has a reason to do so.” Then the Prophet ordered some of his companions to buy camels to pay his debts.
They tried to find a camel that was the same age as the borrowed camel but did not get it. They reported it to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) that all there was was was a camel whose age was better than the one borrowed.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Buy a better camel and pay it. Indeed, the best man is the one who repays the debt with the better,” the Bukhari and Muslim historical hadith.
The above hadith teaches how Islam upholds justice, even if the owner of the debt is a Jew who is an enemy of Muslims, and is abusive to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) in the presence of his companions. But the Prophet did not oppress him, even on the contrary, he paid his debts with a better payment than the goods taken.
The Prophet's noble character has been praised by Allah in His Word,
وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ
“And indeed you are of great virtue” (Al Qalam verse 4).
Therefore, it is unlawful for a person to humiliate another, even if the person being dishaled is a non-Muslim. Allah swt berfirman,
وَلَا يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنَـَٔانُ قَوْمٍ عَلَىٰٓ أَلَّا تَعْدِلُوا۟ ۚ ٱعْدِلُوا۟ هُوَ أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَىٰ
Do justice, for the righteous is nearer to the throne” (Al Maidah v. 8).