إِلَّا الدَّيْنَ
“Except for debt.”
The expression marks an important exception. The merit of a person's worship belongs to one discussion, while the unpaid financial claim of another person remains a separate obligation. Borrowed money, entrusted property and unpaid dues are not merely private matters of personal piety.
Practical case
Someone gives generously to charity while knowingly delaying repayment of a debt that is due and that they can pay. Charity is good, but it does not justify withholding another person's money. A responsible approach is to pay or, when facing real difficulty, communicate honestly and seek an appropriate arrangement.
Detailed legal rules of debt belong to fiqh; the immediate lesson is to take people's financial rights seriously.