مَنْ أَخَذَ أَمْوَالَ النَّاسِ يُرِيدُ أَدَاءَهَا، أَدَّى اللَّهُ عَنْهُ، وَمَنْ أَخَذَ يُرِيدُ إِتْلَافَهَا، أَتْلَفَهُ اللَّهُ
Translation: Whoever takes people’s wealth intending to repay it will have Allah’s help in repayment; whoever takes it intending to squander or destroy it faces destruction from Allah.
Source: البخاري
أَمْوَالَ النَّاسِ means people’s wealth. يُرِيدُ أَدَاءَهَا describes an intention to repay, while يُرِيدُ إِتْلَافَهَا means intending to ruin or misappropriate it. أَدَّى (“repaid”) and أَتْلَفَ (“destroyed”) form a meaningful contrast.
A good intention does not cancel someone else’s ownership or financial rights. The sincere borrower must still keep clear accounts, honor agreed dates, and make genuine efforts to repay. The promise of divine help is no excuse to neglect repayment.