The High Levels Of Those Who Show Leniency To Those Who Are In Difficulty

Bukhari and Muslim narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said:
“A man used to lend money to people, and he used to say to his servant, 'When you come to one who is in difficulty, let him off, perhaps Allah will let us off.' And when he met Allah, Allah let him off.” [Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 2/108, hadith no. 2899.]
Nasaa'i, Ibn Hibbaan and Al-Haakim narrated with a saheeh isnaad from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said:
"There was a man who never did anything good. However, he used to lend money to people, and would say to his messenger, 'Take what they can afford to pay you, and forget about what they cannot afford, and let them off. Perhaps Allah will let us off.' When he died, it was asked, 'Have you ever done anything good?’ He said, 'No, but I had a slave and I used to lend money to people. When I sent him to collect the debts, I would tell him, 'Take what they can afford to pay you, and forget about what they cannot afford, and let them off. Perhaps Allah will let us off." Allah said: 'I will let you off.’” [Saheeh al-Jaami' as-Sagheer, 2/204, hadith no. 2073.]
In Mustadrak al-Haakim it is narrated with a saheeh isnaad from Hudhayfah, 'Uqbah ibn 'Aamir and Abu Mas'ood that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said:
"Allah will bring forth one of His slaves to whom He had given wealth, and will say to him, 'What did you do in the world?’ He will say, 'I did not do anything, O Lord, but You gave me wealth, and I used to engage in trade with people. One of the ways in which I treated people was that I would be easy-going with those who could afford it and I would postpone payment for those who were in difficulty.' Allah will say, 'I should be more tolerant than you; let My slave off.’” [Saheeh al-Jaami' as-Sagheer, 1/92, hadith no. 124.]