In fact, the relationship between the creditor and the debtor is a difficult and complex one, especially when the debtor is a relative or a close friend. Most people who borrow money fail to pay back on time or tend to ignore they owe someone money.
Fahad Asiri, a 38-year-old father of three, said the famous Arabic saying: “If you want to lose a close friend, then all that you have to do is lend him some money.”
“I’ve lent a lot of money to many of my friends and relatives and they have failed to pay back. I have evidence that I gave them the money and I can easily sue them in court,” he said.
“But I refuse to harm those I have helped. I’ll end up losing more money paying lawyers and wasting time in courts,” he added.
Muhammad Wali said some people keep their word whereas others don’t. “I lent money to some friends a long time ago and they still haven’t paid me back. They pretend I didn’t lend them any cash,” he said.
“I feel ashamed asking them for my money. If the same people came back again to ask for help, I will think twice before giving them anything,” he said.
Wali said that he does not turn away anyone who asks him for help, especially if he is a close friend or relative. “I don’t even ask them to sign a document proving they’ve borrowed money from me and that they will pay it back. I lend money and make them promise that they will pay it back when they can. If they can’t then it means that they’ve broken their promise and that goes against our traditions here in Saudi and in the Arab world,” he said.
Habeeb Hajjaji said he lends money to people he does not want to see. “This is a useful strategy to keep them away from me. If I don’t like a relative or a friend then the easiest way is to lend them money. I won’t then hear anything from them after that; they’ll simply totally avoid me,” he added.
He added that this is a useful way of ridding himself of annoying people and getting a bit of peace of mind. “I wouldn’t, however, bother losing a close friend because of money. Money comes and goes but true friends remain. If I wanted to borrow money one day, then I would take a loan from a bank,” he said.
“It’s easier and more enjoyable to make the people at the bank angry than lose close friends or relatives,” he added.
Sayed Al-Salik, a Jeddah-based lawyer, said creditors can claim their rights through the Kingdom’s courts. “If the creditor doesn’t have proper paperwork proving they’ve lent someone money, then he can ask witnesses to come to court. That’s if the situation escalates to that extent,” he said.
“The creditor can also ask the debtor to swear that he took the money and will return it back or that he never took it,” he said.
Al-Salik also said that some people lack commitment and responsibility, which is especially shameful in our Muslim society. “In the Qur’an, the creditors and debtors’ verse is the longest verse in the book and contains details of how to borrow from people. However, people have abandoned these principles and rules,” he added.
