Abu Hurairah reported,

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ told the story of a man from the Children of Israil who asked another man from the Children of Israil to lend him a thousand dinars.The lender said, "Bring me witnesses so I may have them witness the loan."The borrower replied, "Allah is sufficient as a witness."The lender said, "Then bring me a guarantor."He replied, "Allah is sufficient as a guarantor."The lender said, "You have spoken truly," and handed over the money to him for a fixed term.The borrower set out by sea and took care of his business. Then he searched for a ship to take him back so he could repay the loan by the agreed deadline, but he could find no ship. So he took a piece of wood, hollowed it out, placed inside it a thousand dinars and a letter from himself to the lender, then sealed up the opening. He brought it to the sea and said, "O Allah, You know that I borrowed a thousand dinars from so-and-so. He asked me for a guarantor and I said, 'Allah is sufficient as a guarantor,' and he was content with You. He asked me for a witness and I said, 'Allah is sufficient as a witness,' and he was content with that. I have tried hard to find a ship to send him what is owed to him, but I could not. So I now entrust this to You." Then he cast the wood into the sea until it disappeared into it, then he turned away, still searching for a ship to take him to his homeland.Meanwhile, the man who had lent him the money went out looking, hoping perhaps a ship had come bringing his money. There he found the piece of wood that contained the money. He took it home as firewood for his family, but when he sawed it open, he found the money and the letter inside.Later, the borrower arrived, bringing the thousand dinars, and said, "By Allah, I kept striving to find a ship to bring you your money, but I could find no ship before the one I came on."The lender asked, "Did you send anything to me?"He replied, "I am telling you that I could not find a ship before the one I came on."The lender said, "Indeed, Allah has discharged your debt on your behalf through what you sent in the piece of wood. So take the thousand dinars back, and go on your way rightly guided."

عن أبي هريرة

عن رسول الله ﷺ أنه ذكر رجلا من بني إسرائيل، سأل بعض بني إسرائيل أن يسلفه ألف دينار، فقال: ائتني بالشهداء أشهدهم. فقال: كفى بالله شهيدا. قال: فأتني بالكفيل. قال: كفى بالله كفيلا. قال: صدقت. فدفعها إليه على أجل مسمى، فخرج في البحر، فقضى حاجته، ثم التمس مركبا يركبها يقدم عليه للأجل الذي أجله، فلم يجد مركبا، فأخذ خشبة، فنقرها، فأدخل فيها ألف دينار وصحيفة منه إلى صاحبه، ثم زجج موضعها، ثم أتى بها إلى البحر، فقال: اللهم إنك تعلم أني كنت تسلفت فلانا ألف دينار، فسألني كفيلا، فقلت: كفى بالله كفيلا. فرضي بك. وسألني شهيدا، فقلت: كفى بالله شهيدا. فرضي بذلك. وأني جهدت أن أجد مركبا أبعث إليه الذي له فلم أقدر، وإني أستودعكها، فرمى بها في البحر حتى ولجت فيه، ثم انصرف، وهو في ذلك يلتمس مركبا يخرج إلى بلده، فخرج الرجل الذي كان أسلفه ينظر لعل مركبا قد جاء بماله، فإذا بالخشبة التي فيها المال، فأخذها لأهله حطبا، فلما نشرها وجد المال والصحيفة، ثم قدم الذي كان أسلفه، فأتى بالألف دينار، فقال: والله ما زلت جاهدا في طلب مركب لآتيك بمالك، فما وجدت مركبا قبل الذي أتيت فيه. قال: هل كنت بعثت إلي بشيء؟ قال: أخبرك أني لم أجد مركبا قبل الذي جئت فيه. قال: فإن الله قد أدى عنك الذي بعثت في الخشبة، فانصرف بالألف الدينار راشدا.