Class 8 – Wealth

Class 8
‘Major Sins committed related to Money & wealth’

I – SELF

12) ACCEPTING USURIOUS GAIN (Riba)

The Qur’an states,

{Those who devour usury will not stand except as stands one whom the Satan by his touch hath driven to madness that is because they say, ‘trade is like usury, ” but Allah has permitted trade and forbidden usury.} (AI-Baqarah: 275)

On the Day of Judgement they will be resurrected from their graves swerving like he who is seized by Satan owing to what they devoured of usury that grew in their stomachs to such an extent that they would hardly be able to move. Whenever they move they fall and cannot hasten their steps like all other people. Qatada said, “On Qatada said, “On the Day of Judgement the usurer will be resurrected mad. Thus, all the people in the assembly will be able to identify them easily.”

The Prophet ﷺ said,

“When I was transported from the Sacred House (of Mecca) to the farthest Mosque (of Jerusalem), I passed by some people whose bellies were protruding forward. Their bellies were as huge as houses, stretching along the way of Pharaoh’s people. On the other hand, the Pharaoh’s people have to be brought in front of Fire at morning and evening. Like defeated camels, deaf and mad, the people of Pharaoh used to pass by them. Feeling them coming, they attempted to keep aside but their bellies were so heavy that they could not leave and they in turn, were trodden by them. This is re-occurred in their coming and going every day. That is their lot of torture in the period of the Barrier (AI-Barzakh) up to the Last day. The Prophet asked, “Who are they, Gabriel?” He replied, “They are those who devour usury will not stand except as stands one whom the Satan, by his touch, hath driven to madness.” (Bukhari)

Abdur-Rahman Ibn Abdullah Ibn Mas’ud said,

“When usury and fornication appear in a community, the people of that community render themselves deserving of the punishment of Allah.” (Al Hakim)

Muslims around the world traditionally avoid eating pork and alcohol, whereas, Riba is considered much worse than that. The Prophet ﷺ declared consumption of Riba worse than adultery: worse than “to a man committing adultery with his own mother” (Ibn Majah)

Ibn Mas’ud, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “When indebting someone, you should not accept his gift since it is usury.” Moreover, AI-Hasan, may Allah be pleased with him, regarded what you ate in your indebted house as Suht (taking of usury or bribes.)

5) NOT PAYING ZAKAT

Allah, the Most High, says,

• {And let not those who covetously withhold of the gifts which Allah hath given them of His Grace, think that it is good for them: Nay, it will be the worse for them: Soon it will be tied to their necks like a twisted caller, on the Day of Judgment. To Allah belongs the heritage of the heavens and the earth. And Allah is Well-Acquainted with all that ye do.} (AI-Imran: 180)
• {And woe to those who pay not Zakat and who even deny the Hereafter. For those who believe and work deeds of righteousness is a reward that will never fail.} (Fussilat: 6-7)

The Prophet ﷺ said,“A wealthy person who has got gold and silver, but does not pay the Zakat due on the same, (should know that) his gold and silver will be melted on the Day of Judgment and Converted into slabs which will then be heated in the fire of Hell, and then has sides, his forehead, and his back will be branded therewith. When these slabs will get cold, they will be heated up once more in the furnace of the Hell, the branding will be continued throughout the day, the duration of which will be equal to fifty thousand years, and the cases of all the people will have been decided by this time and they will be shown their way either to the Hell or to Paradise” (Reported by Muslim, Ahmad and An-Nisa’i)

Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, related that the Prophet ﷺ said,

“Whoever is made wealthy by Allah and does not pay the Zakat of his wealth will be made like a bald-headed poisonous male snake with two black spots over  its eyes. The snake will encircle his neck and bite his cheeks and say, “I am your treasure ” Then he recited the following verse, {And definitely let not the ones who are miserly with what Allah has given them,’ no indeed, it is an evil (thing) for them. They shall have annulated (about their necks) whatever they were miserly with, on the Day of Resurrection and to Allah is the inheritance of the heavens and the earth,’ and Allah is Ever Cognizant of whatsoever you do} (AI-Imran: 180) [Bukhari]

In his commentary on Allah’s saying

{On the Day when it will be heated in the fire of Hell, and with it will be branded their foreheads, their flanks, and their backs, -This is the (treasures) which ye hoarded for yourselves: taste ye, then the (treasures) ye hoarded} (Al- Tawbah: 35)

32) BRIBERY

Allah Most High says,

{And do not eat up your property among yourselves for vanities, nor use it as a bait for the judges, with intent that ye may eat up wrongfully and knowingly a little of (other) people’s property.}(Al-Baqarah: 188)

Muslims are prohibited to bribe a judge or a public officer to unfairly obtain a decision in favor of one’s self against a rival or to unlawfully consume the property of others while they are aware of the prohibition of this act.

On the authority of Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Allah’s curse is on the one who offers the bribe and on the judge who accepts it.” (Tirmidhi)

On the authority of ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) that, “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ cursed the one who offers the bribe and the one who receives it.” (Tirmidhi)

However, the Muslim scholars affirm that bribery is prohibited when it is aimed at consuming other’s property or rights unfairly. Thus, if someone finds himself in a situation in which all avenues of redressing a wrong done him, or recovering a right which has been forfeited, are blocked except through the payment of a bribe, the sin of it will not be on him but on the recipient of the bribe.

Another narration of the hadith explains that

“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ  cursed also the one who arranges for the payment of a bribe. “

Furthermore, what is mentioned above concerning the ruling of the one who offers a bribe applies to the one who arranges it, i.e., if it is aimed at obtaining fair ends, he would be sinless; and vice versa.

Gifts to officials are a form of bribery. Abu Umamah AI-Bahli (may Allah be pleased with him) said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,

“Whoever intercedes on behalf of his brother and therefore he offers him a gift, it would be nothing other than a grievous usury.” (Abu Dawood)

Ibn Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “To accept a gift from your brother because of fulfilling his need is the precise meaning of consuming the forbidden things.”

40) REMINDING RECIPIENTS OF ONE’S CHARITY TO THEM

Allah Most High says,

{O ye who believe! Cancel not your charity by reminders of your generosity or by injury.} (AI-Baqarah: 264)

AI- W’ahdi commented on this verse by saying, “It is the one who reminds the recipients of his charity.”

AI-Kalbi said, “It is the one who counts his charity as a favor upon Allah and injures the recipients of it.”

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ declared,

“There is one people whom Allah will not speak to, look at, or exonerate on the Day of Judgment, and they will have a painful torment. they are the one who wears the hem of his garment low (out of pride), he who reminds recipients of his charity to them, and he who sells merchandise swearing that he paid more for it than he actually did. “

He ﷺ also said,

• “Three men will never enter Paradise. Those disobedient to their parents, the drunkards and the one who used to remind the recipients of his charity with his grace.” (Nisa’ai)
• “Paradise is not the abode for the fraud, the niggard and the person who reminds the recipients of his charity.”(Tirmidhi)

II- BY TAKING OTHERS’ RIGHTS

22) MISAPPROPRIATING SPOILS OF WAR, MUSLIM FUNDS OR ZAKAT

Allah Most High says,

{ If thou fearest treachery from any group, throw back (their covenant) to them, (so as to be) on equal terms: for Allah loveth not the treacherous.} (8:58)

{No Prophet could ever act dishonestly. If any person acts dishonestly he shall, on the Day of Judgement, restore what he misappropriated, then shall every soul receive its due whatever it earned.} (3:161)

Abu Hurairah heard the Prophet ﷺ mentioning Ghulul, emphasizing its magnitude, and declaring that it was a grave sin, saying,

“Do not commit Ghalul, for I would not like to see anyone amongst you on the day of Judgement, carrying over his neck a camel that will be grunting. Such a man will say,”O Allah’s Apostle! Intercede with Allah for me!” and I will say,” I cannot help you for I conveyed Allahs’ message to you. Nor would I like to see a man carrying over his neck a horse that will be neighing. Such a man will be saying,” O Allahs’ Apostle! Intercede with Allah for me!” and I will reply,” I cannot help you, for I conveyed Allahs’ message to you”. Nor should I like to see a man carrying over his neck a sheep that will be bleating, or one carrying over his neck a crying soul, or one carrying over his neck clothes which will be fluttering, or one carrying over his neck gold and silver. Such men will be saying,’ 0 Allah’s Apostle! Intercede with Allah for us, and I will say,” I cannot help you for I conveyed Allah’s message to you.”(Muslim)

Whosoever takes from these kinds of the spoils before they are distributed among the fighters or something from the Muslim’s common treasury without the Imam’s permission, or something from the Zakat fund which is assigned to the poor, will come on the Day of Judgement carrying it on his neck.

25) THE ENGULFING OATH

Allah says,

{As for those who sell the faith they owe to Allah and their own solemn plighted word for a small price, they shall have no portion in the hereafter! Nor will Allah (Design to) speak to them or look at them on the Day of Judgement, nor will he clean them (of sin): they shall have a grievous chastisement.} (3: 77)

Al-Wahidi related, “The occasion of revelation of this verse was regarding two disputants who sought the Prophet to decide their case about a landed estate. At the time the defendant had been on the point of taking an oath, Allah revealed this verse. At once, he turned away from swearing and admitted the claimant’s right to the estate.

“Whosoever is ordered (by the ruler or the judge) to give an oath, and he takes a false oath in order to grab the property of a Muslim, he will incur Allah’s Wrath when he meets Him on the Day of Resurrection.”

Al-Ash ‘ath said,

“By Allah, this verse was revealed in my connection. A dispute broke out between me and a Jew who had denied my right to the ownership of a piece of land. I reported him to Allah’s apostle who said to me:

“Have you got an evidence (i.e. witness)? I replied, “No” He said to the Jewish man” swear in!” At this moment, I said, “0 Allah’s Apostle! He, my opponent, will take the oath and consequently consume my property”. For this Allah revealed, ”as for those who sell the faith…” (Bukhari & Muslim)

`Abdullah Ibn Mas’ud narrated the Prophet as saying, A person who swears falsely to take possession of Muslim’s property unjustly, shall face the wrath of Allah on the Day of Judgement”. ‘Abdullah added, ‘theProphet recited the following verse from the holy Qur’an in support of this statement. {As for those who sell the faith ……….}

The Prophet  ﷺ  said,

“A person who usurps the right of a Muslim, by swearing (falsely) will be condemned by Allah the Exalted to the hell and will be derived of Paradise. A man asked, “0 Messenger of Allah! Even if it may be a small thing?” he the Prophet -answered, “Even if it be the (smallest) twig of a bush- tree.”(Muslim)

26) TAKING PEOPLE’S PROPERTY THROUGH FALSEHOOD

Injustice may be exercised by stealing people’s property, beating and insulting them, or by violating and overbearing the weak persons.

Allah, Almighty says,

{Think not that Allah doeth not heed the deeds of those who do wrong. He but giveth them respite against a day when the eyes will fixedly stare in horror, they running forward with necks out stretched, their heads uplifted, their gaze returning not towards them, and their hearts a (gaping) void!

So, warn mankind of the day when the wrath will reach them: then will the wrong doers say, “0 Lord! Respite us (if only) for a short time: we will answer Thy call, and follow the Messengers!”

“What were ye not want to swear aforetime that ye should offer no decline? And ye dealt in the dwellings of men who wronged themselves, and you were clearly shown how we dealt with them, and we put forth (many) parables in your behoof} (Ibrahim:42-45)

He, the Almighty also says,

{The blame is only against those who oppress men with wrong-doing and insolently transgress beyond bounds through the land, defying right and justice: for such there will be a chastisement grievous.} (Ash-Shura: 42)

The Prophet ﷺ said,

“Verily Allah postpones taking any action against a tyrant (so that the cup of his sins may get full) and thereafter when he takes him to task, He will not let him escape.” Then he Prophet recited, {Such is the chastisement of thy Lord when He chastises communities in the midst of their wrong: grievous, indeed, and severe is His chastisement.} (Hud:l02)” (Bukhari & Muslim)

The Prophet ﷺ says,

“Whosoever apprised another person concerning his reputation or anything else, he should beg him for forgiveness before the Day of Resurrection when there will be no money (to compensate for wrong deeds), but if he has good deeds, those good deeds will be taken from him according to his oppression which he has done, and if he has no good deeds, the sins of the oppressed person will be loaded on.” (Bukhari & Ahmad)

The Prophet said,

“Procrastination (delay) in repaying debts by a wealthy person is injustice.”(Bukhari)

To deprive a woman of her due dowry, expenditures and draping is a form of injustice. ‘Abdullah Ibn Mas’ud says, “Each man and woman on the Day of Resurrection will be openly shown before all creatures, and it will be said, This is so-and-so. Let those who have a claim of something over him come and get it back”. Hence, the Prophet said, “Women shall rejoice as they regain their due rights from their fathers, brothers or husbands. Then,’ Abdullah Ibn Ma’sud recited, {There will be no more relationships between them that day, nor will one ask after another} (AI-Mu’minun: 101)

He added, “Allah will then be tolerant with him in regard to his Own due rights, but not so in the people’s. Thereupon, such a man or woman will be set up and Allah will say to the owners of the rights “Come and take back your rights.” Accordingly, Allah will command the angels, saying, “Take of his/her good deeds and give every right owner his/her due.” In case such a man or woman is righteous and there is a little bit of his good deeds left behind, Allah will multiply it manifolds so as to admit him to Paradise. But if he was a wretched person, and nothing of his good deeds remains, the angels would say, “O Lord! His good deeds are over and he is still indebted, so, Allah will say, “Take of their sins and load on him.” Finally, such a man will be cast into the Fire.”

Allah says,

{And incline not to those who do wrong, or the fire will touch you, and you have no protectors other than Allah, nor shall you be helped.} (Hud:113)

Inclination here stands for being tranquil and pleased with them. In the exegesis of this verse Ibn ‘ Abbas commented, “Do not be over inclined to them in love, talking and attachment. AI-Sadiyy and Ibn Zaid assimilated it as, “Not to flatter the oppressors.” Akrimah added, “To obey and try to gain favour with them.”

The Prophet ﷺ  said,

“Help your brother whether he is an oppressor or oppressed person. A companion asked, “Messenger of Allah! (It is true) I will help him if he is an oppressed person, but please, tell me how I am to help him if he happens to be an oppressor!” The Prophet answered, “Prevent him from doing injustice. Because preventing him from committing aggression is a help to him.” (Bukhari)

27) COLLECTING TAXES

The collector is the one who collects the taxes from sellers in the market in pre Islamic times.

The tax collector is one of the closest supporters of the oppressors. Rather he may be of the oppressors. He takes what is not lawful to him and gives it to those who do not deserve it. Hence, the Prophet declared,

“The tax collector will not tread Paradise.”(Abu Dawood)

The unlawful tribute collector is compared to the high way robber. Moreover, the one who collects the tax, the one who serves as a witness to it, and the one who usurps it are all alike in being partners in this wrongdoing.

He also said,

“No flesh fed by ill-gained property will be admitted to Paradise. But rather, it would be flying in Hell.” (Tirmidhi)

The ill-gotten property is the detestable wealth which puts its owner to shame, and is mentioned by Imam Al-Wahidi.

62) STINTING WHEN WEIGHING/MEASURING GOODS & SIMILAR

Allah Most High says,

{Woe to those that deal in fraud, those who, when they have to receive a measure from men, exact full measure, but when they have to give a measure or weight to men, give less than due. Do not they think that they will be raised upon a Mighty Day, a day when (all) mankind will stand before the Lord of the worlds?} (AI-Mutaffifeen: 1-6)

As-Saddiy said the reason of revelation of the above Ayah traces back to Prophet’s arrival at Medina where he found a man called Abu Juhainah who had two scales, one for giving and the other for receiving. The Prophet ﷺ said,

“Five entail five. They asked, what do you mean, Messenger of Allah? He said,II whenever a group of people break a covenant, Allah will entice their enemy to attack them. Whenever, they rule by other than Allah’s revelation they will be plagued by poverty. If indecency prevails, they will be afflicted by many deaths. If they cheat when weighing Allah will withhold their pasture-lands (or pasturage) and they will face barren years. If they do not pay Zakat, Allah will deprive them of rain.”

Cheating when weighing or measuring out goods is considered as a type of theft, a breach of faith and consuming other’s property through falsehood. Allah promises to punish such people with wail which may be interpreted as a severe torture or a valley in Hell-Fire. This valley is so hot that it can melt all the mountains of the world.

Nafi’ narrated that Ibn ‘Umar who when passing by a seller used to say, “’fear Allah and give just measure or weight.” This is because the cheaters when weighing or measuring will be bridled by sweat up to half of their ears on the Day of Judgment.

67) BRINGLING LOSS TO THE BEQUEST

Allah Most High, says,

{After payment of legacies and debts: so that no loss is caused (to any).} (An-Nisa’: 12)

This means that when someone brings loss to heirs by claiming that he is indebted to such and such.

Allah the Almighty says,

{Thus is it ordained by Allah, and Allah is All-Knowing, Most Forbearing. Those are limits set by Allah: those who obey Allah and his Messenger will be admitted to gardens with rivers flowing beneath, to abide therein (forever) and that will be the supreme achievement. But those who disobey Allah and his Messenger and transgress his limits will be admitted to a fire, to abide therein: and they shall have a humiliating punishment.} (An-Nisa’: 12-14)

The reward and the punishment mentioned in the aforementioned Ayat concerns those who deal with the inheritance. Abu Hurairah related that Prophet ﷺ said,

“A man or a woman work abiding by Allah’s commandments for sixty years until the death comes to them. Then they bring loss to the bequest and thereby they enter the hellfire”. Then Abu Hurairah reads, Allah’s saying: {After payment of legacies and debts: so that no loss is caused (to any one)}” (Abu Dawood)

“Whoever prevents his heirs from receiving their inheritance, Allah will prevent his inheriting Paradise.”(Ibn Majah)

“Allah has given every one his right. Thus there is no bequest for an heir.” (Tirmidhi)