The Importance of Learning about Wealth - Shaykh Abdul Hadi

The Importance of Learning about Wealth

Alhamdulillah, we praise Him, we ask His help and we ask His forgiveness. And we seek refuge in Allah from the evil of our souls and from the evil of our deeds. Whomsoever Allah guides, none can misguide him. And whosoever He sends astray, none can guide him. And I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, alone, with no partner. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and His Messenger. He has sent him with the truth, as a bearer of glad tidings and a warner. O Allah, send peace and blessings upon Muhammad and upon his family and companions.

As for the rest, the best hadith is the Book of Allah. And the best guide is the guidance of Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him.

Islam — A Comprehensive and Complete Way of Life

Brothers and sisters, Alhamdulillah, Islam is a comprehensive religion to guide its followers in all aspects of their life. This deen has been completed by Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala, upon His last and final Messenger, Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, in his last sermon, khutbat hajjatul wida', declared about the completion of this deen.

There are many things, including issues relating to aqaid, amal-e-saleha — righteous good deeds — and muamalat — dealings with other people. Among many things, one of the important issues affecting us all today is mal — wealth, money. There are many aspects to consider regarding wealth, such as earning, spending, business, and dealing with other people.

And Qur'an-e-Majeed has emphasized in detail about wealth, maal, and orders us to eat what is halal and clean and pure. And be careful about Shaytan. In the subject of wealth, Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala, warns us to keep away from Shaytan. And there is a deep wisdom behind this. He is our enemy and made a promise that he will do everything he can to misguide human beings and make them enter the Hellfire.

Obviously, this is a weak point of human beings in general, whether in the earning of maal or expenditure or in dealing with others — muamalat. This is a weak point for us almost generally. This is a very serious issue which can nullify our ibadah, our du'a, our supplications.

According to Sahih Muslim, a person surrounded with hard times and difficulties, raising his hands, asking Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala — but his du'a will be rejected. Why? We have to consider this. Allah will say: your maal — wealth — is from haram. Your food is from haram. Your clothes are from haram. Then how will Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala, accept your du'a? If our wealth is not clean and pure according to Islamic teaching and shari'ah, then this will happen.

When we read the books of ahadith and fiqh, there are detailed and lengthy chapters — Kitab ul-Buyu' — relating to marketing, business and earning. Unfortunately, it has been noted that many respected brothers and sisters, including some scholars, do not spend time studying these chapters as they do for other matters, such as tahara, wudu, salat. MashaAllah, they are perfect in this. But about buyu' — marketing, earning, expenditures, business — they are very weak. They don't give that much attention to these matters, to understanding and practicing these teachings. Some don't even have the concept of Islamic shari'ah in matters of maal, wealth.

Surah Al-Baqarah: Key Verses on Wealth

If you read Surah Al-Baqarah, Chapter 2, verses 275 to 282, my brothers — this is very, very important. There are many things relating to wealth.

Number one — earning halal money through lawful means and sources as described by Islamic shari'ah, and spending in the same manner, especially giving to the poor and needy people as sadaqa, as charity. There is a great reward for this.

Riba (Interest) — A Declaration of War Against Allah and His Messenger

Second — riba, interest. This is a very, very serious issue, my brothers. And after reading the verses with understanding, a believer will never get involved in this and put themselves into serious risk.

For many reasons, riba, interest, is prohibited. Number one — Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala, has clearly made this haram, unlawful. So it is not an opinion of people based on the statement of some scholars. It is a clear, undisputed order from Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala, that this is haram. Riba is haram.

A person who is involved in riba will be raised on the Day of Resurrection and act like a madman — or as though he has been possessed by Shaytan or jinn — because he knew that he fought in his lifetime against Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala. So how is he going to present himself in front of Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala?

Secondly — Allah will destroy interest, riba, in all its nature, without any blessing or barakah.

Thirdly — this will be considered as a war — harb — a war with Allah and His Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him. Can you imagine a person who was involved in riba and died while he was fighting against Allah and His Messenger? What will happen to him at the time of his death? And when his janaza is being prepared for prayer, the imam and congregation will say, "O Allah, forgive him" — while he passed away fighting against Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala, and His Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him. And we are saying, "O Allah, forgive him." And he died as one disobedient to the command of Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala.

Then in the grave, when he will be buried alone, and people from his family, friends, and relatives will again ask Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala's mercy — اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَهُ — again — while he was fighting against Allah and His Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him.

More than this, on the Day of Resurrection, when he will be raised to stand in front of Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala, to account for his deeds — while he was fighting against Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala — how is he going to face Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala, there on the Day of Judgement?

If you study the ahadith relating to this chapter — riba — you will find very strong commands of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. The famous companion Abdullah ibn Mas'ud, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: there are 73 types of riba, and the easiest and simplest one is like someone who marries his own mother. If this is the case of the easiest and simplest one, then you can imagine the other forms of riba.

(Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith 2274; also reported in al-Mustadrak of al-Hakim)

Not only taking riba, my brothers — but also involving yourself in its taking or providing, or writing or witnessing the agreement. All are cursed by the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him.

(Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1598; Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 2084)

He said they are all equal — directly or indirectly, your participation in this. We have to stop and think about where we stand in this matter. Many of our brothers and sisters — because it is like a disease — it is affecting many Muslim brothers and sisters, males and females, and even those who are attending the masjid to pray five times daily. But sadly, this part of their life is neglected. They don't bother about maal, about wealth. And this is, as I said, a very, very serious issue.

If someone is fighting against Allah and His Messenger — why are they doing this? For some temporary gain, for a very normal need. And sometimes to maintain our standard of living, or to compete in a race with others. If he has a car, I have to take a car. If he has a four-bedroom house, I have to take a five-bedroom house. Competition in dunya — regardless of the money they are taking from the bank, as long as they can get it — without bothering about how serious this is.

Qarz (Loan) — Rules and Procedures

The third point about maal is qarz — loan, borrowing money. There is no doubt that there is a need in the community. We need to help and cooperate with each other in many things, and one of them is financial support.

As Allah said — help and cooperate with each other in good and piety, and do not help or cooperate in sinful and wrongful action. Any person may need to borrow from someone — this was the practice of the Sahabah as well, and they are the best example for others. Islam encourages us to support one another. But this support should not be for unnecessary reasons — it should be for a genuine reason, and it should not be exploitation, greediness, or made into a habit. If you have a genuine reason, then you may take qarz — borrow money, take a loan.

Regarding this issue, there are certain rules according to Islamic shari'ah. If you read the verse in Surah Al-Baqarah, Chapter 2, Verse 282 — this is the single longest ayah in the Qur'an — it is about loan and its procedure, about qarz and its procedure.

But unfortunately, very little has been understood, and very few people practice it — though this is a very serious matter.

At the time of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, a janaza was brought. Before offering the janaza prayer, Rasulullah, peace and blessings be upon him, asked: did he leave any loan, qarz, behind? The answer was yes. Then he asked: did he leave anything to pay it back? The answer was no — he didn't leave anything. So our noble Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, refused to pray Salat ul-Janaza. Then, as a matter of sympathy, the companion Abu Qatadah, may Allah be pleased with him, came forward and took responsibility upon his shoulders, saying that he would pay on behalf of him. Then our Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, offered Salat ul-Janaza.

My brothers — do you know how much this qarz was? According to Sahih al-Bukhari, only three dinars. Only three dinars. This shows us the seriousness of repaying a loan, no matter how small it is.

But many of our brothers don't even bother. The Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, said: he who dies with a loan upon him — there will be on the Day of Judgement no dirham or dinar to pay it back — so Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala, will take his good deeds to transfer them. And a shaheed — a martyr — there is a great reward for him; Allah will forgive his sins, except an unpaid loan.

(Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1886)

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, also said: someone who borrows with the intention that he is going to pay it back — Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala, will help him. But if the intention is bad — if you are borrowing money with bad intention — then Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala, will also remove his barakah.

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 2387)

If you have borrowed, then you have to think about how you are going to pay it back. And the correct procedure according to the Quranic ayah in Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 282, is that there is a certain procedure to be followed. Number one — it should be in writing. It is also highly recommended that two witnesses be present. Even if someone borrowing cannot read or write, someone should write for him — with honesty. There is a lot of wisdom behind this, to avoid future problems from both sides.

In our Muslim society, people don't bother about this. They don't bother about putting it in writing. Sometimes they even consider it awkward — if you ask someone to write, he will consider it a lack of trust or respect, while this is the Qur'an — Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala, is saying to do this. And why? Because this is something that, in the sight of Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala, is more just and a firmer testimony — far away from any doubt or fitna.

This practice is very rare in our community, especially when borrowing money or starting a business. They don't want to write. They don't want to declare anything. Then what happens? If you ignore one hukm of Allah — one order of Qur'an-e-Majeed — what will happen? Then they fight. They go to court for settlement. And sometimes the situation gets worse than that. We all witness what is going on. If you don't practice one order of Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala...

Miras (Inheritance) — Giving Everyone Their Right

The last point relating to our wealth — and this is also very, very important — is about miras, inheritance: who will receive after the death of someone, and how much. If you read Surah An-Nisa — in the beginning of Surah An-Nisa, Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala, mentioned this. And in many ahadith with great detail — who will take and how much — Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala, and the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, mentioned this.

But in our community — unfortunately, in our society — very few brothers are giving with honesty to those who are entitled to receive their share. For example, they don't bother about daughters. In our community, mostly people don't bother about females, about daughters, to give them their right — what Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala, said to us. Sometimes maybe they ignore it totally. Or sometimes they are giving less than required.

And if you read Surah An-Nisa, after mentioning this, Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala, says: these are the boundaries of Allah. Do not exceed them. Do not do any zulm. Give without being asked. Give to everyone according to what Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala, said and what Rasulullah, peace and blessings be upon him, mentioned.

Summary — Four Key Points on Wealth

These are a few points relating to wealth in general:

First — the earning of money in a halal manner.
Second — riba, interest, which is very serious and haram according to the Qur'an and many authentic ahadith.
Third — qarz, borrowing money. There is a certain procedure for that which we have to follow.
Fourth — the distribution of inheritance — who will get and how much after the death of someone, whatever he left behind: property, gold, cash, whatever.

May Allah give us tawfiq and ability for understanding the teachings of the Qur'an and Sunnah, and following the best.

Wealth as a Trial

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, warned us and said: for every nation there is a trial, and the trial of this nation is wealth.

(Jami' al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 2336)

So wealth is among the means of trial. Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala, said: your wealth and your children are a trial. And the Muslim may be tested in his deen. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: the man becomes a believer, then becomes a disbeliever — or he becomes a believer, then becomes a disbeliever — he sells his religion for a share of this world.

(Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2742)

One of the things Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala, explained is the issue of usury — riba. But many of the brothers — even the religious people who pray in the mosque — they don't care about the usury. They go and take the usury as if it is nothing. Read the end of Surah Al-Baqarah. Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala, said about the usury — the usury is forbidden, in all its types, in Islamic shari'ah.

Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala, said: O you who believe, fear Allah and leave what remains of usury, if you are believers. If you do not, then take notice of a war from Allah and His Messenger. A war. A war from Allah and His Messenger.

Pay attention to this hadith — riba has 73 types. The easiest is as if a man marries his own mother. And if this is the easiest — then what do you think about the biggest?

The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, cursed the one who eats usury, the one who provides it, the one who writes it, and the witnesses — and he said they are all equal. Narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

And the other problem about maal — this usury has become like a disease spreading among the Muslims, and they are suffering from it unfortunately. And the other problem — the debt. Debt is a necessity in human society, and Islam has encouraged us to cooperate with each other — to cooperate in righteousness and piety, and not to cooperate in sin and aggression. But it has conditions and a proper procedure. Read the verse of the debt in Surah Al-Baqarah to make it clear: first — the writing; and second — the testimony. Because people are neglecting this, Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala, says: that is more just in the sight of Allah, and stronger as testimony, and less likely to give rise to doubt. But we have forgotten these conditions. Then the problems happen. Then we go to the courts to solve this problem.

And then the last point — the inheritance. After the death of a man, who deserves his wealth that he left behind, and how much he deserves — there are defined shares. If you read the beginning of Surah An-Nisa, and the many ahadith — they do not leave this matter ambiguous. But many brothers ignore and neglect this — especially in the matter of daughters. Either they do not give them their rights, or they give less than what a Muslim woman deserves. This is injustice and transgression. Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala, says: those are the limits of Allah — the limits of Allah. But some brothers ignore this.

So pay attention to these things — Surah An-Nisa, Surah Al-Baqarah — and may Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala, guide us all to act upon the teachings of His Book and the Sunnah of His Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him.