Is it permissible for someone to save all his money for fear of poverty in the future? What did Allah Almighty say about them?
هل يجوز أن يكنز الانسان أمواله خوفا من الفقر في المستقبل؟ وماذا قال الله تعالى عن من يفعل ذلك؟
The Islamic perspective on wealth accumulation balances the practical human need for security with the spiritual obligation of generosity.
يوازن المنظور الإسلامي لجمع الثروة بين الحاجة البشرية العملية للأمان والواجب الروحي المتمثل في الكرم.
Saving vs. Condemned Hoarding | الادخار المباح والكنز المذموم
1. The Condition for Permissible Saving
It is permissible for a person to hoard up all his money; however, he must pay his alms (Zakat) yearly. This indicates that if someone pays his zakat and spends on those whom he supports, then this act of hoarding is not an act of slander (it is not blameworthy).
1. شرط جواز الادخار
يجوز للإنسان أن يكنز ماله لكن عليه أن يؤدي زكاته بحولان الحول. فدل ذلك على أنه لو أنفق منها النفقة الواجبة وهي الزكاة والصرف على من تلزمه نفقتهم، فلا يدخل في الذم.
2. The Warning Against Stinginess and Withholding Rights
(Give good news of a painful torment to those who hoard gold and silver and do not spend it in Allah’s cause.) At-Tawba 9: 34. (Those who are stingy, promote stinginess among people, and withhold Allah’s bounties. We have prepared for the disbelievers a humiliating punishment.) An-Nisa’a 4: 37.
2. التحذير من البخل ومنع الحقوق
(وَالَّذِينَ يَكْنِزُونَ الذَّهَبَ وَالْفِضَّةَ وَلَا يُنفِقُونَهَا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَبَشِّرْهُم بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ ﴿٣٤﴾) التوبة 9: 34. (الَّذِينَ يَبْخَلُونَ وَيَأْمُرُونَ النَّاسَ بِالْبُخْلِ وَيَكْتُمُونَ مَا آتَاهُمُ اللَّـهُ مِن فَضْلِهِ ۗ وَأَعْتَدْنَا لِلْكَافِرِينَ عَذَابًا مُّهِينًا ٣٧) النساء 4: 37.
3. The Superiority and Reward of Charity
It is best for a person to give much charity as long as that doesn’t put him in harm. (And the example of those who donate their wealth, seeking Allah’s pleasure and believing the reward is certain, is that of a garden on a fertile hill: when heavy rain falls, it yields up twice its normal produce. If no heavy rain falls, a drizzle is sufficient. And Allah is All-Seeing of what you do.) Al-Baqara 2: 265. (Those who spend their wealth in charity day and night, secretly and openly, their reward is with their Lord, and there will be no fear for them, nor will they grieve.) Al-Baqara 2: 274.
3. فضل الصدقة ومضاعفة الأجر
والأفضل للإنسان الإكثار من الصدقة بما لا يفوت مصالحه. (وَمَثَلُ الَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُمُ ابْتِغَاءَ مَرْضَاتِ اللَّـهِ وَتَثْبِيتًا مِّنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ كَمَثَلِ جَنَّةٍ بِرَبْوَةٍ أَصَابَهَا وَابِلٌ فَآتَتْ أُكُلَهَا ضِعْفَيْنِ فَإِن لَّمْ يُصِبْهَا وَابِلٌ فَطَلٌّ ۗ وَاللَّـهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ ﴿٢٦٥﴾) البقرة 2: 265. (الَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُم بِاللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ سِرًّا وَعَلَانِيَةً فَلَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ ﴿٢٧٤﴾) البقرة 2: 274.
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
Is saving money for the future considered a sin in Islam?
No, saving money for future security is not a sin and is highly practical. It only becomes a sin (condemned hoarding) if you refuse to pay the annual obligatory Zakat on those savings or fail to financially support your dependents.
What transforms saved wealth into the forbidden "Kanz" (hoarded wealth)?
According to Islamic scholars, wealth becomes forbidden Kanz the moment its owner refuses to pay the required Zakat on it. If the Zakat is duly paid, the wealth is purified and is no longer classified as hoarded wealth.
Should a person give all their savings to charity?
While giving charity is highly rewarded and brings immense blessings, Islam teaches balance. A person should give generously but not to the extent that it harms their own livelihood or deprives their family of their essential needs.