Page 56 - Commonly Disregarded Qur'anic Rulings

54 COMMONLY DISREGARDED QURANIC RULINGS

ing is measured as that which is left after one’s needs have
been met. This is a command from Allah and the duty of
everyone to perform:

... They will ask you what they should give away. Say,
‘Whatever is surplus to your needs.’ In this way Allah
makes the Signs clear to you, so that hopefully you
will reflect. (Surat al-Baqara; 219)
Anyone who hoards his surplus while others are in need
displeases Allah, endangering his eternal life in the Hereafter.
Such a person is actually disobeying a commandment of Allah,
and by being stingy, he unjustly claims ownership of what
actually belongs to Allah. In fact, Allah gives him possessions
to test him. In the Qur’an, Allah describes this attitude as one
particular to unbelievers:
As for those who are tight-fisted and direct others to
be tight-fisted, and hide the bounty Allah has given
them, We have prepared a humiliating punishment
for those who disbelieve. (Surat an-Nisa’; 37)

The end of those who hoard and do not give what is due
to Allah and His needy servants is related as follows:
You who believe! Many of the rabbis and monks
devour people’s property under false pretences and
bar people from access to the Way of Allah. As for
those who hoard up gold and silver and do not spend
it in the Way of Allah, give them the news of a
painful punishment on the Day it is heated up in the
fire of Hell and their foreheads, sides and backs are
branded with it: ‘This is what you hoarded for your-