Harm of miserliness

Taking the extreme path always leads to worse results regardless of whether it is personal r social or any other sphere of life.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:

Translation of Hadith:  In everything, moderation is the best.

(Sunan Kubra Lil Baihaqui, Vol. 3, Pg. No. 373; Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaiba, Vol. 8, Pg. No. 246; Shu’abul Iman, Hadith No. 3731/5959/6325; Jame Ul Ahadith Lis Suyuti, Hadith No. 5376; Al Jame Ul Kabeer, Hadith No. 207, Kanz Ul Ummal, Hadith No. 5330)

Islam covers all the aspects of life and stops from everything that which may hurt or harm humankind in general.  Thus, miserliness (Bukhl in Urdu) is also a dangerous disease which harms humankind in general and Islam has prohibited this.

Because of miserliness, a person’s heart hardens and that person only thinks about hoarding wealth.  Allah Ta’ala admonishes against miserliness:

And those who are niggardly in giving away (from the wealth) which Allah has bestowed upon them out of His bounty must never consider this miserliness of any benefit for themselves; it is rather injurious to them. Soon on the Day of Resurrection this wealth, which they are niggardly about, will be put around (their necks) like a neck-fetter. To Allah belongs the heritage of the heavens and the earth (i.e. He will remain the Owner of the universe after your death in the same way as He owns it today). And Allah is Well Aware of all your deeds.  Surah Ale Imran (3:180)

 

There is a Hadith in Jame’ Tirmidhi:

Translation of Hadith:  It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be well pleased with him) that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: A generous person is close to Allah Ta’ala, close to the worshippers of Allah Ta’ala and is far from hell.  A miserly person is far from Allah Ta’ala, far from His worshippers, far from Jannah as well and is close to hell.  Indeed! An ignorant generous person is more beloved to Allah Ta’ala than a scholarly miser.

(Jame’ Tirmidhi, Hadith No. 2088)

 

Mufti Syed Ziauddin Naqshbandi Qadri,

[Naib Shaykh Ul Fiqh, Jamia Nizamia,

Founder/Director Abul Hasanaat Islamic Research Center]