65/9.6. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 4660 — Warning Against Hoarding Wealth
The Statement of Allah: "...And those who hoard up gold and silver (AI-Kanz—the money, the Zakãt of which has not been paid) and spend it not in the Way of Allah—announce to them a painful torment." (V.9:34)
Hadith About Hoarding Wealth and Spending in Allah’s Way
Sahih Bukhari : 4660
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 4660
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ حُصَيْنٍ، عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ وَهْبٍ، قَالَ مَرَرْتُ عَلَى أَبِي ذَرٍّ بِالرَّبَذَةِ فَقُلْتُ مَا أَنْزَلَكَ بِهَذِهِ الأَرْضِ قَالَ كُنَّا بِالشَّأْمِ فَقَرَأْتُ {وَالَّذِينَ يَكْنِزُونَ الذَّهَبَ وَالْفِضَّةَ وَلاَ يُنْفِقُونَهَا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَبَشِّرْهُمْ بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ} قَالَ مُعَاوِيَةُ مَا هَذِهِ فِينَا، مَا هَذِهِ إِلاَّ فِي أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ. قَالَ قُلْتُ إِنَّهَا لَفِينَا وَفِيهِمْ.
Zaid bin Wahb Narrated from:
I passed by (visited) Abu Dhar at Ar-Rabadha and said to him, "What has brought you to this land?" He said, "We were at Sham and I recited the Verse:"They who hoard up gold and silver and spend them not in the way of Allah; announce to them a painful torment, " (9.34)where upon Muawiya said, 'This Verse is not for us, but for the people of the Scripture.' Then I said, 'But it is both for us (Muslim) and for them.' "
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4660In-book reference : Book 65, Hadith 182USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 6, Book 60, Hadith 183
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 4660
This hadith focuses on the warning against hoarding wealth and refusing to spend it in the way of Allah. Abu Dhar recited the verse about those who store up gold and silver but do not spend from it as Allah commands. Muawiya understood the verse as applying only to the People of the Scripture, but Abu Dhar said it applies to both Muslims and them. The main lesson is clear: wealth is not meant to be locked away while one ignores its duty before Allah. This hadith about hoarding wealth reminds a believer to treat money as a trust and to be careful about unpaid obligations tied to wealth.
What we learn from this hadith
- The warning about hoarding gold and silver is not limited to one group only.
- A Muslim should take Quranic warnings seriously when they relate to wealth.
- Wealth should be connected to spending in the way of Allah, not only storage.
- Honest disagreement can happen when people discuss the meaning of a verse.
