8/2. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 1786 — Hoarded Treasure and Zakat
What was narrated concerning withholding Zakat
Hadith About Hoarded Treasure and Unpaid Zakat
Sunan Ibn Majah : 1786
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 1786
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مَرْوَانَ، مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عُثْمَانَ الْعُثْمَانِيُّ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ أَبِي حَازِمٍ، عَنِ الْعَلاَءِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ قَالَ " تَأْتِي الإِبِلُ الَّتِي لَمْ تُعْطِ الْحَقَّ مِنْهَا تَطَأُ صَاحِبَهَا بِأَخْفَافِهَا وَتَأْتِي الْبَقَرُ وَالْغَنَمُ تَطَأُ صَاحِبَهَا بِأَظْلاَفِهَا وَتَنْطَحُهُ بِقُرُونِهَا وَيَأْتِي الْكَنْزُ شُجَاعًا أَقْرَعَ فَيَلْقَى صَاحِبَهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فَيَفِرُّ مِنْهُ صَاحِبُهُ مَرَّتَيْنِ ثُمَّ يَسْتَقْبِلُهُ فَيَفِرُّ صَاحِبُهُ فَيَقُولُ مَالِي وَلَكَ . فَيَقُولُ أَنَا كَنْزُكَ أَنَا كَنْزُكَ . فَيَتَّقِيهِ بِيَدِهِ فَيَلْقَمُهَا .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah said: “The camels on which the dues (i.e. Zakat) were not paid will come, trampling their owners with their hooves. And cattle and sheep will come and trample at their owners with their hooves and butt them with their horns, And hoarded treasure will come in the form of a bald-headed snake, and will meet its owner on the Day of Resurrection.Its owner will flee from it two time, then it will come to him and he will flee again, and will say: 'What do I have to do with you?' and it will say: 'I am your hoarded treasure, I am your hoarded treasure.' He will try to shield himself with this hand and it will devour it.”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 1786In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 4English translation : Vol. 3, Book 8, Hadith 1786
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 1786
This Hadith about hoarded treasure and unpaid Zakat brings together two types of wealth: animals whose dues were not paid and treasure that was hoarded. Camels, cattle, and sheep are described as coming against their owners. Hoarded treasure appears as a bald-headed snake, and the owner tries to flee from it. The snake says, I am your hoarded treasure. The message is clear and direct: wealth that is kept without paying its due can become a source of fear and punishment. This Hadith teaches that Zakat is not a small side matter. It is a right attached to wealth and a protection from blame.
What we learn from this hadith
- Zakat must not be ignored on wealth that carries a due.
- Hoarded treasure is warned against when its right is unpaid.
- A person cannot escape the accountability of wealth by hiding from it.
- The Hadith teaches fear of Allah in financial duties.
