8/3. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 1787 — Zakat Purifies Wealth
Wealth on which Zakat is paid is not 'hoarded treasure'
Hadith About Zakat as Purification of Wealth
Sunan Ibn Majah : 1787
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 1787
حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ سَوَّادٍ الْمِصْرِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ وَهْبٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ لَهِيعَةَ، عَنْ عُقَيْلٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، حَدَّثَنِي خَالِدُ بْنُ أَسْلَمَ، مَوْلَى عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ قَالَ خَرَجْتُ مَعَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ فَلَحِقَهُ أَعْرَابِيٌّ فَقَالَ لَهُ قَوْلُ اللَّهِ {وَالَّذِينَ يَكْنِزُونَ الذَّهَبَ وَالْفِضَّةَ وَلاَ يُنْفِقُونَهَا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ} قَالَ لَهُ ابْنُ عُمَرَ مَنْ كَنَزَهَا فَلَمْ يُؤَدِّ زَكَاتَهَا فَوَيْلٌ لَهُ إِنَّمَا كَانَ هَذَا قَبْلَ أَنْ تُنْزَلَ الزَّكَاةُ فَلَمَّا أُنْزِلَتْ جَعَلَهَا اللَّهُ طَهُورًا لِلأَمْوَالِ . ثُمَّ الْتَفَتَ فَقَالَ مَا أُبَالِي لَوْ كَانَ لِي أُحُدٌ ذَهَبًا أَعْلَمُ عَدَدَهُ وَأُزَكِّيهِ وَأَعْمَلُ فِيهِ بِطَاعَةِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ .
Khalid bin Aslam Narrated from:
I went out with Abdullah bin Umar, and a Bedouin met him and recited to him the words of Allah: 'And those who hoard up gold and silver (the money, the Zakah of which has not been paid) and spend them not in the way of Allah.' Ibn Umar Said to him: 'The one who hoards it and does not pay Zakat due on it, woe to him. But this was before the (ruling on) Zakat was revealed. When it was revealed, Allah made it a purification of wealth.'Then he turned away and said: 'I do not mind if I have the (the equivalent of) Uhud in gold, provided that I know how much it is and I pay Zakat on it, and I use it in obedience of Allah, the Mighty and Sublime'”
[1] At-Taubah 9:34.Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 1787In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 5English translation : Vol. 3, Book 8, Hadith 1787
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 1787
This narration about Zakat as purification of wealth records Ibn Umar's answer to a Bedouin who recited the verse about hoarding gold and silver. Ibn Umar said that the warning applies to one who hoards wealth and does not pay its Zakat. He then explained that when Zakat was revealed, Allah made it a purification of wealth. He also said that he would not mind having gold equal to Uhud if he knew its amount, paid Zakat on it, and used it in obedience to Allah. The core message is balanced: wealth itself is not condemned here. The problem is hoarding it without paying Zakat and without using it rightly.
What we learn from this hadith
- Zakat is described as a purification of wealth.
- Hoarding becomes blameworthy when the due Zakat is not paid.
- Knowing one's wealth helps a person fulfill Zakat properly.
- Wealth can be used in obedience to Allah when handled responsibly.
