Obligatory Charity Tax (Zakat)

Author: Sahih al-Bukhari | Hadith Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 1433

Textual Analysis

The noble hadith employs the term "money" (māl) which encompasses all forms of wealth, including gold, silver, merchandise, livestock, and contemporary financial assets. The prohibition "do not withhold" (lā tuhassisū) carries the meaning of refraining from hoarding wealth and preventing its circulation in beneficial channels.

The second narration clarifies this prohibition further with "do not withhold by counting it," indicating the meticulous guarding and preservation of wealth without discharging its obligations, particularly the zakāt that Allah has made incumbent upon it.

Legal Ruling on Hoarding

Scholars have established that withholding wealth from which zakāt is due is strictly forbidden (ḥarām). This prohibition applies when one possesses the nisāb (minimum threshold) and a full lunar year has passed. The one who hoards such wealth is considered disobedient and deserving of divine punishment.

The wisdom behind this prohibition lies in wealth being a trust from Allah to be utilized for personal needs, family support, and social welfare. Hoarding disrupts economic balance and deprives the needy of their rightful share.

Divine Retribution Principle

The hadith establishes the principle of reciprocal divine treatment: "Allah would withhold His blessings from you." This divine withholding manifests in multiple ways: the wealth may be destroyed, lose value, fail to benefit its owner, or the owner may be deprived of the barakah (blessing) that makes little wealth sufficient.

This corresponds to the Quranic principle: "And whatever you spend of anything (in Allah's Cause), He will replace it" (Saba' 34:39). Just as spending in Allah's cause brings increase, withholding brings decrease and deprivation.

Contemporary Application

This ruling applies to all forms of contemporary wealth: bank deposits, investments, stocks, and digital currencies that reach the nisāb and complete the haul (lunar year). Muslims must calculate and discharge their zakāt obligations promptly.

The prohibition extends beyond mere zakāt evasion to include miserly behavior and failure to spend appropriately on lawful needs, family obligations, and charitable causes, all of which constitute forms of "withholding" condemned by the Prophet.