Is it haram to save or hoard money in Islam?

The short answer

Saving money is allowed. The hoarding condemned in the Quran is wealth kept back from its due, above all wealth on which zakat has not been paid, as Ibn Umar explained. Separately, stockpiling goods that people need in order to push up prices (ihtikar) is forbidden: "He who hoards is a sinner."

Evidence 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Explanation

The Quran gives a stark warning: "those who hoard gold and silver and spend it not in the way of Allah - give them tidings of a painful punishment", describing that wealth being heated in Hell and used to brand its owners 1. Another verse condemns the one "who collects wealth and [continuously] counts it" and "thinks that his wealth will make him immortal" 2.

Does this mean all savings are forbidden? A bedouin asked Ibn Umar (RA) about this verse. He answered: "Whoever hoarded them and did not pay the Zakat thereof, then woe to him", and explained that once zakat was ordained, "Allah made Zakat a purifier of the property" 3. So wealth on which zakat is paid is not the forbidden hoard. The Prophet ﷺ even told Sa'd (RA) that leaving his heirs wealthy was better than leaving them poor and begging from others 4.

Still, the verses push against keeping wealth idle and unused for good. Allah distributes certain wealth "so that it will not be a perpetual distribution among the rich from among you" 5, and the Prophet ﷺ reminded his Companions that your real wealth is what you spend (for good) in your life, while what you leave behind belongs to your heirs 6.

A different kind of hoarding is clearly forbidden: holding back goods that people need so that prices rise. The Prophet ﷺ said, "He who hoards is a sinner" 7. Scholars apply this especially to essential goods such as food.

The balance, then: save for real needs and your family's future, pay zakat on it every year, give generously, and never hold back what others desperately need in order to profit from their hardship.

The evidence

  1. 1
    Quran At-Tawba · 9:34–35

    Those who hoard gold and silver and do not spend it in Allah's way are warned of painful punishment.

    ۞يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِنَّ كَثِيرࣰ ا مِّنَ ٱلۡأَحۡبَارِ وَٱلرُّهۡبَانِ لَيَأۡكُلُونَ أَمۡوَٰلَ ٱلنَّاسِ بِٱلۡبَٰطِلِ وَيَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِۗ وَٱلَّذِينَ يَكۡنِزُونَ ٱلذَّهَبَ وَٱلۡفِضَّةَ وَلَا يُنفِقُونَهَا فِي سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ فَبَشِّرۡهُم بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمࣲ‏ ۝٣٤ يَوۡمَ يُحۡمَىٰ عَلَيۡهَا فِي نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ فَتُكۡوَىٰ بِهَا جِبَاهُهُمۡ وَجُنُوبُهُمۡ وَظُهُورُهُمۡۖ هَٰذَا مَا كَنَزۡتُمۡ لِأَنفُسِكُمۡ فَذُوقُواْ مَا كُنتُمۡ تَكۡنِزُونَ ۝٣٥

    34 O you who have believed, indeed many of the scholars and the monks devour the wealth of people unjustly and avert [them] from the way of Allah. And those who hoard gold and silver and spend it not in the way of Allah - give them tidings of a painful punishment 35 The Day when it will be heated in the fire of Hell and seared therewith will be their foreheads, their flanks, and their backs, [it will be said], "This is what you hoarded for yourselves, so taste what you used to hoard

  2. 2
    Quran Al-Humaza · 104:1–3

    Woe to the one who collects and counts wealth, thinking it will make him immortal.

    وَيۡلࣱ لِّكُلِّ هُمَزَةࣲ لُّمَزَةٍ ۝١ ٱلَّذِي جَمَعَ مَالࣰ ا وَعَدَّدَهُۥ ۝٢ يَحۡسَبُ أَنَّ مَالَهُۥٓ أَخۡلَدَهُۥ ۝٣

    1 Woe to every scorner and mocker 2 Who collects wealth and [continuously] counts it 3 He thinks that his wealth will make him immortal

  3. 3
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 1404
    Sahih Bukhari

    Ibn Umar explained the condemned hoard is wealth whose zakat is unpaid; zakat purifies wealth.

    Narrated Khalid bin Aslam:We went out with 'Abdullah bin 'Umar and a bedouin said (to 'Abdullah), "Tell me about Allah's saying: "And those who hoard up gold and silver (Al-Kanz - money, gold, silver etc., the Zakat of which has not been paid) and spend it not in the Way of Allah (V.9:34)." Ibn 'Umar said, "Whoever hoarded them and did not pay the Zakat thereof, then woe to him. But these holy Verses were revealed before the Verses of Zakat. So when the Verses of Zakat were revealed, Allah made Zakat a purifier of the property

    العربية

    وَقَالَ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ شَبِيبِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، عَنْ يُونُسَ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ خَالِدِ بْنِ أَسْلَمَ، قَالَ خَرَجْنَا مَعَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ فَقَالَ أَعْرَابِيٌّ أَخْبِرْنِي قَوْلَ اللَّهِ، ‏{‏وَالَّذِينَ يَكْنِزُونَ الذَّهَبَ وَالْفِضَّةَ وَلاَ يُنْفِقُونَهَا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ‏}‏ قَالَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ مَنْ كَنَزَهَا فَلَمْ يُؤَدِّ زَكَاتَهَا فَوَيْلٌ لَهُ، إِنَّمَا كَانَ هَذَا قَبْلَ أَنْ تُنْزَلَ الزَّكَاةُ فَلَمَّا أُنْزِلَتْ جَعَلَهَا اللَّهُ طُهْرًا لِلأَمْوَالِ‏.‏

  4. 4
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 1295
    Sahih Bukhari

    Leaving one's heirs wealthy is better than leaving them poor and begging.

    Narrated 'Amir bin Sa`d bin Abi Waqqas:That his father said, "In the year of the last Hajj of the Prophet (ﷺ) I became seriously ill and the Prophet (ﷺ) used to visit me inquiring about my health. I told him, 'I am reduced to this state because of illness and I am wealthy and have no inheritors except a daughter, (In this narration the name of 'Amir bin Sa`d is mentioned and in fact it is a mistake; the narrator is `Aisha bint Sa`d bin Abi Waqqas). Should I give two-thirds of my property in charity?' He said, 'No.' I asked, 'Half?' He said, 'No.' then he added, 'One-third, and even one-third is much. You'd better leave your inheritors wealthy rather than leaving them poor, begging others. You will get a reward for whatever you spend for Allah's sake, even for what you put in your wife's mouth.' I said, 'O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Will I be left alone after my companions have gone?' He said, 'If you are left behind, whatever good deeds you will do will upgrade you and raise you high. And perhaps you will have a long life so that some people will be benefited by you while others will be harmed by you. O Allah! Complete the emigration of my companions and do not turn them renegades.' But Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) felt sorry for poor Sa`d bin Khaula as he died in Mecca." (but Sa`d bin Abi Waqqas lived long after the Prophet (ﷺ)

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ عَامِرِ بْنِ سَعْدِ بْنِ أَبِي وَقَّاصٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَعُودُنِي عَامَ حَجَّةِ الْوَدَاعِ مِنْ وَجَعٍ اشْتَدَّ بِي فَقُلْتُ إِنِّي قَدْ بَلَغَ بِي مِنَ الْوَجَعِ وَأَنَا ذُو مَالٍ، وَلاَ يَرِثُنِي إِلاَّ ابْنَةٌ، أَفَأَتَصَدَّقُ بِثُلُثَىْ مَالِي قَالَ ‏"‏ لاَ ‏"‏‏.‏ فَقُلْتُ بِالشَّطْرِ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ لاَ ‏"‏ ثُمَّ قَالَ ‏"‏ الثُّلُثُ وَالثُّلْثُ كَبِيرٌ ـ أَوْ كَثِيرٌ ـ إِنَّكَ أَنْ تَذَرَ وَرَثَتَكَ أَغْنِيَاءَ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَنْ تَذَرَهُمْ عَالَةً يَتَكَفَّفُونَ النَّاسَ، وَإِنَّكَ لَنْ تُنْفِقَ نَفَقَةً تَبْتَغِي بِهَا وَجْهَ اللَّهِ إِلاَّ أُجِرْتَ بِهَا، حَتَّى مَا تَجْعَلُ فِي فِي امْرَأَتِكَ ‏"‏‏.‏ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، أُخَلَّفُ بَعْدَ أَصْحَابِي قَالَ ‏"‏ إِنَّكَ لَنْ تُخَلَّفَ فَتَعْمَلَ عَمَلاً صَالِحًا إِلاَّ ازْدَدْتَ بِهِ دَرَجَةً وَرِفْعَةً، ثُمَّ لَعَلَّكَ أَنْ تُخَلَّفَ حَتَّى يَنْتَفِعَ بِكَ أَقْوَامٌ وَيُضَرَّ بِكَ آخَرُونَ، اللَّهُمَّ أَمْضِ لأَصْحَابِي هِجْرَتَهُمْ، وَلاَ تَرُدَّهُمْ عَلَى أَعْقَابِهِمْ، لَكِنِ الْبَائِسُ سَعْدُ ابْنُ خَوْلَةَ، يَرْثِي لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنْ مَاتَ بِمَكَّةَ ‏"‏‏.‏

  5. 5
    Quran Al-Hashr · 59:7

    Wealth is distributed so it does not circulate only among the rich.

    مَّآ أَفَآءَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ رَسُولِهِۦ مِنۡ أَهۡلِ ٱلۡقُرَىٰ فَلِلَّهِ وَلِلرَّسُولِ وَلِذِي ٱلۡقُرۡبَىٰ وَٱلۡيَتَٰمَىٰ وَٱلۡمَسَٰكِينِ وَٱبۡنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ كَيۡ لَا يَكُونَ دُولَةَۢ بَيۡنَ ٱلۡأَغۡنِيَآءِ مِنكُمۡۚ وَمَآ ءَاتَىٰكُمُ ٱلرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَمَا نَهَىٰكُمۡ عَنۡهُ فَٱنتَهُواْۚ وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلۡعِقَابِ ۝٧

    And what Allah restored to His Messenger from the people of the towns - it is for Allah and for the Messenger and for [his] near relatives and orphans and the [stranded] traveler - so that it will not be a perpetual distribution among the rich from among you. And whatever the Messenger has given you - take; and what he has forbidden you - refrain from. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is severe in penalty

  6. 6
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 6442
    Sahih Bukhari

    A person's real wealth is what he spends in his life; what he leaves belongs to his heirs.

    Narrated `Abdullah:The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Who among you considers the wealth of his heirs dearer to him than his own wealth?" They replied, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! There is none among us but loves his own wealth more." The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "So his wealth is whatever he spends (in Allah's Cause) during his life (on good deeds) while the wealth of his heirs is whatever he leaves after his death

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنِي عُمَرُ بْنُ حَفْصٍ، حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي إِبْرَاهِيمُ التَّيْمِيُّ، عَنِ الْحَارِثِ بْنِ سُوَيْدٍ، قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ أَيُّكُمْ مَالُ وَارِثِهِ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ مَالِهِ ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا مِنَّا أَحَدٌ إِلاَّ مَالُهُ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْهِ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ فَإِنَّ مَالَهُ مَا قَدَّمَ، وَمَالُ وَارِثِهِ مَا أَخَّرَ ‏"‏‏.‏

  7. 7
    Hadith Sahih Muslim 1605
    Sahih Muslim

    He who hoards (goods to raise prices) is a sinner.

    Ma`mar (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:He who hoards is a sinner. It was said to Sa`id (b. al-Musayyib): You also hoard. Sa`id said: Ma`mar who narrated this hadith also hoarded

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ بْنِ قَعْنَبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ بِلاَلٍ - عَنْ يَحْيَى، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ سَعِيدٍ - قَالَ كَانَ سَعِيدُ بْنُ الْمُسَيَّبِ يُحَدِّثُ أَنَّ مَعْمَرًا، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ مَنِ احْتَكَرَ فَهُوَ خَاطِئٌ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ فَقِيلَ لِسَعِيدٍ فَإِنَّكَ تَحْتَكِرُ قَالَ سَعِيدٌ إِنَّ مَعْمَرًا الَّذِي كَانَ يُحَدِّثُ هَذَا الْحَدِيثَ كَانَ يَحْتَكِرُ ‏.‏

  8. 8
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 1406
    Sahih Bukhari

    Abu Dharr held that 9:34 applies to Muslims too, and differed with Mu'awiya over its meaning.

    Narrated Zaid bin Wahab:I passed by a place called Ar-Rabadha and by chance I met Abu Dhar and asked him, "What has brought you to this place?" He said, "I was in Sham and differed with Muawiya on the meaning of (the following verses of the Qur'an): 'They who hoard up gold and silver and spend them not in the way of Allah.' (9.34). Muawiya said, 'This verse is revealed regarding the people of the scriptures." I said, It was revealed regarding us and also the people of the scriptures." So we had a quarrel and Mu'awiya sent a complaint against me to `Uthman. `Uthman wrote to me to come to Medina, and I came to Medina. Many people came to me as if they had not seen me before. So I told this to `Uthman who said to me, "You may depart and live nearby if you wish." That was the reason for my being here for even if an Ethiopian had been nominated as my ruler, I would have obeyed him

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيٌّ، سَمِعَ هُشَيْمًا، أَخْبَرَنَا حُصَيْنٌ، عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ وَهْبٍ، قَالَ مَرَرْتُ بِالرَّبَذَةِ فَإِذَا أَنَا بِأَبِي، ذَرٍّ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ مَا أَنْزَلَكَ مَنْزِلَكَ هَذَا قَالَ كُنْتُ بِالشَّأْمِ، فَاخْتَلَفْتُ أَنَا وَمُعَاوِيَةُ فِي الَّذِينَ يَكْنِزُونَ الذَّهَبَ وَالْفِضَّةَ وَلاَ يُنْفِقُونَهَا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ‏.‏ قَالَ مُعَاوِيَةُ نَزَلَتْ فِي أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ‏.‏ فَقُلْتُ نَزَلَتْ فِينَا وَفِيهِمْ‏.‏ فَكَانَ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَهُ فِي ذَاكَ، وَكَتَبَ إِلَى عُثْمَانَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ يَشْكُونِي، فَكَتَبَ إِلَىَّ عُثْمَانُ أَنِ اقْدَمِ الْمَدِينَةَ‏.‏ فَقَدِمْتُهَا فَكَثُرَ عَلَىَّ النَّاسُ حَتَّى كَأَنَّهُمْ لَمْ يَرَوْنِي قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ، فَذَكَرْتُ ذَاكَ لِعُثْمَانَ فَقَالَ لِي إِنْ شِئْتَ تَنَحَّيْتَ فَكُنْتَ قَرِيبًا‏.‏ فَذَاكَ الَّذِي أَنْزَلَنِي هَذَا الْمَنْزِلَ، وَلَوْ أَمَّرُوا عَلَىَّ حَبَشِيًّا لَسَمِعْتُ وَأَطَعْتُ‏.‏

This answer was compiled with the help of AI, using only the verified texts shown here. Every reference links to its source. If you find a mistake, please report it. Updated 2026-09-24

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