Dear Islamic brothers! You have just heard how those who gather wealth and do not pay Zakah on it will be subjected to disgrace and a terrifying punishment on the Day of Judgement. Remember! Just as giving Zakah is beneficial for one personally, similarly, displaying stinginess in this regard is harmful for oneself.

Those who pay Zakah on their wealth and give abundant Sadaqah will see amazing blessings in their wealth, whereas, the state of the stingy person is that despite possessing abundant wealth, he will see his wealth to be little due to his greed, and he is hesitant to give both, Sadaqah-e-Wajibah and Naafilah, to spend on virtuous works and to help the creation of Allah Almighty throughout his life, out of fear of his wealth decreasing. In the end, the angel of death comes to him and all of his wealth is distributed to his inheritors after his death. Let us listen to an exemplary account in this regard.

The consequence of miserliness

It is written in part 1 on page 74 of ‘Uyoon-ul-Hikayaat’: Sayyiduna Yazeed Bin Maysarah رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه states: There was an individual from the nations that came before us who had gathered a lot of wealth and provisions, and who had a lot of children also. He possessed many bounties, but despite his abundant wealth, he was very stingy. He would not spend anything in the way of Allah Almighty and would always remain busy in trying to increase his wealth. When he had accumulated a lot of wealth, he said to himself, ‘Now I will live a life of luxury and lavishness.’ Thus, he began to live in extravagance and luxury with his family. Many servants would be at his service at all times, in wait of his command. He became so absorbed in those worldly luxuries that he completely forgot his death.

One day, the angel of death, Sayyiduna Izra`eel عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام came to his home in the form of a poor person and knocked on his door. The servants immediately ran towards the door and as soon as they opened the door, they saw a beggar; so they asked him, ‘Why have you come here?’

The angel of death عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام said, ‘Send your owner out, I need to see him.’

The servants lied and said, ‘He has gone out to help a poor person like yourself.’