What your billions are for

Some things that occur are hard to stomach. One of those many things, is the stingy rich person. I am not talking about someone who has a few thousand pounds but those who have hundreds and sometimes Billions of pounds are not willing to pay their zakah! They would rather by a flash car then give some charity. Why do Muslim businessmen not pay their zakah? They would rather rip off hard working people of their wealth, than pay them their rights. How wretched some people are! Such people will be resurrected in the troop of the oppressors in the anger of Allah (the Exalted).

والذين يكنزون الذهب والفضة ولا ينفقونها في سبيل الله فبشرهم بعذاب أليم

Surah Tawbah 9:34

"Those who horde silver and gold, and do not spend it in the path of Allah; give them glad tidings of a painful punishment."

This passage is very clear.  The excessive wealth of the rich is to be spent in the path of Allah (the Exalted). Not on putting it away in a Swiss bank account or buying a football club! Their money is what they cling to and they will lie, cheat and steal for it. They see nothing wrong with that at all.

I do have a go at committee members of masjids because of their lack of vision and the fact they do not do what they should but the wealthy have a share of the blame. Read this passage again. They are hording their wealth which is more dear to them than serving Allah (the Exalted). What a wretched state to be in! Your wealth could be spent making a masjid in the correct manner and serving a community. We have many rich Muslims who could put a small amount towards education institutes, but they do not. What good is your wealth going to do on the Day of Judgment? You cannot buy your way into heaven? So what are you saving it for? Your kids? They do not need millions but you need some good actions!

قل إن كان آباؤكم وأبناؤكم وإخوانكم وأزواجكم وعشيرتكم وأموال اقترفتموها وتجارة تخشون كسادها ومساكن ترضونها أحب إليكم من الله ورسوله وجهاد في سبيله فتربصوا حتى يأتي الله بأمره والله لا يهدي القوم الفاسقين

Surah Tawbah 9:24.

"Say: if your parents, your children, your brethren, your partners, your clans, the wealth you horde, the trade you fear will slacken, homes that please you are more beloved to you than Allah and His Messenger, struggling in His path; then await the command of Allah; Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people."

This passage clearly states those people who prefer people or wealth over striving in the path of Allah (the Exalted) are wrongdoers/Fasiq. Fasiq is he who does wrong openly so that people know. If you are like this then donate your extra charity (not zakah) to an educational institute even if it is anonymously. 

Alternatively, to someone who is genuinely serving the communities and not to masjids, zakah is not allowed for masjids to take or ask for. Arrogantly hanging onto your wealth means you have already lost it without gaining anything. Poverty and wealth is a state of the heart. If a rich man is in need then he is poor and if a poor man has no desire for the world then he is rich.


Hadith on evil traders

قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم :
  إِنَّ التُجَّارَ هُمُ الفُجَّارَ ، قِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَوَ لَيسَ قَد أَحَلَّ اللَّهُ البَيعَ ؟ قَالَ : بَلَى ، وَلِكِنَّهُم يُحَدِّثُونَ فَيَكذِبُونَ ، وَيَحلِفُونَ فَيَأثَمُونَ 
 رواه أحمد (3/428) والحاكم (2/8) وقال صحيح الإسناد

The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said, "Traders are notoriously unscrupulous." They asked, "O Messenger of Allah, even if they trade in what Allah has made lawful?" He said, "Yes, because they speak to lie, they take oaths and commit sins." 
Reported by Imam Ahmed 3/428, Al-Hakim 2/8

عن رفاعة بن رافع رضي الله عنه قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم :
( إِنَّ التُجَّارَ يُبعَثُونَ يَومَ القِيَامَةِ فُجَّارًا ، إِلَّا مَن اتَّقَى اللَّهَ وَبَرَّ وَصَدَقَ )
أخرجه الترمذي (1210) والدارمي (2/247) وابن ماجه (2146) وابن حبان (11/276

Rafaiah ibn Rafiah (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said, "Traders are resurrected on the day of judgement with the unrighteous, except those who fear Allah: the pious and the truthful."
Reported by Al-Tirmdhi 1210, Al-Dayrami 2/247, Ibn Majah 2146, Ibn Hibban 11/276.

That should be enough to scare you into action. 

The Prophet (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) was a honest businessman/trader par excellence. He never cheated anyone, ever in his life, not even once. He knew the manners of tradesmen because he worked in that field. How many oil billionaires do we have who do not pay their zakah? Often these people are punished by an increase in wealth so that they have more to account for.  

Migrant workers

One of the most ashamed things that occurs in oil rich middle eastern states is the modern slavery of migrant workers. Their eyes are dazzled by adverts of a work and a better life, so they go with hopes that are stolen with their passports, as soon as they arrive. They have no rights, except to work all day, sleep on concrete, to build empty buildings for the rich. How far are they from justice? Do they not fear the day of judgement? They could pay them a fantastic wage and keep their promises instead they are great lairs. not to mention the harm that is given to maids and so forth. This is an extremely distressing and upsetting part of these worthless rich men who do such things.

I ask the question. Why aren't the councils of their countries giving them passports to return home?

Final points

Get yourself out of this state before you die and your wealth adds up to nothing. Are not the two passages enough for you to wake up? The day of judgement is when the tables are turned and the real wealth of sincere good actions become wealth. Moreover, wealth will mean nothing like airborne sand that flies past you and adds up to nothing. 

Why are these oil rich companies not bothered about helping poor people? You have a responsibility to put your hand into the pocket and spend that money that Allah (the Exalted) has given you.

If you none of the Quranic passages and hadith have had any affect on you then I give you glad tidings of a painful punishment in the afterlife. Give your money to charity and do not follow it with harm because they you lose it all. The reward is gone when you follow up charity with harm and so many people do that. Give charity and forget about the amount! Companies who give charity are given discounts on their tax! Yet you still do not want to give! Do something with your money before your life is over, mr Billionaire!

The first university in world history (9th Cent) was founded by Fatima Al-Fihri in Fez. She had excessive wealth and spent it in the path of Allah (the Exalted). By founding a university that still runs until today. May Allah give her many blessings! 

If you are wealthy person who is serving his community and paying charity (I do not think you exist) I would like to hear from you. Even if its just to prove me wrong but the hadith is clear. "Traders are notoriously unscrupulous."