Only Lawful Wealth Brings Reward

📖Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Ḥibbān 3216
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “If you pay alms on your property, you have fulfilled your obligation. Whoever accumulates wealth unlawfully and then spends it in charity, he will not have a reward and its burden of sin is upon him.

This Hadith emphasizes that charity (sadaqah or zakat) is only accepted when it comes from lawfully acquired property. Simply giving from wealth does not make it blessed or erase wrongdoing if the source is prohibited.

• “On your property” refers to what you rightfully own through lawful means, earned honestly and permitted by Shariah.

• Unlawfully accumulated wealth includes:

  • Theft, bribery, fraud, deception

  • Usury/interest (riba)

  • Exploitation or cheating others

  • Any income earned through prohibited means according to Islamic law

Giving from wealth that was acquired unlawfully does not remove its sin; the person remains accountable for how it was obtained, even if some of it is spent in charity.

Quranic Context:

📖Quran 2:267
“O you who have believed, spend from the good things which you have earned and from that which We have produced for you from the earth. And do not aim toward the defective of it, spending [from that] while you would not take it yourselves except with closed eyes. And know that Allah is Free of need and Praiseworthy.”

📖Quran 4:29
“O you who have believed, do not consume one another’s wealth unjustly or send it [in bribery] to the rulers in order to consume a portion of the wealth of the people sinfully, while you know [it is unlawful].”