Earning haram (unlawful) money has severe consequences in Islam, both in this world and the hereafter. Islam places great emphasis on lawful earnings (halal) and warns against illicit wealth gained through dishonest means, exploitation, and prohibited transactions. The Qur'an and Hadith offer profound guidance on this matter, reflecting the moral and ethical framework Islam upholds in financial dealings.
1. Qur'anic Warnings
Islam places a strong emphasis on earning wealth through lawful (halal) means and condemns various forms of unlawful (haram) earnings. The Qur'an explicitly warns against acquiring wealth through dishonest practices, exploitation, and prohibited transactions. Several verses highlight the gravity of such actions:
a. Surah Al-Mutaffifin (83:1-3): "Woe to the defrauders! Those who, when they take from others by measure, take their full share; but who, when they measure or weigh for others, give less than their due." This passage condemns those who cheat in trade by giving less than what is due, a form of haram earning. Such dishonesty results in severe punishment in the hereafter.b. Surah Al-Baqarah (2:188): "Do not usurp one another’s possessions by false means, nor proffer your possessions to the authorities so that you may sinfully and knowingly usurp a portion of another’s possessions." This verse prohibits unlawful dealings like bribery and theft. It warns of the moral corruption and injustice that result from acquiring wealth through forbidden means.
c. Surah An-Nisa (4:29): "O you who have believed, do not devour one another’s wealth illegally, but rather trade by mutual consent. And do not kill ˹each other or˺ yourselves. Surely Allah is ever Merciful to you." This verse emphasizes honest and consensual transactions. Any wealth obtained through deceit, cheating, or coercion is haram and bears both spiritual and societal consequences.
2. Hadith on the Consequences of Haram Wealth
The Hadith literature further elaborates on the consequences of earning and consuming haram money:
a. Sahih Muslim 1015: The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "O people, Allah is pure and only accepts that which is pure. He has commanded the believers with what He has commanded the messengers, saying: 'O messengers, eat from the good things and act righteously. Indeed, I am Knowing of what you do' (Qur'an 23:51). And He said: 'O you who have believed, eat from the good things We have provided for you' (Qur'an 2:172). Then the Prophet mentioned a man who travels for a long time, disheveled and dusty, and who raises his hands to the sky [in supplication], saying, 'O Lord, O Lord,' but his food is haram, his drink is haram, his clothing is haram, and he has been nourished with haram. How can his supplication be answered?" This hadith illustrates that Allah does not accept acts of worship from those who sustain themselves with haram earnings. It emphasizes how haram wealth corrupts one's spiritual state, hindering the acceptance of supplications.b. Ibn Majah 2390: The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever gives charity from unlawful earnings, it will not be accepted from him, and he will bear the sin." Charity given from haram wealth is not only invalid but also sinful. Islam stresses that charity and good deeds must originate from halal sources to be accepted by Allah.
c. Sahih Bukhari 2059: The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "There will come a time when a man does not care about how he gains his money, whether it is lawful (halal) or unlawful (haram)." This hadith warns of a time when people become indifferent to the legality of their earnings, reflecting a serious spiritual decline. Those who disregard halal and haram boundaries will face consequences in both this life and the hereafter.
d. Tirmidhi 2417: The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "The feet of the son of Adam will not move from before his Lord on the Day of Judgment until he is asked about five things: how he lived his life, how he utilized his youth, how he earned his wealth, how he spent his wealth, and what he did with his knowledge." Every individual will be questioned about their earnings and expenditures. Those who acquired haram wealth will be held accountable for their injustice and dishonesty.
3. Impact of Haram Wealth on the Soul and Society
a. Corruption of the Soul
Earning haram money adversely affects a person's spiritual state. The hadith about supplication (Sahih Muslim 1015) indicates that haram earnings create a barrier between the individual and Allah, leading to spiritual deprivation. Continuous involvement in sinful practices erodes moral values, fostering greed, selfishness, and disregard for others’ rights.
b. Damage to Society
The accumulation of haram wealth through corrupt practices such as bribery, fraud, interest (riba), and theft results in widespread injustice. It deprives individuals of their rights, creates economic inequality, and destabilizes social harmony. For example, riba burdens the poor with excessive debt, while bribery undermines trust in institutions, making justice difficult to achieve.
4. Forms of Earning Haram Money
a. Interest (Riba):
- Qur'an: Surah Al-Baqarah (2:275) – "Those who consume interest cannot stand [on the Day of Resurrection] except as one stands who is being beaten by Satan into insanity. That is because they say, 'Trade is [just] like interest.' But Allah has permitted trade and has forbidden interest..."
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Hadith: Sahih Muslim 1598 – "The Prophet (peace be upon him) cursed the one who accepts interest, the one who pays it, the one who records it, and the two who witness it."
b. Gambling (Maysir):
- Qur'an: Surah Al-Ma'idah (5:90) – "O you who have believed, indeed, intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone alters [to other than Allah], and divining arrows are an abomination of Satan’s handiwork, so avoid it that you may be successful."
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Hadith: Sahih Muslim 2990 – "The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'He who plays with dice is like one who dips his hand in the flesh and blood of a swine.'"
- Qur'an: Surah Al-Ma'idah (5:38) – "As for the thief, the male and the female, amputate their hands in recompense for what they committed as a deterrent [sent] from Allah. And Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise."
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Hadith: Sahih Bukhari 6792 – "The hand of the thief should be cut off for stealing something that is worth a quarter of a dinar or more."
d. Bribery:
- Qur'an: Surah Al-Baqarah (2:188) – "And do not consume one another’s wealth unjustly or send it [in bribery] to the rulers in order that [they might aid] you [to] consume a portion of the wealth of the people in sin, while you know [it is unlawful]."
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Hadith: Sahih Muslim 1610 – "The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The curse of Allah is upon the one who accepts bribes and the one who gives them.'"
e. Cheating in Trade:
- Qur'an: Surah Al-Mutaffifin (83:1-3) – "Woe to those who give less [than due], who, when they take a measure from people, take in full, but if they give by measure or by weight to them, they cause loss."
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Hadith: Sahih Muslim 1011 – "The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever cheats is not one of us.'"
f. Adultery:
- Qur'an: Surah Al-Isra (17:32) – "And do not approach unlawful sexual intercourse. Indeed, it is ever an immorality and is evil as a way."
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Hadith: Sahih Muslim 2658a – "Allah fixed the very portion of adultery which a man will indulge in. There would be no escape from it. The adultery of the eye is the lustful look and the adultery of the ears is listening to voluptuous (song or talk) and the adultery of the tongue is licentious speech and the adultery of the hand is the lustful grip (embrace) and the adultery of the feet is to walk (to the place) where he intends to commit adultery and the heart yearns and desires which he may or may not put into effect.'"
g. Selling Goods You Do Not Own (Gharar):
- Qur'an: Surah Al-Baqarah (2:188) – "And do not consume one another’s wealth unjustly or send it [in bribery] to the rulers in order that [they might aid] you [to] consume a portion of the wealth of the people in sin, while you know [it is unlawful]."
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Hadith: Sunan al-Tirmidhi 1232 – "The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Do not sell what you do not possess.'"
(This principle applies to intellectual property rights, and other forms of trade such as drop shipping).
h. Fraud and Deception:
- Qur'an: Surah Al-Baqarah (2:188) – "And do not consume one another’s wealth unjustly or send it [in bribery] to the rulers in order that [they might aid] you [to] consume a portion of the wealth of the people in sin, while you know [it is unlawful]."
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Hadith: Sahih Muslim 102 – "Whoever cheats us is not one of us."
i. False Advertising:
- Qur'an: Surah Al-Mutaffifin (83:1-3) – "Woe to those who give less [than due], who, when they take a measure from people, take in full, but if they give by measure or by weight to them, they cause loss."
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Hadith: Sahih Bukhari 213 – "The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'When a man tells a lie, the lie will become a part of him until he meets Allah.'"
j. Exploitation of Vulnerable Groups:
- Qur'an: Surah An-Nisa (4:58) – “Indeed, Allah commands you to render trusts to whom they are due and when you judge between people to judge with justice. Excellent is that which Allah instructs you. Indeed, Allah is ever Hearing and Seeing."
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Hadith: Sunan Ibn Majah 2443 – "The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Give the worker his wages before his sweat dries.”
k. Selling Intoxicants:
- Qur'an: Surah Al-Ma'idah (5:90): "O you who have believed, indeed, intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone alters [to other than Allah], and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may be successful."
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Hadith: Ibn Majah 3381 - The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Allah has cursed intoxicants, the one who drinks it, the one who serves it, the one who sells it, the one who buys it, the one who squeezes [the grapes], the one for whom it is squeezed, the one who carries it, and the one to whom it is carried."
(This principle applies to all forms of intoxicants, drugs included).
l. Denying Inheritance:
- Qur'an: Surah An-Nisa (4:7): "For men is a share of what the parents and close relatives leave, and for women is a share of what the parents and close relatives leave, be it little or much—an obligatory share."
- Hadith: Sunan Ibn Majah 2703: The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) warned: "Whoever deprives an heir of his inheritance, Allah will deprive him of his inheritance in Paradise."
m. Stealing from Orphans:
- Quran: Surah An-Nisa (4:10): “Indeed, those who devour the property of orphans unjustly are only consuming into their bellies fire. And they will be burned in a Blaze.”
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Hadith: Sahih al-Bukhari 6005 – "I and the person who looks after an orphan and provides for him will be in Paradise like this," (putting his index and middle fingers together).
n. Monopolizing and Hoarding Goods:
- Hadith on Monopolizing: Sahih Muslim 1605 - “Whoever monopolizes is a sinner.”
- Hadith on Hoarding Goods: Sunan Ibn Majah 2153 - “The one who hoards (commodities to increase the price) is cursed.”
5. Importance of Halal Money
Halal money is earned through permissible means according to Islamic law. This includes honest work, trade, and other lawful means that align with Qur'anic principles and Hadith.
a. Qur'anic Endorsement:
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Surah Al-Baqarah (2:188): "O you who have believed, do not consume one another’s wealth unjustly or send it [in bribery] to the rulers in order that [they might aid] you [to] consume a portion of the wealth of the people in sin, while you know [it is unlawful]." This verse promotes fair, honest transactions and earning wealth through lawful means.
- Surah An-Nahl (16:114): "So eat of the lawful and good food which Allah has provided for you. And be grateful for the favor of Allah, if it is [indeed] Him that you worship." This verse emphasizes the importance of consuming only what is lawful and good.
b. Hadith on Halal Earnings:
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Sahih Bukhari 2130: The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "The best of people are those who are most beneficial to people." Engaging in beneficial and lawful work is highly valued.
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Sahih Muslim 2713: The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "A truthful and trustworthy merchant is [ranked] with the Prophets, the truthful, and the martyrs." Honest business practices are greatly rewarded.
- Sahih al-Bukhari 2076: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "May Allah's mercy be on him who is kindly in his buying, selling, and in demanding back his money."
By adhering to these principles, Muslims ensure their wealth is lawful and their actions align with Islamic teachings. Halal wealth contributes to personal integrity, societal justice, and spiritual fulfillment.
