Consequences of Consuming Haram Wealth: Understanding Islamic Teachings on Unlawful Earnings
It is certain that wealth earned through unlawful means such as interest (riba), theft, bribery, betrayal, usurpation, deceit, oppression, and forbidden professions is all haram. Earning such wealth is strictly prohibited in Islam, and it is considered a major sin. Those who live their lives through these unlawful means will face disgraceful punishment in both this world and the Hereafter.
This can be understood from a hadith:
عن ابن عُمر رضي الله عنهما أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: لا تزالُ المسألةُ بأحدكم حتى يلقى الله تعالى وليس في وجههِ مزعةُ لحمٍ
(Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim)
Translation: One of you will continue begging until he meets Allah on the Day of Judgment, with no flesh left on his face.
When such a severe punishment is mentioned for begging, what would be the punishment for consuming haram wealth and living a life of unlawful earnings? May Allah protect us from earning and consuming haram. Ameen.
(1) The worst punishment for a person who consumes haram wealth is that he will be deprived of entering Paradise.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
لَا يَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّةَ لَحْمٌ نَبَتَ مِنْ سُحْتٍ ، النَّارُ أَوْلَى بِهِ
(Silsilah as-Sahihah: 2609)
Translation: “The flesh that grew from haram wealth will not enter Paradise; rather, such flesh is more deserving of the Fire (Hell).”
Note: “Suhth” refers to any wealth earned through haram means.
Benefit: If Allah, by His mercy, forgives the individual in this world or accepts sincere repentance, then the matter will be different. Otherwise, if a Muslim earns through haram means, his punishment will be in Hell first, and then, by Allah’s mercy, he may enter Paradise.
(2) If someone usurps land, on the Day of Judgment, he will be sunk into the earth.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
مَنْ ظَلَمَ مِنْ الْأَرْضِ شَيْئًا طُوِّقَهُ مِنْ سَبْعِ أَرَضِينَ
(Sahih Bukhari: 2452)
Translation: Whoever usurps someone’s land unjustly, on the Day of Judgment, he will be made to wear a collar made of seven earths. This means that he will be sunk into all seven layers of the earth.
(3) Consuming haram wealth is the biggest obstacle to the acceptance of one’s supplications.
Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه narrated:
عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: “أيها الناس، إن الله طيب لا يقبل إلا طيبا، وإن الله أمر المؤمنين بما أمر به المرسلين…”
(Sahih Muslim)
Translation: Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه says that the Prophet ﷺ said: “O people! Allah is Pure and accepts only that which is pure. Allah has commanded the believers to do what He commanded the Messengers: ‘O Messengers, eat of the pure things and do righteous deeds. I am fully aware of what you do.’ And He said: ‘O believers, eat from the pure things We have provided for you.'” Then the Prophet ﷺ mentioned a person who travels a long distance, disheveled and dusty, raising his hands to the sky, saying: “O Lord! O Lord!” But his food is haram, his drink is haram, his clothing is haram, and his nourishment is from haram. How can his supplication be accepted?
(4) Haram wealth prevents charity from being accepted.
Abdullah bin Umar رضي الله عنه narrated:
وعن عبد الله بن عمر رضي الله عنه أنّ رسول الله صلى الله عليه آله وسلم قال: لاَ تُقْبَلُ صَلاَةٌ بِغَيْرِ طُهُورٍ وَلاَ صَدَقَةٌ مِنْ غُلُولٍ
(Sahih Muslim)
Translation: Abdullah bin Umar رضي الله عنه narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said: “No prayer is accepted without purification, and no charity from stolen (haram) wealth is accepted.”
Note: “Ghulul” refers to any wealth or property gained unlawfully.
(5) The effect of haram wealth is also on acts of worship.
As narrated from Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنهما:
لا يقبل الله صلاة امرىء في جوفه حرام
(Jami’ al-Uloom wal-Hikam by Ibn Rajab)
Translation: Allah does not accept the prayer of a person whose stomach is filled with haram.
(6) Eating haram wealth leads to the punishment of the grave.
As mentioned in a hadith about the usurer in Bukhari:
A river of blood is mentioned, in which a man is swimming. Every time he attempts to come out, a person on the banks of the river throws a stone into his mouth, forcing him back into the river. This continues repeatedly.
Other punishments for usurers are also mentioned in the hadith.
(7) A person who consumes haram wealth is cursed.
Regarding bribery, it is said:
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، قَالَ لَعَنَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم الرَّاشِيَ وَالْمُرْتَشِيَ
(Sunan Abu Dawood, Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah)
Translation: Abdullah bin Amr رضي الله عنه narrated that the Prophet ﷺ cursed both the one who gives and the one who takes bribes.
(8) Haram wealth leads to a lack of blessings and the decline of blessings.
Abdullah bin al-Harith رضي الله عنه narrated:
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْحَارِثِ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ حَكِيمَ بْنَ حِزَامٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ: الْبَيِّعَانِ بِالْخِيَارِ…
(Sahih Bukhari)
Translation: Hakim bin Hizam رضي الله عنه narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said: “The seller and buyer have the option to cancel the deal as long as they have not separated. If they speak the truth and make clear the details, then blessings will be granted in their transaction. But if they lie and hide the truth, the blessings of their sale will be lost.”
(9) On the Day of Judgment, the Prophet ﷺ will be an adversary to those who wrong workers.
Abu Hurairah narrated:
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: ثَلَاثَةٌ أَنَا خَصْمُهُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ…
(Sahih Bukhari)
Translation: The Prophet ﷺ said: “Allah says there are three types of people whom I will dispute with on the Day of Judgment. I will be their adversary: the one who promised me in My name and then broke that promise, the one who sold a free person and ate the price, and the one who hired a laborer, had work done, but did not pay him his wages.”
I have briefly mentioned some of the punishments for consuming haram wealth, but there are many more that require detailed discussion, which is beyond the scope of this text.
In conclusion, Islam encourages its followers to earn lawful (halal) wealth and prohibits earning haram wealth. The righteous predecessors were careful to avoid not only haram wealth but also questionable matters. Today, we are witnessing the time foretold by the Prophet ﷺ when people will disregard the distinction between halal and haram.
By Maqbool Ahmad Salafi