How do we entrust people with our wealth?
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Question:
Many people, O Shaykh Salih, entrust people with their wealth and neglect it. Some of them have a conscience that wakes up when they commit betrayal, like the author of this letter, while others do not. Perhaps you have a word to say, O Shaykh Salih, on how we entrust people with our wealth? May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
First, it is obligatory for the owners of wealth not to entrust it to anyone but those who are trustworthy, religious, and pious. For Allah, Mighty and Majestic, commanded the preservation of wealth. He the Exalted said:[An-Nisa 4:5] And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded the preservation of wealth from loss. He (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade the squandering of wealth; he forbade , and similar to the meaning of this hadith is also the prohibition of squandering wealth. Squandering wealth includes appointing someone over it who is not trustworthy or who does not know how to manage it, because this wealth is a blessing from Allah, Mighty and Exalted, upon which the interests of the servants depend. Therefore, it is not permissible to neglect it or expose it to destruction, theft, or loss. This is from the perspective of the owners of wealth. As for the perspective of those entrusted with this wealth, it is obligatory for them to fear Allah and to fulfill the trust placed in them. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1264Da'if (Darussalam) This is like His saying, the Exalted: [An-Nisa 4:58] And His saying, the Exalted: [Al-Baqarah 2:283] So it is obligatory to preserve trusts and return them to their owners, and betrayal is not permissible in them; because betrayal in trusts is among the characteristics of the hypocrites. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sahih Muslim 59a Hajar was a litigant. It is obligatory for the one entrusted with the wealth of people to live up to the good opinion of those who entrust them, and to fear Allah, Glorified and Exalted, in their trusts. He the Exalted said, describing the believers: "And those who are faithful to their trusts..."
Many people, O Shaykh Salih, entrust people with their wealth and neglect it. Some of them have a conscience that wakes up when they commit betrayal, like the author of this letter, while others do not. Perhaps you have a word to say, O Shaykh Salih, on how we entrust people with our wealth? May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
First, it is obligatory for the owners of wealth not to entrust it to anyone but those who are trustworthy, religious, and pious. For Allah, Mighty and Majestic, commanded the preservation of wealth. He the Exalted said:
And do not give the weak-minded your property, which Allah has made a means of sustenance for you
وَلَا تُؤْتُوا السُّفَهَاءَ أَمْوَالَكُمُ الَّتِي جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ قِيَامًاIt was said, and squandering wealth, and asking too many questions
قيل وقال وإضاعة المال، وعن كثرة السؤالFulfill the trust for the one who entrusted you, and do not cheat the one who cheated you.
أد الأمانة إلى من ائتمنك، ولا تخن من خانك،Indeed, Allah commands you to render trusts to whom they are due
إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَن تُؤَدُّوا الْأَمَانَاتِ إِلَىٰ أَهْلِهَاAnd if one of you entrusts another, then let him who is entrusted discharge his trust [faithfully] and let him fear Allah, his Lord.
فَإِنْ أَمِنَ بَعْضُكُم بَعْضًا فَلْيُؤَدِّ الَّذِي اؤْتُمِنَ أَمَانَتَهُ وَلْيَتَّقِ اللَّهَ رَبَّهُThree are the signs of a hypocrite: when he spoke he told a lie, when he made a promise he acted treacherously against it, when he was trusted he betrayed
آية المنافق ثلاث إذا حدث كذب، وإذا وعد أخلف، وإذا أتمن خان، وإذا
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، كيف نولي الناس على أموالنا؟ الشيخ صالح بن فوزان الفوزان — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.