My question is about hoarding. I worked with my father’s money, and we shared in the profit. We hoarded food until the price rose. This means I paid the capital to my father, and we divided the profit between us.

The questioner : This questioner is from the Republic of Chad. In this question, Abakar says: In this question, peace be upon you and Allah’s mercy and blessings. I am your brother in Allah from Chad, Yusuf Sharaf al-Din. I have a question concerning hoarding. I worked with my father’s money, and we shared in the profit. We hoarded food until the price rose. This means I paid the capital to my father, and we divided the profit between us. I was confused by the hadith of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) regarding hoarding: I thought that the money that fell to my share was forbidden. I asked some of the brothers, and they said that the forbidden hoarding is that which harms people, and that which does not harm people is not forbidden. We ask the honorable Shaykh to clarify this issue for us. May Allah reward you with good.

The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds. I send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and his Companions, and upon those who follow them in excellence until the Day of Judgment. Hoarding of what people need is forbidden because it harms them. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said: The sinner is one who commits a sin intentionally. However, hoarding only occurs in items that are not found with anyone other than this hoarder. As for what is found with him and with others, and he wants to keep the goods with him until their season arrives, then there is no harm in that, and this is not considered hoarding. For example, if a person buys rice and says, “I will store it until the time of its season,” and people have rice and are selling it as they wish, then this is not considered a hoarder. But if it is not found except with him, and he withholds it until the time of high prices arrives, then he is a hoarder. The scholars said that it is obligatory for the one in authority to compel the hoarder to sell what he has hoarded, just as people sell it at the time they need it, because this is part of the public benefit. Yes.

The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.