Is Paying Only Zakat Without Additional Charity Considered Stingy?

Answered by Shaykh Anas al-Musa

Question

If a person has a lot of wealth but only pays the obligatory zakat and does not give more in charity, is he considered stingy?

Answer

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all worlds. Peace and blessings be upon the Messenger sent as a mercy to the worlds, our Master and Prophet, Muhammad, and his Family and Companions.

A person who fulfills the obligation of zakat that Allah has prescribed for the wealthy is not considered stingy, no matter how wealthy they are.

Stinginess is withholding something that one is obligated to give, whether it be wealth, knowledge, service, influence, or physical assistance. Allah (Most High) says:

“And do not let those who (greedily) withhold Allah’s bounties think it is good for them—in fact, it is bad for them! They will be leashed (by their necks) on the Day of Judgment with whatever (wealth) they used to withhold.” [Quran, 3:180]

Clarification

While a person who has significant wealth and fulfills only their zakat obligation should not be labeled as stingy, they are also not necessarily described as generous.

Generosity and charity beyond the obligatory are praiseworthy traits highly encouraged in Islam. They bring added blessings to one’s wealth and faith and foster a compassionate, cohesive society.

I conclude with the hadith of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace). When asked about zakat, he said, “Indeed, there is a right due upon wealth beyond zakat.” Then he recited the verse: “Righteousness is not in turning your faces towards the east or the west.…” [Quran, 2:177] [Tirmidhi; Ibn Maja; Darimi]

May Allah bless the Prophet Muhammad and give him peace, and his Family and Companions.

[Shaykh] Anas al-Musa

Shaykh Anas al-Musa, born in Hama, Syria, in 1974, is an erudite scholar of notable repute. He graduated from the Engineering Institute in Damascus, where he specialized in General Construction, and Al-Azhar University, Faculty of Usul al-Din, where he specialized in Hadith.

He studied under prominent scholars in Damascus, including Shaykh Abdul Rahman al-Shaghouri and Shaykh Adib al-Kallas, among others. Shaykh Anas has memorized the Quran and is proficient in the ten Mutawatir recitations, having studied under Shaykh Bakri al-Tarabishi and Shaykh Mowfaq ‘Ayun. He also graduated from the Iraqi Hadith School.

He has taught numerous Islamic subjects at Shari‘a institutes in Syria and Turkey. Shaykh Anas has served as an Imam and preacher for over 15 years and is a teacher of the Quran in its various readings and narrations.

Currently, he works as a teacher at SeekersGuidance and is responsible for academic guidance there. He has completed his Master’s degree in Hadith and is now pursuing his Ph.D. in the same field. Shaykh Anas al-Musa is married and resides in Istanbul.