Hadith #1991

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all worlds. May peace and blessings be upon our beloved Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), his pure progeny, and his noble companions.

In this profound Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ), he highlights two grave sins that will lead to the fueling of the hellfire on the Day of Judgment. The first sin is the miserliness of the wealthy towards the poor, and the second sin is the selling of one's Hereafter for the fleeting pleasures of this world.

Let us delve into the exegesis of this Hadith by analyzing the key words and their meanings. The word (fuel) "وَقُودُ" refers to the material that feeds the fire and keeps it burning. (hellfire) "النّارِ" is the eternal punishment that awaits those who have committed grave sins in this world. (the Day of Judgment) "يَوْمَ القِيمَةِ" signifies the day when all individuals will be held accountable for their actions and rewarded or punished accordingly. (every rich person) "كُلُّ غَنِيّ" refers to those who possess wealth and resources. (who was miserly towards the poor with his wealth)

بَخِلَ بِمالِهِ عَلَى الفُقَراءِ

describes the act of withholding or being stingy in giving to those in need. (every learned scholar) "وَكُلُّ عالِم" refers to those who possess knowledge and understanding. (who sold his Hereafter for the world) "باعَ الدّينَ بِالدُّنيا" signifies the act of prioritizing worldly gains over the spiritual and eternal rewards of the Hereafter.

To further understand the gravity of these sins, let us turn to the Quran for guidance. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:177),

Righteousness is not that you turn your faces toward the east or the west, but [true] righteousness is [in] one who believes in Allah, the Last Day, the angels, the Book, and the prophets and gives wealth, in spite of love for it, to relatives, orphans, the needy, the traveler, those who ask [for help], and for freeing slaves; [and who] establishes prayer and gives zakah; [those who] fulfill their promise when they promise; and [those who] are patient in poverty and hardship and during battle. Those are the ones who have been true, and it is those who are the righteous.

This verse emphasizes the importance of giving wealth to those in need and highlights that true righteousness lies in acts of charity and generosity.

In another verse, Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says in Surah Al-Tawbah (9:34-35),

O you who have believed, indeed many of the scholars and the monks devour the wealth of people unjustly and avert [them] from the way of Allah. And those who hoard gold and silver and spend it not in the way of Allah - give them tidings of a painful punishment. The Day when it will be heated in the fire of Hell and seared therewith will be their foreheads, their flanks, and their backs, [it will be said], 'This is what you hoarded for yourselves, so taste what you used to hoard.'

These verses from the Quran reinforce the severity of the sins mentioned in the Hadith. Miserliness towards the poor and the act of selling one's Hereafter for worldly gains are condemned by Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) and will result in severe punishment in the hereafter.

Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ), known for his immense knowledge and wisdom, highlights these sins to caution Muslims against falling into the traps of materialism and neglecting the rights of the less fortunate. The consequences of these sins are dire, as they lead to the fueling of the hellfire on the Day of Judgment.

The motivation behind these sins can be attributed to a lack of understanding of the true purpose of wealth and knowledge. Wealth is a blessing from Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) and should be used to benefit others and fulfill the rights of the needy. Knowledge is a means to seek closeness to Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) and guide others towards the path of righteousness. However, when wealth is hoarded and knowledge is used for personal gain, the purpose is distorted, and the consequences are severe.

Reflecting on this Hadith, Muslims are reminded of the importance of generosity and selflessness. We should strive to emulate the noble qualities of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) and prioritize the well-being of others over our own desires. By giving to the poor and using our knowledge to benefit humanity, we can avoid the punishment mentioned in this Hadith and attain success in both this world and the Hereafter.

May Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) grant us the understanding and ability to be generous and selfless, and protect us from the sins that lead to the fueling of the hellfire. Ameen.