Lifestyle Desk: Hoarding is the hoarding of daily necessities in the hands of a few hoarders and increasing or decreasing the price as they wish. It is inhumane, unethical forbidden act. Islam forbids hoarding food for profit. This is a bright aspect of the equitable distribution of food by Islam.

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Caring for the overall welfare of people is one of the basic commands of Islam. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, 'Beneficence is religion.' Companions asked, for whom, O Messenger of God! The Prophet said, 'For Allah, the Messenger, the Muslim leaders and all.' (Abu Dawud: 4944)

Provision of Hoarding Hoarding of food is prohibited in Islam. Buying and storing food when the market price is low with the intention of selling it at a higher price and selling it at a higher price during times of high demand is haram according to all Islamic jurists. (Al-Fiqhul Muassar 6:45)

The public suffers in such activities. Those involved in such nefarious activities are illegal hoarders. By prohibiting such hoarding, Islam has protected the common people from all harm.

Prohibited stockpiling of goods

Islam prohibits illegal hoarding of food to ensure free availability of food to all sections of the society, merchants, rich, poor and helpless. It is forbidden to stockpile essential food items, materials, food grains, etc. for sale at a high price. (Al-Jameh li-ulumi Imam Ahmad 9:159)

Hoarders are cursed by Allah

No one in the world wants to displease Allah. Don't want to be cursed. Because the destruction of whoever is cursed by Allah is undeniable. Yet man indulges himself in such activities, the sure result of which is destruction. Hoarding illegal food is one such act, which makes people damned. The Prophet cursed the hoarder. Ibn Umar (R.A.) narrated that the Prophet (S.A.W.) said, 'The importers are subsidized and the hoarders are accursed, accursed.' (Musnad Daremi: 2586)

Worldly praise for a hoarder

Hoarding goods for profit is abhorrent and forbidden in Islam. Due to this, people's lives are difficult, especially the poor, helpless people are subjected to neglect. The Prophet said, 'Allah will afflict him with leprosy or make him bankrupt who hoards food for the Muslims.' (Al Muntakhabul Adabi: 17) Those who hoard are the sinners identified by the Prophet. The Prophet said, 'No one can be a hoarder except a sinner.' (Muslim: 1228)

Provision for stocking goods in case of profit or loss

Abul Fazal Saleh son of Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal said, I asked my father. A man bought dates from Basra and came to sell them in Baghdad or one of our cities in Makkah-Madinah. He came there and saw that the price of dates has fallen. In this situation, he does not want to sell at a loss. Now if he hoards these dates, will he be considered an illegal hoarder? In response, Imam Ahmad (RA) said, I hope he will not be an illegal hoarder. (Masaelul Imam Ahmad 2: 237).

Stocking up for family members

A person who stores one or two years of food for his family members and domestic animals is not considered an illegal hoarder. There is a hadith narrated from Umar (RA). He said that the Prophet had saved a year's worth of food for his family.