Wealth Between Hoarding and Saving in Islam

Abstract
Religious scholars have differed over what is meant by hoarding wealth, where some of them have stated that it is what remains of wealth beyond the needs of its owner even if little, while the overwhelming majority of religious scholars have stated that it is any wealth where zakat (alms) is due which was unpaid. Each protagonist argues on a religious foundation. As to the saving of wealth it is what already has a zakatable amount where the owner has performed what is due upon him to those who merit it, and it exceeded his needs and those of those he supports, whether he invests it whereby it generates new income, or retains it for purposes of saving. Nonetheless in case of dire need in case someone learns of the need of a poor person it becomes incumbent on him to pay from his private wealth and in such case saving would be prohibited, unless someone else becomes aware of such need, whereupon the duty becomes obligatory for all that are aware of the need of the poor person; because general interests have priority over private interests, and saving is associated with internal and external motivations.

Keywords: wealth, hoarding, saving, motivations, need.