Great Abundance of Wealth Among the People

[ابوالوليد المسلم]

Great Abundance of Wealth Among the People

Dr. Muhammad al-`Areefi


The Muslims lived for many years with the Messenger of Allah Muhammad (Peace be upon him), and many years after his death, in a state of hardship and extreme need. This would be to such an extent that one new moon would come after another and no fire would be lit (for cooking) in the house of the Messenger of Allah. Rather his food would be the two black things: dates and water.
The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) would tell his Companions that things would change and that one of the signs of the Hour was wealth becoming so abundant that a man would try for a month to find someone to give his Zakaah to, and he would not find anyone to take it because people would have no need of it.[1]
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said,
"The Hour will not begin until wealth increases and becomes so abundant that the one who has wealth will be concerned as to who will accept his Zakaah; a man will be called to him but he will respond, 'I have no need of it.’ ”
Abu Moosa Al-Ash'ari (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said,
"There will come a time when a man will go around with his Zakaah of gold, and he will find no one to accept it from him."[2]
The scholars differed as to whether this sign has already occurred or not.
Some said that this prophecy was fulfilled during the time of the Companions, due to their conquests and seizing as booty the wealth of the Persians and Romans.
Wealth became abundant during the time of 'Umar ibn 'Abd Al-'Azeez (may Allah be pleased with him). A man would offer his Zakaah and he would not find anyone to accept it; he would offer it to someone he thought needed it, and that person would say to him, "I have no need of it."
It is also said by some that this will occur toward the end of time.
The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) indicated that wealth would be plentiful during the time of the Mahdi, who will scoop up gold and silver in his two hands and give it to people without counting; the earth will bring forth its blessings and people will become rich because of the widespread blessing and goodness, until the earth brings forth from its depths columns of gold and silver.
Sa'eed Al-Jurayri narrated that Abu Nadrah said, "We were sitting with Jaabir (may Allah be pleased with him) and he related that Messenger of Allah Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said, ‘Toward the end the of my Ummah there will be a caliph who will scoop up wealth with both hands and give it out without counting.'"[3] I (Sa'eed Al-Jurayri) said to Abu Nadrah and Abu'l-'Ala', "Do you think that was 'Umar ibn 'Abd Al-'Azeez?" He said, "No."[4]

[1] Agreed upon.

[2] Recorded by Muslim.

[3] See the discussion of the Mahdi under Minor Sign 131.

[4] Recorded by Muslim.