I. Basic Concepts

A. Miserliness (Bukhl) Bukhl is denying those in need an established right they have in one’s wealth, or earnings.

A.1. Texts From the Qur’an and the Sunnah

Let not those who are miserly with what Allah has bestowed upon them from His bounty think that it is good for them. Rather, it is bad for them. They will be made to wear what they withheld, owing to their miserliness, as a necklace [of fire] on the Day of Resurrection. And unto Allah is the inheritance of the heavens and earth. And Allah is well informed of all that you do.
Qur’an 3:180

Surely, Allah loves not those who are conceited, vainglorious; those who are miserly and encourage miserliness among people. They conceal what Allah has given them from His bounty. We have prepared for the rejecters of faith a humiliating punishment.
Qur’an 4:36-37

Among them are those who take an oath with Allah that if He gives them from His bounty they will spend charitably and be among the righteous. When He does give to them from His bounty, they behave miserly and turn away all the while rejecting [His favors upon them].
Qur’an 9:75-76

The Prophet, peace upon him, mentioned, “The most incapable of people are those who are incapable of supplication, and the most miserly of people are those who are miserly with their greeting.”
Al-Tabarani, Du’a, #60

The Prophet, peace upon him, said, “The miser is one who finds me mentioned in his presence and does not prayer for me.”
Tirmidhi, #3546

The Prophet, peace upon him, mentioned, “When Allah created the Garden of Eden He created in it what no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and when no heart has imagined. Then he said to it, ‘Speak!’ It said, ‘The believers will succeed [in attaining me].’ He said, ‘I swear by my might, a miser will not experience nearness to Me in you.’”
Al-Tabarani, al-Kabir, 11,439

A.2. Sayings of the Scholars Concerning Miserliness

“Miserliness is the outer garment of wretchedness. Perhaps a generous person will enter Paradise on the basis of his/her generosity.”
Imam Ali, al-Adab al-Shar’iyya

“We find in our wealth the same desires misers possess. However, we are patient [with Allah].” *Note: This means that pious people may love wealth. However, they love Allah more and do not compromise their religion to gain or to hold on to wealth.
Talha bin ‘Ubaydallh, al-Ihya’

“Al-Ahnaf bin Qays saw a man clutching a silver coin. He asked, “Whose money is that?” The man replied, “Mine.” Ahnaf then said, “It does not belong to you until you spend it.”
Al-Ahnaf bin Qays, al-Ihya’

“When Allah desires bad for a people He gives the vilest among them power over them, and he places their wealth in the hands of their misers.”
Muhammad bin al-Munkadir, al-Ihya’

“Looking at a miser hardens the heart, and having to meet with misers brings worry upon the hearts of the believers.”
Bisr al-Hafi, al-Ihya’

“I met with Ahmad bin Hanbal, Yahya bin Ma’in, and many other scholars. They were in complete agreement that they never knew of a righteous man who was a miser.”
Hubaysh bin Mubashshir, al-Ihya’

“I heard a desert Arab describing a miser in the following words: ‘So-and-so has become small in my eyes because of the greatness of the world in his eyes. It is as if a beggar was looking at the Angel of Death if he approached him.’”
Al-Asma’i, al-Adab al-Shar’iyya

“Cowardice and miserliness are partners. If no benefit is gained from a person’s physical presence that is cowardice; and if no benefit is gained from his wealth that is miserliness.”
Ibn Qayyim, al-Jawab al-Kafi