Hifẓ al-Māl
Definition
Hifz al-mal — the preservation of one's wealth — is one of the five objectives of Islamic law (the maqasid al-shariah), reflecting the recognition that lawfully acquired wealth is a divine trust that must be protected, invested wisely, and used in the service of legitimate needs. Al-Ghazali addresses both the obligation not to waste money foolishly and the equal obligation not to hoard it excessively. Wealth is a tool, not a goal; it should circulate — through spending on family needs, paying zakat, giving sadaqa, and investing in legitimate enterprise — rather than accumulating in the hands of those who neither use it nor distribute it.
As understood in the classical tradition of Imam al-Ghazali and the scholars of his school.
Appears in
1 book in the library
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