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How sound is the Hadith: "The worst of people is he who is asked by God and does not respond"?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

Four hadiths have been reported encouraging a positive response to those who ask by Allah and censuring those who are asked by Allah but do not give. The first is: "Whoever asks by Allah, give him." The second is: "Shall I not inform you of the worst of people: a man who is asked by Allah and does not give by Him?" The third and fourth are: "Accursed is he who asks by the Face of Allah, and accursed is he who is asked by the Face of Allah but withholds from his asker." These latter two hadiths are weak.

Scholars have interpreted these hadiths by restricting them with the rules of Sharia. Thus, not giving is disliked (makruh) but not forbidden (haram). Giving becomes obligatory if the asker is in dire need or has a right to the requested item. There is a difference in opinion regarding the precise meaning of the second hadith: Is the blameworthy person one who asks by Allah and then does not give to someone who asks him, or one who asks by Allah and is then not given?

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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