Samina Tariq Khan
Calgary
Hoarding is not only an unhealthy habit, if practice in excessive it becomes a disorder. Usually, hoarders feel emotionally attached to the item that might remind them of joyful times, people or event. Some people refuse to give any stuff as they feel safe and comforted when surrounded by things. Some people don’t want to waste anything so pile up becomes huge. Some people become hoarder to fill the emptiness in their life or mind without realizing that its causing to pile up clutter in their life.
When there is too much clutter in the house or your work place it affects your ability to work efficiently, be productive and prosperous. It also affects your health and wellbeing. Hoarding can result issues of planning and organizing, relationship issues, avoiding social activities and employment problems”. Sometimes hoarding can be trying to be perfect and avoiding or delaying decisions.
“Hoarding disorder is different from collecting. Collections can be large, but they aren’t usually cluttered. Also, they don’t cause the distress and problems functioning that are part of hoarding disorder. [1]
“According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA), hoarding disorder affects approximately 2.6% of all adults, with similar symptoms and incidence occurring across countries, cultures, and genders. [2]
Hoarding is not just a bad attitude or habit it also has some negative outcomes.
Severe Health Issues: It was narrated from Farokh the freed slave of ‘Uthman that ‘Umar bin Khattab (ra), who at that time was the caliph – went out to the mosque and saw some food that had been put out. He said, what is this food? They said, its food that has been brought to us. He said, May Allah bless it and the one who brought it. It was said, O Ameer al-Mu’mineen, it has been hoarded. He said, who hoarded it? They said: Farokh the freed slave of ‘Uthman and so and so the freed slave of ‘Umar. He sent for them and summoned them and asked, What made you hoard the food of the Muslims? They replied, “O Ameer al-Mu’mineen, we buy it with our own wealth and sell it. ‘Umar said, I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: “Whoever hoards food from the Muslims, Allah will smite him with bankruptcy or leprosy. Then Farokh replied, “O Ameer al-Mu’mineen, I promise to Allah and to you that I will not hoard food again. As for the freed slave of ‘Umar, he said, we buy it with our own wealth and sell it. Abu Yahya then told I saw the freed slave of ‘Umar with leprosy. [Grade: Daif (Darussalam) Masnad Ahmad 135 Book 2 Hadith 53]
Hoarding Limits your Blessings: Asma (ra) reported Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as saying, “Spend, do not calculate and so have God calculating against you, do not hoard and so have God hoarding from you, but give even small amount as you can.” [Bukhari and Muslim- Mishkat al-Masabih 1861]
Narrated Abda: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Do not withhold your money by counting it (i.e. hoarding it), (for if you did so), Allah would also withhold His blessings from you.” [Sahih al-Bukhari -1433]
Disapproval Of Avarice: Asma(ra), daughter of Abu Bakr(ra) asked Messenger of Allah(ﷺ), I have nothing of my own except what al-Zubair (her husband) brings to me in his house: should I spend out of it? He replied, “Give and do not hoard so your sustenance will be hoarded”. [Grade Sahih-Al -AlBani. Sunan Abi Dawud 1699]
Hoarded Wealth Bad for Hereafter: It was narrated that Ibn ‘Umar said: “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)said: The one who does not pay Zakah on his wealth, his wealth will appear to him on the Day of Resurrection like a bald-headed Shuja ‘a with two dots above its eyes. It will hold onto him or encircle him and will say: I am your hoarded treasure; I am your hoarded treasure.”‘ [Grade: Sahih (Darussalam) Sunan an -Nasai 2481]
Opposite of hoarding is being able to share, being generous for good and being able to give.
Contentment and Happiness is More Valuable than Hoarded Wealth: Narrated Ibn Abzi that Ubayy ibn Ka’b said: The Prophet (ﷺ) read the verse: “Say: In the bounty of Allah and in His mercy–in that let you rejoice, that is better than the wealth you hoard.”[ Grade Hasan Sahih (Al-Albani) Sunan Abi- Dawud 3981].
Encouragement to Spend and Share: Asma reported Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said to her, “Spend and do not calculate, (for) Allah would calculate in your case; and do not hoard, otherwise Allah would be withholding from you. [Sahih Muslim -1029b]
Removal of Stagnant Energy: Giving up hoarding habit and keeping clean and organized space, its believed that stagnant energy is shaken up. This concept of clearing can be applied to our body, mind, home, workplaces, relationships, digital life, emotional levels etc.
More Time for a Positive, Productive and Successful Life: We have more time and resources to spend at something meaningful and productive in life instead of holding on past burden of emotions and stuff creating negative field of energy around us.
References:
1.Hoarding disorder – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic .org
2.Hoarding Disorder Explained: What You Should Know (mcleanhospital.org)
3.Sunnah .com [Hadiths]
