Buying extra groceries at times of epidemics?

by Asma bint Shameem

🌿 ANSWER 🌿

It is not allowed to hoard stuff and stockpile on things in ordinary circumstances,

That’s the basic rule.

🍃 The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:

“No one hoards but one who is in error.” (Saheeh Muslim)

However, the scholars say that it’s “permissible” to buy some extra stuff in “emergency” situations.

So for example if you usually buy one bag of potatoes, you may buy one or two more for your family.

Or if you usually pick up one dozen eggs, you may pick up another dozen or so in extraordinary circumstances.

But if you buy twenty bags of potatoes or 10 dozen eggs, or grab all the bread on the shelves, or panic-buy all the hand sanitizer available in the store, and not leave any for anyone else, then that’s definitely not allowed.

Buying supplies that would last you a week or two is NOT the same as buying supplies for 3 months!

A Muslim MUST be considerate of others and always want for his brother or sister what he wants for himself.

Ask yourself this question:

Would WE like it if people bought everything in the store and didn’t leave anything for us?

🍃 The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:

“None of you will have faith until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.”

(al-Bukhaari, Muslim)

And that includes Muslims and non Muslims as well.

🍃 The Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam said,

“None of you will have faith until he loves for his NEIGHBOR what he loves for himself.” (al-Bukhaari 13, Muslim 45)

So if we want to be counted among those who have faith, we MUST want for others what we want for ourselves

ALWAYS put yourself in the other person’s shoes when doing ANYTHING.

🍃 The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:

“The most BELOVED of the people to Allaah are the most beneficial for the people.

The MOST BELOVED of ACTIONS to Allaah –Azza wa Jal- are to cause happiness to reach a Muslim, to relieve him from a hardship, to settle a debt for a Muslim or to repel hunger from him.

For me to walk with a brother in order to assist him is more beloved to me than to make ‘I’tekaaf in this Masjid (Masjid al-Madeenah) for a month.

Whoever walks with his brother to assist him with a need until he has helped him completely, then Allaah plants his feet firmly on the day people will not stand firmly.”

(Silsilah Ahadeeth As-Saheehah -by Shaikh al-Albaani)

What a beautiful hadeeth!

And what great motivation for us to think of our brothers and sisters in this time of tribulations, and be considerate of them.

Instead of grabbing and hoarding, the true Believer actually sacrifices his own needs and PREFERS his brother OVER his own self.

🍃Abu Huraira radhi Allaahu anhu reported:

“A man from the Ansaar was hosting a guest and he had nothing with him but just enough food for himself and his children.

The man said to his wife,

“Put the children to sleep, put out the lamp, and serve our guest with what we have.”

Then, Allah revealed the Aayah,

“They prefer others over their own selves, despite themselves being in need.” (59:9)

(al-Bukhaari 3587, Muslim 2054)

THAT is true Imaan.

THAT is true brotherhood.

If we can’t reach such level of piety, the least we can do is not “panic-buy” anything and use our common sense.

Moderation is the KEY.

So let go of those extra cases of supplies and drop those unnecessary bags of groceries.

Leave them for your brother or sister. You never know who might need it more than you.

🍃 The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:

“Do not envy one another, do not artificially inflate prices, do not hate one another, do not turn away from one another, do not undercut one another. Be, O slaves of Allah, brothers.

The Muslim is the brother of his fellow-Muslim. He does not wrong him, let him down or despise him. Piety (taqwa) is here” – and he pointed to his chest three times. “It is sufficient evil for a man to despise his Muslim brother. The whole of a Muslim is sacred to another Muslim, his blood, his wealth and his honor.” [Muslim (2564)]

And Allaah knows best