Short answer
No. The Prophet ﷺ said that charity does not decrease wealth. The amount leaves your account, but Allah puts blessing in what remains, replaces what you give, and multiplies its reward. Muslims of every school take this as a promise from Allah.
Giving zakat is fard and voluntary sadaqah is sunnah, and neither is a loss. Scholars explain the hadith in two ways: Allah blesses the wealth that remains and protects it, and the reward of the charity more than makes up for what was given.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
The Prophet ﷺ said: charity does not decrease wealth, Allah increases a servant who forgives only in honour, and no one humbles himself for Allah except that Allah raises him. On paper, giving 100 leaves you 100 less. The hadith speaks of what the numbers do not show.
Imam al-Nawawi gave two explanations in his commentary on Sahih Muslim. First, Allah places blessing (barakah) in the wealth that remains and protects it from loss and harm, so it does more for you than the larger sum would have. Second, even if the amount is smaller, the reward for the charity makes up for it many times over.
The Quran says the same in several places:
- Whatever you spend, Allah will replace it, and He is the best of providers (34:39).
- Allah destroys interest and gives increase for charities (2:276).
- Spending for Allah is like a seed that grows seven ears, each with a hundred grains (2:261).
The Prophet ﷺ also said that every morning two angels come down: one says, O Allah, give the one who spends a replacement, and the other says, O Allah, give the one who withholds ruin.
This is not a call to give recklessly. The Quran forbids both tight-fistedness and spending everything until you are left blamed and destitute (17:29), and the best charity leaves you enough for those you support. Pay your zakat in full, give sadaqah regularly, even in small amounts, and trust the promise. See hadith about charity and Quran verses about charity.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Saba 34:39
قُلْ إِنَّ رَبِّى يَبْسُطُ ٱلرِّزْقَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِۦ وَيَقْدِرُ لَهُۥ ۚ وَمَآ أَنفَقْتُم مِّن شَىْءٍۢ فَهُوَ يُخْلِفُهُۥ ۖ وَهُوَ خَيْرُ ٱلرَّٰزِقِينَ ﴿٣٩﴾
Say, "Indeed, my Lord extends provision for whom He wills of His servants and restricts [it] for him. But whatever thing you spend [in His cause] - He will compensate it; and He is the best of providers."
Allah replaces what is spent for His sake.
Quran, Surah Al-Baqara 2:276
يَمْحَقُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلرِّبَوٰا۟ وَيُرْبِى ٱلصَّدَقَٰتِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ كَفَّارٍ أَثِيمٍ ﴿٢٧٦﴾
Allah destroys interest and gives increase for charities. And Allah does not like every sinning disbeliever.
Charity grows while interest is wiped out.
Sahih Muslim 2588
Sahih... ما نقصت صدقة من مال وما زاد الله عبدا بعفو إلا عزا ...
"Charity does not decrease wealth, and Allah increases a servant who forgives only in honour."
The direct statement that charity does not reduce wealth.
Sahih al-Bukhari 1442
Sahih... اللهم أعط منفقا خلفا ويقول الآخر اللهم أعط ممسكا تلفا ...
"One angel says: O Allah, give the one who spends a replacement. The other says: O Allah, give the one who withholds ruin."
Spending brings replacement; withholding brings loss.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Minhaj Sharh Sahih Muslim (al-Nawawi), Kitab al-Birr wa al-Silah, chapter on the merit of pardoning and humility. Explains the hadith as blessing in the remaining wealth and as reward that outweighs what was given.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.