Narrated Abu Huraira (ra):
The Prophet (pbuh) got up amongst us and mentioned Al Ghulul, emphasized its magnitude and declared that it was a great sin saying, "Don't commit Ghulul for I should not like to see anyone amongst you on the Day of Ressurection, carrying over his neck a sheep that will be bleating, or carrying over his neck a horse that will be neighing. Such a man will be saying: 'O Allah's Apostle! Intercede with Allah for me,' and I will reply, 'I can't help you, for I have conveyed Allah's Message to you Nor should I like to see a man carrying over his neck, a camel that will be grunting. Such a man will say, 'O Allah's Apostle! Intercede with Allah for me, and I will say, 'I can't help you for I have conveyed Allah's Message to you,' or one carrying over his neck gold and silver and saying, 'O Allah's Apostle! Intercede with Allah for me,' and I will say, 'I can't help you for I have conveyed Allah's Message to you,' or one carrying clothes that will be fluttering, and the man will say, 'O Allah's Apostle! Intercede with Allah for me.' And I will say, 'I can't help you, for I have conveyed Allah's Message to you.
Ghulul simply means the unlawful and illegal embezzlement and misappropriation of public funds by individuals entrusted with its management. This takes various forms and whichever form it takes, it still amounts to the highest form of breach of trust perpetrated on the common man. It is a serious sin among the Ummah of the Prophet (pbuh) and is one of the sins that can take one straight to hell. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) repeatedly warned his Ummah in that regard in various Ahadith and made it clear that he cannot assist by interceding on behalf of its perpetrator on the Day of Resurrection.
While we as Muslims know much about the implications of this sin, we still indulge in it as though we don't believe in the warnings or their consequences. Public officials, no matter how highly or lowly placed, use public funds entrusted in their care as though they were theirs. Money meant for schools, hospitals, roads and other social services are diverted to private use in buying houses, cars clothing and other useless acquisitions that will end up being a regret to those people.
Imam Ahmad (RA) narrates from Abu Malik Al-Ashjai (ra) that the Prophet of Allah (pbuh) said “The worst ghulul with Allah (SWT) is a yard of land, that is, when you find two neighbours in a land or home and one of them illegally acquires a yard of his neighbours land. When he does this, he will be tied with it from the seven earths until the Day of Judgement.
(Tafsir Ibn Katheer p.457 v.1)
Abdullah Ibn Amr (ra) narrates that there was a man who looked after the family and the belongings of the Prophet of Allah (pbuh) called Karkara. The man died and the Prophet (pbuh) said “He is in the Fire.” The people went to search his house and found a cloak he had stolen from the war booty.
(Sahih Bukhari p.432 v.1)
Ibn Hibban recorded in his Sahih that Ibn Mas`ud narrated that the Prophet (pbuh) said, "Jibreel (as) informed me that no soul shall die until it finishes its set provisions and term limit. Therefore, have Taqwa of Allah and seek your sustenance in the most suitable way."(fn. See As-Sunnah 14:304).
Why then, would one seek livelihood from sources that would end up as a source of perpetual regret while his sustenance would surely come to him if he had had the Taqwa and patience of waiting for it.
While admonitions abound both in the Qur'an and Hadith, it is left to us to decide how our Hereafter is going to be. To the sensible person, all the enjoyment in the life of this world cannot be equated to a moment of torment in the Hereafter.
Narrated Ibn Umar (ra):
"The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said: 'Allah does not accept any prayer without purification, and He does not accept any charity from Ghulul.'" (Sahih)
Allah (SWT) Says:
And We have indeed made the Qur'an easy to understand and remember,: then is there any that will receive admonition?
Qur'an Ch54:17
Most surely there is a reminder in this for him who has a heart or who listens and is a witness. Qur'an Ch50:37
May Allah in His Infinite Wisdom and Mercy grant us understanding of His Commands and Prohibitions in order to follow and stay away from them.