The Reality of Wealth and Poverty and Man’s Attitude Toward Them
Questions and Their Underlying Intentions
Questions that are asked for the purpose of attaining knowledge of Allah are permissible and beneficial. However, if the same questions are posed as complaints or objections, they fall into the category of sin.
When someone faces hardship or difficulties, they are not permitted to complain about Allah, though it is allowed to ask questions in order to understand the situation.
Allah’s Grant and Divine Wisdom
Allah ﷻ grants wealth, homes, and worldly comforts to some people, while others live in poverty and hardship.
Family background, personal ability, and environmental factors certainly play a role, but it is also true that sometimes, individuals of great talent and capacity are not given abundance in wealth by Allah ﷻ.
A ḥadīth states that Allah grants wealth to whom He wills, but knowledge is only given to the one who seeks it from Allah.
The True Nature of Wealth
To always consider wealth as a good thing is a mistake. If a pious person receives wealth, he spends it in good causes. But if a corrupt person becomes wealthy, he is more likely to fall into misguidance.
The Noble Prophet ﷺ said:
﴿إِنَّمَا أَمْوَالُکُمْ وَأَوْلَادُکُمْ فِتْنَۃٌ﴾
“Indeed, your wealth and your children are but a trial.”
(Sūrah al-Taghābun: 15)
Many people fail this trial. Despite their abundant wealth, many are deprived of the light of faith.
Istidrāj and Spiritual Decline
At times, the abundance of wealth may actually be a sign of Allah’s displeasure and a cause of misguidance—this is referred to as Istidrāj.
Istidrāj means that Allah continues to grant worldly blessings to a person, while those blessings gradually lead him toward destruction.
The Example of Barāʾ ibn Mālik (RA)
Barāʾ ibn Mālik (RA) was a noble and exalted Companion. The Prophet ﷺ said about him:
“If he swears an oath by Allah, Allah will surely fulfill it.”
(Bukhārī, al-Ṣulḥ; Muslim, al-Qiyāmah)
Despite being beloved to Allah, he did not even have sufficient bread to eat or a proper home to live in. Yet, the spiritual greatness and light in his heart were enviable.
Wealth and Poverty: Blessing or Trial?
Neither wealth nor poverty is, in itself, a blessing or a curse. Their nature and value change depending on the situation and how one responds.
The Prophet ﷺ voluntarily chose poverty and once said:
“Do you not prefer that they (the disbelievers) have the world, and we have the Hereafter?”
(Bukhārī, Tafsīr, 66/2)
Caliph ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb (RA) also only took from the public treasury what was strictly necessary, never asking for more.
Different Forms of Poverty
Poverty can sometimes be a blessing and sometimes a trial. If poverty leads to complaints and ingratitude, it can lead to disbelief. But if one endures it with patience and gratitude, it becomes a great blessing.
A Poet’s Reflection:
"O Lord! I accept every gift from You—whether it be a robe or a shroud, a flower or a thorn. Your blessing and Your test are both beautiful."
The Importance of a Strong Bond of Servitude
A person who maintains a strong connection with Allah ﷻ is neither harmed by wealth nor poverty.
The example of Shaykh ʿAbd al-Qādir al-Jīlānī is often cited—despite holding great wealth and worldly prestige, he achieved tremendous spiritual elevation.
But if one’s connection with Allah is severed, then both wealth and poverty become destructive.
Conclusion
The real matter is the condition of the heart and the sincerity of intention. If the heart is connected to Allah ﷻ, worldly circumstances will not affect the person. But if this connection is weak, then wealth becomes a trial, and poverty turns into ruin.
