Wealth in Islam – Gift from Allah, Test for Humanity

📖Sunan Abī Dāwūd 4063
Malik ibn Nadlah reported: The Prophet ﷺ said, “If Allah has given you wealth, let the traces of His blessings and generosity be seen upon you.

Wealth is not something people create independently -it all begins from what Allah provides.

• Allah created the earth and placed within it resources like minerals, water, and fertile soil.
• From the earth, humans grow fruits, crops, and food.
• From trees, we make paper for money.
• From metals and natural resources, we build homes, machines, and technology.

Allah is the Creator and Designer of everything. He gave the earth, water, sun, and air – without them no life or growth is possible. He designed the human body and the brain, and He gave people the ability to think, learn, and develop over time. Even the way humans evolve and form in the womb is fully designed by Him. Whatever humans discover or invent, the credit still goes to Allah, because the design, the process of development, and all the resources they use are from Him alone. Everything was written in the angelic book, and even though humans can pray for changes, the final design and outcome always belong to Him.

• All of this is already written in the angelic book, yet through sincere prayer (du‘a), Allah can change what was decreed. However, this change is not always in the way a person expects; sometimes Allah gives directly, sometimes He delays, and sometimes He replaces it with something better. In every case, it is still by His will and wisdom.

Worldly desires and reward

Allah grants the world’s pleasures to everyone, but the ultimate reward depends on righteousness, gratitude, and intention.

📖Quran 3:14
Beautified for people is the love of that which they desire—women, children, hoarded treasures of gold and silver, horses, cattle, and farmland. That is the enjoyment of worldly life, but Allah has the best reward for the righteous.”

📖Quran 57:20
“Know that the life of this world is but amusement and diversion and adornment and boasting among you and rivalry in increase of wealth and children. It is like rain whose growth pleases the tillers; then it dries, and you see it turn yellow; then it becomes chaff. And in the Hereafter is severe punishment or forgiveness and pleasure for those who are mindful of Allah.

Divine Wisdom in Worldly Wealth

• Allah grants wealth and worldly blessings to everyone, including non-Muslims.
• Sometimes, people choose to prioritize this worldly life over the Hereafter. Allah, in His infinite knowledge, knows their intentions and ultimate outcome.
• We, as humans, cannot declare why a particular person receives wealth, because we cannot fully know their inner choices, trials, or divine test.
• Only after death, when the full consequences of their actions and choices are revealed, can we understand the wisdom behind Allah’s decree.

📖Quran 11:15
Whoever desires the life of this world and its adornments – We fully repay them for their deeds therein, and they therein will not be deprived.”

📖Quran 42:20
“Whoever desires the reward of the Hereafter – We increase for him his reward; and whoever desires the reward of this world – We give him thereof; but he has no share in the Hereafter.”

• These verses show that worldly gain does not indicate eternal success, but it is part of Allah’s precise plan.
• Muslims are reminded to use wealth responsibly, show gratitude, and seek Allah’s pleasure, whereas worldly gain for non-Muslims may be a trial, a blessing, or even a test.

We cannot judge the wisdom behind someone’s wealth in this life, Allah’s decree is perfect, and only in the Hereafter will the full picture of human choices, trials, and rewards be revealed, Wealth should be seen as a trust from Allah to be used wisely, and not a measure of spiritual worth in this world.

📖Quran 15:88
Do not let your eyes crave the ˹fleeting˺ pleasures We have provided for some of the disbelievers, nor grieve for them. And be gracious to the believers.

• The context of the verse: This enjoyment is for those who already chose the life of this world. They will gain the knowledge to earn much, but it will lead them to commit sins that take them to the destiny they already chose.

Quran 3:196-197: Do not be deceived by the prosperity of those who disbelieve throughout the land. It is only a brief enjoyment; then their refuge will be Hell, and wretched is the resting place.

📖Quran 2:267
“O you who have believed, spend from the good things which you have earned and from that which We have produced for you from the earth. And do not aim toward the defective therefrom, spending [from that] while you would not take it [yourself] except with closed eyes. And know that Allah is Free of need and Praiseworthy.”

• This verse reminds wealthy Muslims that their wealth is a trust. They should spend from the best of what they earn and what Allah has provided, not from what is defective. Wealth should be used for good – charity, helping others, and benefiting society – while remembering that Allah is not in need, but they are in need of His acceptance.