My dear brothers and sisters! We praise, thank, and exalt Allah (SWT) for the blessings of faith, health and wealth He has bestowed upon us. The topic of my khutba is about the Islamic concept of wealth. We learn from the Qur’an that man by his very nature loves wealth and other material possessions intensely.
وَتُحِبُّونَ الْمَالَ حُبًّا جَمًّا
“And you love wealth with a passion” (al-Fajr, 89:20).
وَإِنَّهُ لِحُبِّ الْخَيْرِ لَشَدِيدٌ
“And he is truly excessive in his love of wealth.” (al-‘Adiyat, 100:8)
زُيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ حُبُّ الشَّهَوَاتِ
“Appealing to man is the enjoyment of worldly desires.” (Aal ‘Imran, 3:14)
Despite the inherent attachment with material things, the attitude of believers towards wealth should not be the same as disbelievers. Generally, people do not understand the Islamic concept of the blessing of wealth. The fact is that man owns nothing. The real owner of everything is Allah (SWT). Whatever we have is only a sacred trust—an amanah from Him. True righteous believers understand that what they possess are not their earnings, but the favor, blessing and bounty or the fadl of Allah (SWT). Ayah 10 of Surat al-Jumu’ah makes this notion of the fadl of Allah (SWT) very clear.
فَإِذَا قُضِيَتِ الصَّلَاةُ فَانتَشِرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَابْتَغُوا مِن فَضْلِ اللَّهِ وَاذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
“Then when the prayer has ended, disperse in the land and seek out Allah’s fadl (bounty). Remember Allah often so that you may prosper” (al-Jumu’ah, 62:10).
Wealth is one of the greatest blessings from Allah that we cannot do without. Indeed, it is the backbone of life and plays a major role in building of civilizations. Allah (SWT) asks us to acquire wealth and enjoy the good permissible things.
قُلْ مَنْ حَرَّمَ زِينَةَ اللَّهِ الَّتِي أَخْرَجَ لِعِبَادِهِ وَالطَّيِّبَاتِ مِنَ الرِّزْقِ
“Say, who has forbidden the adornment of Allah, which He has brought forth for His servants and good things, clean and pure, which Allah has provided for His servants?” (al-A’raf, 7:32)
On the same matter, the Prophet (SAW) said, “Those whom Allah has favored with a bounty, then Allah likes to see the effect of His bounty on His creation.” Out of the fadl of Allah (SWT) that one has, one’s legitimate right is one’s own basic needs. One may enjoy according to one’s social status the basic needs of shelter, food, clothing, transportation etc. However, all wasteful expenditure has to be avoided. Allah does not like the extravagant.
وَلَا تُسْرِفُوا إِنَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُسْرِفِينَ
“Do not waste anything. He does not love the wasteful.” (al-An’am, 6:141)
Others also have a legitimate right over our wealth and property.
وَالَّذِينَ فِي أَمْوَالِهِمْ حَقٌّ مَعْلُومٌ () لِلسَّائِلِ وَالْمَحْرُومِ
“And in whose wealth there is a known right for the beggars and the deprived” (al-Ma’arij, 70:24-25).
We are also told to spend from whatever Allah (SWT) has given us.
وَآتُوهُم مِّن مَّالِ اللَّهِ الَّذِي آتَاكُمْ
“And give them some of the wealth Allah has given you” (al-Nur, 24:33).
Wealth is a test from Allah (SWT). It is Allah (SWT), the All-Wise who gives whatever He wills to whomever He wills.
اللَّهُ يَبْسُطُ الرِّزْقَ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ وَيَقْدِرُ
“Allah gives abundantly to whoever He wills, and sparingly to whoever He wills” (al-Ra’d, 13:26). It is Allah’s wisdom that He has made his servants unequal in terms of their wealth.
وَاللَّهُ فَضَّلَ بَعْضَكُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ فِي الرِّزْقِ
“Allah has favored some of you above others with provisions.” (an-Nahl, 16:71)
Allah says in Surat Az-Zukhraf, “It is We who distribute among them their livelihood in the life of this world, and raise some of them above others in rank, so that they may take one another into service.” (Az-Zukhraf, 43:32)
This means that having little wealth or no wealth is not essentially a sign that Allah is displeased with His servant or having abundant wealth is not essentially a sign that Allah is pleased with His servant. The poor and the rich are both undergoing test, the poor for striving hard to improve their lot while being patient and content with what they have, and the rich to spend for the sake of Allah from the wealth they have over and above their needs. Regardless of how much material possessions one has, one is under constant test from his Lord.
وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّمَا أَمْوَالُكُمْ وَأَوْلَادُكُمْ فِتْنَةٌ
“And know that your wealth and your children are only a test” (al-Anfal, 8:28).
We are responsible for whatever we have, and we will surely be held accountable on the Day of Judgment for the worldly favors and pleasures bestowed upon us by Allah (SWT).
ثُمَّ لَتُسْأَلُنَّ يَوْمَئِذٍ عَنِ النَّعِيمِ
“And on that Day, you will surely be asked about the pleasures you enjoyed” (al-Takathur, 102:8).
Describing the people of taqwa, Allah (SWT) says,
الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْغَيْبِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلاةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنْفِقُونَ
“(They are) those who believe in the unseen, and are steadfast in prayer, and spend out of what We have provided them with” (al-Baqarah, 2:3).
While people tend to think that being the owners of their wealth, they can dispose it off the way they like, true righteous believers understand that their wealth has been provided by Allah (SWT) only to satisfy and fulfill their needs. Any surplus has to be spent in the way of Allah (SWT).
وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ مَاذَا يُنفِقُونَ قُلِ الْعَفْوَ
“They ask you what they should give: say, ‘Give what you can spare” (al-Baqarah, 2:219).
This has been explained in ayah 215 of Surat Al-Baqarah.
يَسْأَلُونَكَ مَاذَا يُنفِقُونَ قُلْ مَا أَنفَقْتُم مِّنْ خَيْرٍ فَلِلْوَالِدَيْنِ وَالْأَقْرَبِينَ وَالْيَتَامَىٰ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ وَمَا تَفْعَلُوا مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ بِهِ عَلِيمٌ
“They ask you what they should give. Say, whatever you give should be for parents, close relatives, orphans, the needy, and travelers. Allah is well aware of whatever good you do.” (al-Baqarah, 2:215)
The attributes of piety, of real virtue, and of spending in the way of Allah (SWT) are all linked with each other. Virtue and piety have to do with iman and a host of other good deeds including spending in the path of Allah. It is such a meritorious act that Allah (SWT) calls it a trade that will never decline.
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَتْلُونَ كِتَابَ اللَّهِ وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَأَنفَقُوا مِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ سِرًّا وَعَلَانِيَةً يَرْجُونَ تِجَارَةً لَّن تَبُورَ
“Those who recite Allah’s Book, keep up the prayer, give secretly and openly from what We have provided for them, may hope for a trade that will never decline” (Fatir, 35:29).
Allah (SWT) compensates them by giving back many times over.
إِن تُقْرِضُوا اللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا يُضَاعِفْهُ لَكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ وَاللَّهُ شَكُورٌ حَلِيمٌ
“If you make a good loan to Allah, He will multiply it for you and forgive you. Allah is all-appreciative and forbearing” (at-Taghabun, 64:17).
In another place we are reminded,
وَمَا تُنفِقُوا مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَلِأَنفُسِكُمْ وَمَا تُنفِقُونَ إِلَّا ابْتِغَاءَ وَجْهِ اللَّهِ وَمَا تُنفِقُوا مِنْ خَيْرٍ يُوَفَّ إِلَيْكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تُظْلَمُونَ
“Whatever charity you give benefits your own soul, provided you do it for the sake of Allah. Whatever you give will be repaid to you in full, and you will not be wronged.” (al-Baqarah, 2:272).
To make our wealth full of blessing (barakah), we should ensure that our wealth is lawful and that our line of work does not contravene the Sacred Law. Our work and the means of our livelihood should be moral and ethical. The Prophet (SAW) said: “O people, Allah is good and He therefore, accepts only that which is good.” He also said, “Wealth is not having vast riches. It is in contentment.” Barakah in our wealth gives us contentment and satisfaction. May Allah (SWT) bless each one of us and grant us understanding and goodness.
أَقُولُ قَوْلِي هَذَا وَأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ لِي وَلَكُمْ وَلِسَائِرِ المُسْلِمينَ وَالمُسْلِمَاتْ فَاسْتَغْفِرُوهْ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ
الحمد لله رب العالمين والصلاة والسلام على سيد المرسلين وعلى آله وأصحابه أجمعين
My dear brothers and sisters! Allah (SWT) gives an example of those who spend their wealth in His way.
مَّثَلُ الَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ حَبَّةٍ أَنبَتَتْ سَبْعَ سَنَابِلَ فِي كُلِّ سُنبُلَةٍ مِّائَةُ حَبَّةٍ وَاللَّهُ يُضَاعِفُ لِمَن يَشَاءُ وَاللَّهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ
“Those who spend their wealth in Allah’s cause are like grains of corn that produce seven ears, each bearing a hundred grains. Allah gives multiple increase to whoever He wishes: He is limitless and all knowing.” (al-Baqarah, 2:261)
And there is good news for those who do not follow their spending with reminders or hurtful words hurled on those whom they give. Allah says: “Those who spend their wealth in Allah’s cause, and do not follow their spending with reminders of their benevolence or hurtful words, will have their rewards with their Lord: no fear for them, nor will they grieve” (al-Baqarah, 2:262).
At the same time we are told not to be harsh upon or repel those who ask us for something.
فَأَمَّا الْيَتِيمَ فَلَا تَقْهَرْ وَأَمَّا السَّائِلَ فَلَا تَنْهَرْ
“So do not be harsh with the orphan, and as for the beggar, do not scold him” (al-Dhuha, 93:9-10).
However illogical it may sound, giving in charity does not decrease one’s wealth. On the contrary, it increases it, and becomes a source of inner peace and contentment. This is confirmed both by the Qur’an and the sayings of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAW). The physical amount appears to decrease outwardly, but the remaining amount attracts barakah so that the actual benefit from it is not less. We have to try to fight the urge to be stingy.
وَمَن يُوقَ شُحَّ نَفْسِهِ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ
“And those who are saved from the stinginess of their own souls are truly successful” (al-Hashr, 59:9). In the hereafter, we should not be among those who will cry out to Allah to give them more time to spend in His way and to be among the righteous.
وَأَنفِقُوا مِن مَّا رَزَقْنَاكُم مِّن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِيَ أَحَدَكُمُ الْمَوْتُ فَيَقُولَ رَبِّ لَوْلَا أَخَّرْتَنِي إِلَىٰ أَجَلٍ قَرِيبٍ فَأَصَّدَّقَ وَأَكُن مِّنَ الصَّالِحِينَ
“Give from what We have provided for you before death comes to one of you and he says, ´My Lord, if only you would give me a little more time so that I can give Sadaqah and be one of the righteous!” (al-Munafiqun, 63:10).
Let me conclude with a beautiful reminder of at least one way we can increase wealth and at the same time come nearer to Allah (SWT). It’s the advice Nuh (AS) gave to his people.
اسْتَغْفِرُوا رَبَّكُمْ إِنَّهُ كَانَ غَفَّارًا () يُرْسِلِ السَّمَاءَ عَلَيْكُمْ مِدْرَارًا () وَيُمْدِدْكُمْ بِأَمْوَالٍ وَبَنِينَ وَيَجْعَلْ لَكُمْ جَنَّاتٍ وَيَجْعَلْ لَكُمْ أَنْهَارًا
“Ask forgiveness of your Lord. He is ever forgiving. He will send down abundant rain from the sky for you, and will provide you with wealth and children and He will give you gardens and rivers.” (Nuh, 71:10-12)
May Allah (SWT) make us among those who are able to give generously for good causes from whatever we possess from His blessings. May He bless each one of us with faith, health wellbeing, contentment, and His good pleasure. Allahumma Ameen.
