Wealth Is A Blessing I . . .

As we have pointed out already, only the wealth which breeds God-forgetfulness and indifference towards future existence is bad and pernicious, but if am an, by the grace of God, makes his worldly possessions a means of seeking the good pleasures of the Lord and gaining the entry into Paradise, these are a great blessing and a divine gift. The Traditions we are now going to discuss deal with the same truth.
(197) A Companion of the Prophet has related that “[once] a few of us were sitting together that the Apostle of God came. There was the effect of water on his head at that time [i.e., it appeared that he had just taken a bath]. So, one of us said, ‘O Apostle of God ! We feel you are in very good spirits at the moment.’ ‘Yes, by the grace of God, it is so’, the Prophet replied. We, then, began to talk about wealth [i.e., whether it was good or bad, and harmful or beneficial for the Hereafter to possess it].’ The Prophet, thereupon remarked, ‘There is no harm in being rich for one who fears God, and for the virtuous good health is even better than wealth, and the tranquility of the heart, too, is a Divine gift [for which one should be grateful to the Lord].’
-Musnad-i-Ahmad
Commentary.- It denotes that if material prosperity is accompanied by righteousness and the fear of God and willing-observance of His Commands, it is not harmful for Faith. On the contrary, with God’s favour, worldly possessions, in that case, can be a source of spiritual advancement and elevation of ranks in the Hereafter. For example, the wealth of Hazrat Osman, which he spent freely in the way of God, had a good deal of share in his spiritual eminence. It was on such occasions that choicest tidings about him were given by the Prophet. It is, however, evident that piety does not, generally, go with wealth. In a majority of cases, it is the reverse of it.
(198) It is related by Sa’ad that the Apostle of God said: “god loves the; pious rich man who [in spite of his piety and wealth] is obscure and unknown to fame.”
-Muslim
Commentary.-The world ‘obscure’, here, denotes a person about whom it is, generally, not know that besides being rich, he is also pious and pure in heart. The bondsman in whom all the three qualities are present – that is, he is rich, pious and unknown to fame – at the same time, is a favourite of the Lord.




	Wealth is a blessing I . . .
	As we have pointed out already, only the wealth which breeds God-forgetfulness and indifference towards future existence is bad and pernicious, but if am an, by the grace of God, makes his worldly possessions a means of seeking the good pleasures of the Lord and gaining the entry into Paradise, these are a great blessing and a divine gift. The Traditions we are now going to discuss deal with the same truth. (197) A Companion of the Prophet has related that “[once] a few of us were sitting together that the Apostle of God came. There was the effect of water on his head at that time [i.e., it appeared that he had just taken a bath]. So, one of us said, ‘O Apostle of God ! We feel you are in very good spirits at the moment.’ ‘Yes, by the grace of God, it is so’, the Prophet replied. We, then, began to talk about wealth [i.e., whether it was good or bad, and harmful or beneficial for the Hereafter to possess it].’ The Prophet, thereupon remarked, ‘There is no harm in being rich for one who fears God, and for the virtuous good health is even better than wealth, and the tranquility of the heart, too, is a Divine gift [for which one should be grateful to the Lord].’ -Musnad-i-Ahmad Commentary.- It denotes that if material prosperity is accompanied by righteousness and the fear of God and willing-observance of His Commands, it is not harmful for Faith. On the contrary, with God’s favour, worldly possessions, in that case, can be a source of spiritual advancement and elevation of ranks in the Hereafter. For example, the wealth of Hazrat Osman, which he spent freely in the way of God, had a good deal of share in his spiritual eminence. It was on such occasions that choicest tidings about him were given by the Prophet. It is, however, evident that piety does not, generally, go with wealth. In a majority of cases, it is the reverse of it. (198) It is related by Sa’ad that the Apostle of God said: “god loves the; pious rich man who [in spite of his piety and wealth] is obscure and unknown to fame.” -Muslim Commentary.-The world ‘obscure’, here, denotes a person about whom it is, generally, not know that besides being rich, he is also pious and pure in heart. The bondsman in whom all the three qualities are present – that is, he is rich, pious and unknown to fame – at the same time, is a favourite of the Lord.
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