Why the chase for wealth is actually ruining us Muslims - Vitamin Deen #10
Not wanting to experience an extreme doesn't mean you should crave another one.
Salam Aleykum friends,
I pray this finds you well, happy monday!
So, I wanted to start the week off by sharing some thoughts on a topic that tends to irritate people somehow: the ostentation trap and the crave for wealth.
We live in a world where success is often measured by material wealth. Fancy cars, big houses, branded clothes, crazy online earnings… These have become markers of accomplishment, even within the Muslim community, and while there’s nothing wrong with earning halal wealth, seeking comfort and enjoying Allah’s blessings, I truly believe the relentless chase for wealth has started to unravel the very fabric of our Ummah in significant ways.
Now hear me out—I 100% know how it feels to be the child of immigrant parents and not wanting money to be a worry, wanting to secure them and live a confortable life. In fact, one of the things that nurtured my recent existential crisis was not being financially stable or earning as much as I thought I would at this point in my life or that I could(ve if I made different choices (also, my Pinterest is filled with photos of gorgeous houses in Provence and Tuscany that are faaar from by budget and space that I don’t need). I mean, of course no one actually wants or should want to experience poverty, and may Allah preserves us from that + bless us abundantly in the best ways.
However, we can’t turn a blind eye on the unhealthy relationship our community has with wealth and sometimes showing it off, especially when Allah warned us about this and dedicated a whole surah to it (Surah At-Takathur).
So, let’s reflect on where we’re collectively headed and how we can realign ourselves with what truly matters.
What wealth in Islam is truly about
I’m going to start by stating the obvious: Islam does not condemn wealth. As a matter of fact, some Prophets like Ayyub (as) and Suleyman (as), but also companions of the Prophet ﷺ, like Abu Bakr and Uthman ibn Affan (may Allah be pleased with them) were very wealthy. However, what distinguished them wasn’t the amount they owned—it was how they used their wealth.
They actually understood this was a rizq chosen and granted by Allah to them that He could take back as He pleased, a means to serve Him and uplift others, but not an end in itself.
“Wealth and children are [but] adornment of the worldly life. But the enduring good deeds are better to your Lord for reward and better for [one's] hope.” (18:46)
See, this aya reframes wealth as temporary, a tool to be used wisely, not something to obsess over or our ultimate goal. Think about it: when you want to exhibit your financial success, purchase things that, aside from not being ethical (which is already a huge issue in itself as a Muslim but more on that at another time insha’Allah), are not necessarily more useful or sometimes even better quality than less ostentatious ones, who are you really trying to please?
Besides, have you ever thought about wealth actually being a way Allah tests someone? Truth be told, this has to be one of the hardest trials you have to go through because the richer you are, the higher the chances of you losing track of who you should be as a Muslim in this dunya, or going after the next thing that you’ll never be able to fully possess: power.
Please take a second to think about some of the richest people on this planet and the ones that own little. Who do you see genuinely smile the most? Who do you see being the most grateful, generous and humble? Who would say incarnates humanity best? (By the way, did you know that the poor will be the firsts to be going to Jannah? This is how just Allah is, Subhan’Allah wAlhamdulillah).
I’ve been working on my mindset regarding all of this because one thing that I’ve realised is that, although struggling financially is a heavy burden for sure, it’s nothing taqwa and tawakkul can’t allow us to overcome. It’s probably easier to show them in that situation than when you’re rich.
I’ve met people who had less than me yet didn’t complain as much as I did and simply accepted the sustenance, the rizq Allah gave them. You know why? Because your rizq isn’t just money—it’s also your spouse, your home, your health, your faith, your knowledge… All these things that truly makes us wealthy, but that we take for granted because we believe contentment solely lies in dollars.
Ultimately, money is a distraction that gets worse and worse with it increasing. That’s why Allah and the Prophet ﷺ kept warning us about its impact on us as individuals, but also, its impact on the Ummah.
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said,
“Verily, every nation has a trial, and the trial of my nation is wealth.” (Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2336)
How the chase is changing the Ummah
Compromising work ethics
In this day and age, the pursuit of wealth often pushes us to compromise our values. We’ve all heard stories of people engaging in shady business practices, cutting corners, or even abandoning their moral compass with their clients and workers in the name of profit because “that’s how you do business and scale”, “that’s just how things are” or because “we don’t have a choice”.
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ actually knew about this:
“A time will come when one will not care how one gains one's money, legally or illegally.” (Sahih Al Bukhari 2059)
Honestly, this hadith feels all too real nowadays—and God knows how much it frustrates me. The focus on accumulating wealth, often at any cost, is eroding the ethical foundation that once defined the Ummah but still defines Islam, and I can’t comprehend how so many of us decide to ignore it (here I’m not talking about the ones who may not know about the gravity of all of this).
Speaking of which, working on my new project Dinamique (which aims to help future Muslim entrepreneurs to create and launch projects without any compromise on faith and impact—let me know if you’d like to know more insha’Allah) allowed me to learn so much about business/entrepreneurship in Islam and how it is indeed a very noble way to earn a living, yet should aim to be beneficial to the community, be transparent and place Allah in the heart of every decision.
This is not rocket science but common sense: for our rizq to be pure, we should have the intention for it to be and act accordingly, including in our work and businesses.
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Growing arrogance
Now, you might be thinking “yeah but if I’m ever very wealthy one day, I’ll make sure to be very generous in charity, I want to have a lot so I can give a lot”.
Listen, this is surely very thoughtful, but one thing that I’ve realised in life and actually shared in my book is the fact that we often overestimate ourselves when it comes to not falling into certain sins in the future, all because we are currently far from them and are certain we’re great people… Which is crazy because we’re not even guaranteed we’ll be Muslims our whole lives (I know, it’s terrifying, may Allah preserve us from apostatizing).
Money drives people crazy. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if some studies showed it acts on the same part of your brain as drugs. Like, some people are capable of breaking ties or even getting rid of their relatives because of that, can you imagine? In chasing wealth, we can be enslaved in a cycle of constant dissatisfaction (again, just look at the richest men in the world and how they just don’t stop seeking for more). This leads us to lose sight of contentment, gratitude, and trust in Allah, forgetting that true wealth in Islam has nothing to do with what you own and everything you do with what you give, whether it is money, but also love, support, knowledge or time.
Abu Mutarrif reported:
I came to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, while he was reciting the verse, “Competition for wealth diverts you,” (102:1).
The Prophet said, “The son of Adam boasts: My wealth! My wealth! O son of Adam, have you truly earned any wealth but what you ate and consumed, or clothes put on and wore out, or spent in charity so it remained?” (Sahih Muslim 2958)
Rising individualism
Many also become reluctant to part with what they’ve earned for the sake of Allah, even when they see others in need. Can you imagine if the wealthiest Muslim people in the world came together and actually gave away most of their fortune to, let’s say, build wells and solve the water crisis in Africa? That could be incredible and highly rewarded by Allah… Yet, it’s not been done.
I know it’s more complicated than that (is it really? Should it be?) but Islam emphasises generosity, and while the Ummah certainly knows how to come together when in crisis, it’s safe to say that the richest of us aren’t necessarily the most selfless or generous in charity unfortunately.
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger ﷺ as saying:
Charity does not decrease wealth, no one forgives another except that Allah increases his honour, and no one humbles himself for the sake of Allah except that Allah raises his status. (Sahih Muslim 2588)
We’re so focused on our own lives that we’ve lost sight of the collective and here’s another example: have you ever heard of the concept of waqf?
It is an asset, an endowment that symbolically belongs to Allah and specifically aims to benefit the community. Each time a donation goes to a waqf, the later then invests it in a project or property which value will accrue and that income can then be invested in charitable causes like education, healthcare… A sadaqah jariyah that also very much echoes the principles of social entrepreneurship, which I love! Awqaf were very common at the time of our beloved Prophet ﷺ, why aren’t they anymore?
So, can we say we’re living up to his incredible legacy when our personal ambitions overshadow the greater good? Not really. Alhamdulillah, we see Muslim NGOs, investing funds, entrepreneurs wanting to act for change and doing great things for the Ummah, using money for helping good causes and contributing to the economy of our community, but we’re still not cohesive enough, beside being incredibly far from the economic models created by Muslims in the past.
For us to grow collectively, we must go back to the root of it all, introspect and work on a personal level. Thankfully, there are some things we can do to reduce the spiritual cost of wanting to be wealthy and build a healthy relationship with money.
What can we do about it?
Reassessing
Ask yourself: What’s my current relationship with money? Why do I want wealth? What kind of person am I when I do have money and when I don’t? If the answer is solely based on greed or selfishness, it might be time to realign and challenge your nafs which is truly your worst enemy.And please, do not compare yourself to people online nor envy a life that shouldn’t even be that exposed in the first place. I can guarantee you: some of my close friends are very rich, but you would never guess from seeing them because they’re so humble and don’t need to prove their status to anyone. If you’re granted with wealth, Alhamdulillah, but be grateful, respectful and meaningful about it. Yes, it’s okay for you to ask for comfort or even enjoy certain expensive things if you can afford them, but remember 1. Enjoy them quietly, with grace and gratitude and 2. You won’t take anything you physically own to your grave so you surely shouldn’t obsess over it or be so attached to it, but instead, be smart and conscientious about how you spend it.
Giving
When Allah gives you, it isn’t for you to keep but to share. Therefore, making sadaqah a habit instead of simply waiting for your zakat to be due is a beautiful way to change how you approach money and to purify your earnings. And you know, no amount is worthless! Charity does not decrease your wealth, and everything you do fr the sake of Allah, He increases it for you so don’t skip it.Simplifying
Again, consumerism has really affected the Ummah when we should embrace the art of detachment and—surprise, surprise— sustainability. Because if there’s one thing you should want wealth for, it is to invest in less but better in terms of ethics, quality, durability. Be intentional about what you purchase, learn to truly appreciate and see beauty in the simplest things, to cherish and take care of what you have and remember how the Prophet ﷺ used to live—content with little, but rich in spirit.Refocusing
Speaking of which, materialistic wealth comes and goes, but good deeds last forever. Wealth can be a means to achieve that and take care of ourselves and others for sure, but not a goal all about accumulating money and belongings.When my dad passed away, this hit me even harder: Subhan’Allah, all the good he did when he was still alive, I could see on his soft resting face at the end and hear from people I didn’t even know personally afterwards Alhamdulillah. So, invest in your prayers, your family, your character, your contributions to society so you can earn the benefits in what truly matters: your Akhirah.
Trusting
Finally, keep in mind that Allah is Ar-Razziq, Ar-Razziq. He is the Provider, so trust and rely on Him first. Ask Him to give you abundance in a balanced, healthy and peaceful way, for money not to be a worry nor an excess, to place barakah in whatever He’s giving you. Trust that what is written for you will always reach you, and no amount of striving beyond what is halal will ever increase it.
Umar ibn al-Khattab reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “If you were to rely upon Allah with reliance due to Him, He would provide for you just as He provides for the birds. They go out in the morning with empty stomachs and return full.” (Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2344)
Well, that was a long one! I’m not sure how many of you would have read all of this but as usual, please take it as my humble contribution to our journeys and an invitation to re-center our lives on what truly matters: pleasing Allah, supporting one another, and investing in our future in Jannah through spreading goodness as much as possible insha’Allah.
What do you think? Have you felt the effects of this wealth-centric culture in your own life? How do you stay grounded? I’d love to hear your thoughts and continue the conversation 🌱
Love and du’as,
Assia