Wasting Wealth

©  Umm Ali

Wealth is a provision from Allah (swt). It has been written for each person when he was in his mother's womb.  Therefore, whether a person will be poor or rich is predetermined. However, it is not the state of being rich or poor that is important but it is what the person does with it. Wealth, or lack of it, is a trial. As Allah (swt) says in the Qur'an:

    What should a person do when he finds himself poor? The best course to take is to be patient: Narrated Abu Sa'id (r) that some people from Ansar asked Allah's Messenger (s) to give them something and he (s) gave everyone of them who asked him until all that he had was finished. When everything was finished and he (s) had spent all that was in his hand, he (s) said to them, "Know that if I have any wealth, I will not withhold it from you. And know that he who refrains from begging others (or doing prohibited deeds), Allah will make him contented and not in need of others; and he who remains patient, Allah will bestow patience upon him, and he who is satisfied with what he has, Allah will make him self-sufficient. There is no gift better and vast that you may be given than patience." (Bukhari) Indeed, it has also been narrated that the majority of dwellers in Jannah (Paradise) are the poor people. (Bukhari)

    However, what should a person do when he finds himself wealthy? He should spend it for the Cause of Allah (swt), such as giving to charities: Verily those who give sadaqah (zakaat and charity), men and women, and lend Allah a goodly loan, it shall be increased manifold (to their credit), and theirs shall be an honourable good reward (Paradise) (Qur'an, al-Hadid 57:18), and paying his debts: The Prophet (s) said, "If I had gold equal to the mountain of Uhud, it would not please me that anything of it should remain with me after three nights (that is, I would spend all of it in Allah's Cause) except what I would keep for repaying debts." (Bukhari)

    The wealthy person should be generous and not miserly. For a miser hates to part with his wealth and finds it difficult to do so. Abu Hurairah (r) narrated that the Prophet (s) described "...a miser and a charitable person by comparing them to two men wearing two iron cloaks and their hands are raised to their chests and necks. Whenever the charitable man tries to give a charitable gift, his iron cloak expands till it becomes so wide that it will cover his fingertips and obliterate his tracks. And, whenever the miser wants to give a charitable gift, his cloak becomes very tight over him and every ring gets stuck to its place..." (Bukhari)

    The person with wealth should not be greedy as that thing which he greeds for does not benefit him. The Prophet (s) said, "This wealth is like a green and sweet fruit. Whoever takes it without greed, Allah will bless it for him, but whoever takes it with greed, Allah will not bless it for him, and he will be like the one who eats but is never satisified. The upper (giving) hand is better than the lower (taking) hand." (Bukhari)

    The wealthy person also does not waste it on useless worldly things. Wasting wealth is one of the things that Allah (swt) hates: The Prophet (s) said, "Truly Allah hates three things in you: quarreling, wasting one's wealth and frequent, useless questions." (Bukhari, Muslim)

    To be miserly and greedy is to also be wasting the provision that Allah (swt) bestowed on the person. Wealth is one of the worldly blessings from Allah (swt), but it can be a curse for those who do not manage it wisely.

    The Prophet (s) said in a narration by 'Amr bin 'Auf, "By Allah, I am not afraid that you will become poor, but I am afraid that worldly wealth will be given to you in abundance as it was given to those nations before you, and you will start competing for it, and then it will divert you from good as it diverted them." (Bukhari) We have been warned about the dangers of competing for worldly wealth in surah at-Takathur (102) and we have been warned about man's thirst for wealth: The Prophet (s) said, "If the son of Adam had two valleys of money, he would wish for a third, for nothing can fill the belly of Adam's son except dust (that is, man continues to love wealth till he dies, for then he will no longer
think about collecting wealth) and Allah forgives him who repents to Him." (Bukhari) Also, "the heart of an old man remains young in two respects - his love for the world (its wealth, amusements and luxuries) and his incessant hope (for a long life)." (Bukhari)

    It is time that we realised the truth to these words of Prophet Muhammad (s), "Riches does not mean having a great amount of property, but riches is self-contentment." (Bukhari) Self-contentment is achieved through worshipping Allah (swt). Spending the wealth according to how Allah (swt) wants the person to spend it is an act of worship. This spending should be done moderately - it should not be extravagant, wasteful nor miserly. Allah (swt) says in the Qur'an: