Wealth and Trusting in Allah

By Sh. Jamal Said

The headlines lately speak about the difficult economic situation. There is growing fear about loss of jobs, increase in cost of living, and continued decline of important business sectors. The news is creating much anxiety, and as a result we increases in crime and family disruption. But we must also remember and be reminded often of God’s promise. So let us contemplate on the following verses from Surat Ibrahim:

“God is He who created the heavens and the earth. And He sends down water from the sky and thereby brings forth fruits as your provision. And He subjugated the ships for you that they may sail the sea at His command, and He subjugated the rivers for you. And He subjugated for you the sun and the moon, both constant in their courses, and He subjugated for you the night and the day. And He has given you from all that you have asked of Him. And if you were to count the favors of God, you could never enumerate them. Man is surely most unjust, most ungrateful!” (14:32-34)

Brothers and sisters, it is Allah the Exalted who has created humankind, and it is He alone who has accounted for each human being. And it is He who allots provisions for them, and He alone knows when each person’s time will come to an end. You have not eaten a single mouthful of food without it being accounted for by your Creator. It is He alone who has knowledge of every matter big or small. “With God is the knowledge of the Final Hour. He sends down abundant rain, and He knows what is in the wombs. No soul knows what it will earn tomorrow, and no soul knows in what land it will die. God is All-Knowing, Aware.” (31:34)

If Allah the Exalted wills to bless His servant with provisions and time, then nothing can stand in the way of His will. Remember it is He who increases wealth, opens doors that were once shut, cures illnesses, brings rain in times of drought, provides shade in the heat, and guides people on His straight path when they seem hopelessly astray.

But we must also remember that for Allah’s bounties and mercy to reach us, we must first and foremost fear Him. We must remember that He is not our servant (we seek refuge from such notions); on the contrary, we are His servants. So we must always be mindful of Him, reverent of Him, eager to abide by our obligations to Him, and remember His name often, whether in times of difficulty or in times of ease. Allah states: “And if the people of the cities had believed and feared [God], We would have opened up for them blessings from the heavens and from the earth. Instead, they rejected [God’s message], and so We seized them on account of [the evil] they have wrought.” (7:96)

Whosoever fears Allah, He will create for him from every affliction ease, from every worry comfort, and will provide Him in ways he could not have imagined possible. My brothers and sisters, this worldly life does not distress a person who fears the Creator of the heavens and the earth. The person who fears Allah is not troubled by the provisions and livelihood that Allah has allotted for him. On the contrary, he is content and happy with His Lord.

If you seek anything, then turn to your Creator and ask of Him. If the troubles of this world become heavy on your chest, then knock on the door and you will be received well and not left standing. Ask the One who will never turn you away no matter how great your sins maybe. My brothers and sisters, turn to your Lord for help, for He is the Most Generous, the Most Merciful. Prophet Muhammad (God’s peace and blessing be upon him) was reported to have advised young Ibn Abbas, “Be mindful of Allah, and Allah will protect you. Be mindful of Allah, and you will find Him in front of you. If you ask, ask of Allah; and if you seek help, seek help from Allah. Know that even if the whole nation were to gather together to benefit you with something, they would not benefit you with anything except with what Allah has already recorded for you; and that if they gather together to harm you with something, they would not be able to harm you with anything except that which Allah has already recorded against you. The pens have been lifted and the pages have dried.”

Let us also remember the benefits of being God-fearing and the blessing of supplication to Allah, and that both of these merciful deeds invite Allah’s provisions and mercy to reach us. The same is true with how we related with those who are related to us, which means that provision is connected with maintaining ties of kinship. Those of us who have mothers, aunts, and sisters must not fail to offer them help if they are in need and visit them when they are sick.

My brothers and sisters, do not forget that if you relieve a Muslim from a distress, Allah the Almighty will relieve you of your distresses. So if you feel as if doors are closing, then you should try to open a door for your fellow brother and sister and Allah will open a door for you. Increase in your charity giving and Allah will bless your wealth. Allah states, “Who will offer to God a goodly loan so that He may multiply it for him many times over? It is God who contracts and expands [your provision], and to Him is your return.” (2:245) The word “loan” here is a figurative usage, for God is not in any need. He wants people to engage in the noble enterprise of spending toward the benefit of others, which is an exaltation of human character and proof of one’s faith. When one gives selflessly for the sake of God and not for any other reason, God shall give this person a return that is magnificently generous, well beyond the measure the person had sacrificed or “loaned.” This goodly loan and God’s rewarding of it is mentioned frequently in the Quran. See also 5:12, 57:11, 64:17, and 73:20.

One of the most important ways to receive the mercy and bounty of Allah is to seek only permissible (halal) provisions. Ibn Abbas narrated that he recited the following verse in front of the Messenger of God: “O believers, eat from that which is good and lawful in the world (earth?)”. Sa’d Ibn Abi Waqqas stood up and said: O Messenger of God, make supplication that God answers my supplications.” The Prophet replied: O S’ad, eat pure [lawful] food and your supplications will be answered.”

Allah calls us to strive. He says: “He is the One who has made the earth even and smooth for you; so walk in the spacious paths thereof, and eat of His provision. And unto Him will be the resurrection.” And in Surat al-Jumu’ah, He said, “And when the Prayer has ended, then disperse in the land and seek of God’s bounty, and remember God much that you may succeed.” (62:10)

Allah also states, “Do not devour one another’s wealth unjustly nor bribe people in authority that you may wrongfully usurp something from the wealth of others intentionally.” (2:188) Imam Al-Qurtubi said: The meaning of this verse is that one should not consume the wealth of another without right. It is like gambling, deception, or fraud.

So have consciousness of Allah the Most High, for He sees you. Consuming or taking that which is unlawful is a great matter with God Almighty and it has grave consequences. Many people neglect this in matters of eating, in buying, selling, and amassing wealth. But those whom God has blessed with His mercy are concerned with the lawful and unlawful. May God guide us to avoid the unlawful and bless us with what is lawful and give us well-being. Ameen