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Purposeful Articles: Why Is Money Not a Measure of Perfection?
They mistakenly believed that he was unfit for leadership because he was not wealthy. In reality, the goals and values of the Children of Israel had changed due to their excessive love for wealth and children, to the point that they considered money and riches to be the fundamental criterion of human worth and perfection. They believed that whoever possessed more wealth was more deserving of rule.
God Almighty says in the story of Saul (Ṭālūt), after He appointed him as a leader of the army and his people objected to that:
“And their prophet said to them, ‘Indeed, Allah has appointed Saul as king over you.’ They said, ‘How can he have kingship over us while we are more worthy of kingship than him, and he has not been given abundance of wealth?’ He said, ‘Indeed, Allah has chosen him over you and has increased him abundantly in knowledge and physical strength. And Allah gives His sovereignty to whom He wills. And Allah is All-Encompassing, All-Knowing.’” [1]
They mistakenly believed that he was unfit for leadership because he was not wealthy. In truth, the objectives and values of the Children of Israel had changed due to their excessive love for wealth and children, so much so that they regarded money and riches as the basic principle of human value and perfection, and believed that whoever owned more wealth was more worthy of governance.
Likewise, the polytheists of Mecca could not accept the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) for the same pretext: why did God not choose His Prophet from among the great men, that is, the wealthy of the Arabs?
“And they said, ‘Why was this Qur’an not sent down upon a great man from one of the two towns?’” [2]
God Almighty replied to them, saying:
“Is it they who distribute the mercy of your Lord? It is We who have distributed among them their livelihood in the life of this world and raised some of them above others in degrees.” [3]
Indeed, God Almighty is the One who has distributed the wealth of this world among people, granting each person what is suitable for him. Wealth in this world is nothing but a means of trial, which God has apportioned among people according to wisdom and benefit.
However, due to their deep immersion in material values and their consideration of wealth as the criterion of human greatness and worth, the polytheists of Mecca assumed that the Prophet must be chosen from among the wealthy.
In another verse, He says:
“Why were bracelets of gold not bestowed upon him…?” [4]
These intellectual and value-based deviations exist in various societies and preoccupy human minds, even those of believers and worshippers of God Almighty. The Children of Israel worshipped God, believed in the Prophet of God, and asked him to appoint a leader for them; yet despite that, they did not acknowledge the leadership of the non-wealthy Saul, due to their love of wealth and their belief that it was the sole criterion for leadership.
In the Qur’an, God Almighty strongly condemns this outlook, saying:
“Woe to every slanderer and backbiter, who amasses wealth and counts it, thinking that his wealth will make him immortal. No! He will surely be thrown into the Crusher. And what can make you know what the Crusher is?” [5]
And He says about the disbelievers:
“And they say, ‘We have more wealth and children, and we will not be punished.’” [6]
These disbelievers believed that if punishment were to occur, it would afflict the poor and miserable, since the houses of the poor are not strong and thus collapse, not their solid houses. The poor, in their view, are the ones who suffer misery and punishment, not those who receive support from their many children.
A Gateway to Corruption:
In another verse, wealth is given a negative value because it becomes a source of arrogance, and such wealthy people are condemned in His saying:
“Cruel, moreover base—because he possesses wealth and children.” [7]
In yet another verse, wealth is given a negative value for being a cause of arrogance and excessive love of worldly life, as God Almighty says:
“Leave Me with the one I created alone, and to whom I granted extensive wealth and present sons, and made things smooth for him—yet he desires that I should add more.” [8]
Such effects and symptoms are the source of the negative value attached to wealth and children. Were it not for these symptoms, there would be no blame attached to them, for wealth and children in themselves are divine blessings and can be used correctly. If they are acquired through lawful means and for righteous purposes, they also carry a positive value.
God Almighty says:
“O you who believe, indeed among your spouses and your children are enemies to you, so beware of them.” [9]
Or He says:
“Say, if your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your spouses, your relatives, the wealth you have acquired, the trade you fear may decline, and the homes you love are more beloved to you than Allah and His Messenger and striving in His cause, then wait until Allah brings about His command.” [10]
Thus, the negative value of wealth and children is tied to this excessive love that prevents one from attaining the desired perfection, distracts a person from righteous deeds, and drives him toward immoral acts. The positive value, on the other hand, exists under divine motivation, adherence to correct religious standards in acquiring and spending wealth, and using it as a means to attain closeness to God and a lofty rank with Him.
From the book: Zād al-ʿĀmilīn fī Shahr Allāh – Zād al-Muballigh Series – Dar al-Maʿārif al-Islāmiyyah al-Thaqāfiyyah.
References: [1] The Holy Qur’an, Surah al-Baqarah, verse 247.
[2] The Holy Qur’an, Surah az-Zukhruf, verse 31.
[3] The Holy Qur’an, Surah az-Zukhruf, verse 32.
[4] The Holy Qur’an, Surah az-Zukhruf, verse 53.
[5] The Holy Qur’an, Surah al-Humazah, verses 1–5.
[6] Surah Saba’, verse 35.
[7] The Holy Qur’an, Surah al-Qalam, verses 13–14.
[8] The Holy Qur’an, Surah al-Muddaththir, verses 11–15.
[9] The Holy Qur’an, Surah at-Taghabun, verse 14.
[10] The Holy Qur’an, Surah at-Tawbah, verse 24.
