Money Matters! What does Islam Say about Wealth?
Do you have money from Eid gifts? Maybe you earn some from chores? Let’s learn what Islam teaches us about where money really comes from and how to use it wisely!
Is Your Money Really Yours?
“It’s my allowance. Ofcourse, it’s mine!”
Did you know that money, like everything else, truly belongs to Allah? He gives it to us so we can use it in this life. And then, on the Day of Judgement, He’ll ask us how we used His gift. It’s an amanah (trust) from Him.
Allah is Ar-Razzaq, the All-Provider. He provides for every creature on earth, including us!
But Doesn’t Dad Earn It
From his job?
Good point! Your parents work hard, right? Who gave them the skills and knowledge to do their job? Allah! Who made their job possible? Allah!
It’s like a big chain: Allah creates natural resources like trees, metals, and oil → People use these resources to make products → Companies sell these products → Your parents work at their jobs → They earn money → Some of that money comes to you as allowance or Eid gifts!
At every step of the chain, it is Allah’s blessings that make it possible.
Does Less Money Mean
Allah Doesn’t Like Us?
Money is a great blessing from Allah, and like every blessing, it is a test. More money does NOT mean Allah loves you more. And less money does NOT mean Allah loves you less. It’s simply a different type of test for each person.
- If someone has lots of money, that’s a test of their shukr (gratitude). Will they be thankful to Allah and use it in ways that Allah likes? Or will they forget him?
- If someone does not have much money, that’s a test of their sabr (patience). Will they trust Allah’s wisdom and be content with what they have? Or will they complain and try to get money using wrong ways?
For example, Allah gave lots of money to Qaroon. But he was proud, selfish and greedy. He used his wealth to do bad deeds.
Allah gave lots of wealth to Prophet Sulayman (as) and Abdur Rahman bin Awf (ra) too. They thanked Allah, stayed humble and used their wealth to earn more and more good deeds!
Prophet Muhammad (sa) said: “Truly, for every nation there is a trial, and the trial for my nation is wealth.”
Prophet Muhammad (sa) said: “This wealth is green and sweet (like a fruit to enjoy!), and 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 satisfied.”
The Five Questions
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said that on the Day of Judgment, Allah will ask everyone five important questions before they can move forward. Here they are:
- How did you live your life?
- What did you do when you were young?
- Where did you get your money?
- How did you spend your money?
- Did you act upon your knowledge?
Subhan Allah — did you see that? Two of those questions are about money! That shows how much money matters in Islam.
Do We Have To Give All Our Money To Charity?
I Want To Buy Stuff!
No. You don’t have to give all your money to charity! Islam teaches us to find a balance.
Allah gives money so people can take care of themselves and their family—like buying food for dinner, clothes to stay warm, or school supplies to learn. (Psst! Did you know that you get rewards for spending on your family? It’s a form of charity too!) We can also spend it on things we enjoy, like buying a fun toy or saving for something cool, but without wasting it.
Prophet Muhammad (sa) said: The best charity is that after giving which the giver remains self-sufficient (i.e., they can take care of their needs and don’t have to ask others for money).
Story Time!
Watch ‘A Voice in the Clouds’ to find out about a gardener who spent smartly.
Smart Ways
To Use Money
Here’s an easy plan to help us use our money smartly:
Spend
Buy what you need or love, but don’t waste.
Save
Put some money aside for later, like for a new bike or a big goal.
Sadaqah
Give money in Allah’s way. You can donate it to a good cause, like building a Masjid, or helping someone in need.
Needs vs. Wants
Before you spend money, ask yourself: “Do I need this, or do I just want it?”
Needs are things like food, clothes, or books for school. Wants are things like candy, video games, or extra toys. It’s okay to buy wants sometimes, but always take care of needs first. This helps you avoid wasting Allah’s gift!
In the Quran, Allah tells us to spend in moderation. It means,
- We shouldn’t be stingy, not spending at all
-
We shouldn’t be extravagant, spending more
than we can afford, or wasting a lot of money.
To find out more about this, you can read the explanation of ayah 26, 27 and 29 from Surah Isra.
Earning Money the Right Way
As Muslims, we have to make sure that we earn money in a way that pleases Allah. Remember, Allah will ask us how we earned our money!
Here are some ways to earn that are Haram (not allowed):
Riba (interest)
When you lend someone money, you must not charge extra when taking it back. The extra charge is called Riba or Interest and Allah doesn’t like it at all! For example, you lend 20 coins to your friend, and you ask him to pay back 22.
Gambling or Betting
Games where people put in money hoping to win more money by chance. For example, buying lottery tickets or betting on who will win a game.
Stealing
Taking something that belongs to someone else without their permission. For example, taking money from mom’s purse without asking.
Robbing
Taking things from people by scaring them or using force. For example, threatening someone to give you their phone or money.
Dishonesty and Fraud
Tricking people about what you’re selling or not telling the truth in business. For example, saying a broken toy works perfectly when selling it.
Selling Haraam Things Like Alcohol
Making money by selling things that Allah has not allowed Muslims to use. For example, selling alcohol or inappropriate pictures.
Multiply Your Money!
Did you know there’s a way to make your money grow for sure? Spending it in Allah’s way!
Shaitan makes us think that giving charity will make our money less. But Allah PROMISES us that giving charity MULTIPLIES our money! Isn’t that cool?
Allah tells us in the Quran that spending in His way is like planting a single seed that grows into seven spikes, with a hundred grains in each spike!
1 = 700!
Two Kinds of Charity:
Sadaqah and Zakah
Sadaqah is a voluntary charity. It means that it is not a must for you to give it, but Allah likes that you give it. Sadaqah can be given at any time and in any amount. It doesn’t have to be money, it can also be a kind word, a smile, or helping someone in need.
Zakah is one of the five pillars of Islam. It is an obligatory charity which means it must be given. When Muslims have saved a certain amount of money for a full year, they must give 2.5% of it to specific groups of people who need help.
It is reported in a hadith that Allah said: “Spend, O son of Adam, and I shall spend on you.”
So let’s be smart about how we spend our money and spend it in a good way, and Allah will give us more!
REFERENCES
Tirmidhi : 2336 – https://sunnah.com/ tirmidhi:2336
Sahih Bukhari: 6441 – https://sunnah.com/ bukhari:6441
Tirmidhi: 2416 – https://www. abuaminaelias.com/ dailyhadithonline/2012/ 09/05/yawm-al-qiyamah-five-questions/
Sahih Muslim: 1034 – https://sunnah.com/ muslim:1034
Sahih Muslim – https://sunnah.com/ muslim:993a
