The Attitude of the Prophet towards Wealth
The Prophet (SAW)’s attitude
towards wealth and his behaviour with his family (keeping particularly in mind
that he (SAW) had utmost affection for the Ummah and was its greatest will-wisher and he himself
has said: “The best among you is he who is good
for his household; and among you, I am the best for my household.” was typically illustrative of the Apostolic point
of view.
The Prophetic View of Wealth and the Hereafter
It was the attitude of a man to
whom the Sublimity and All-powerfulness of the Divine Being was an absolute and
self-evident reality, whose morals were the morals of God and who was
permanently solicitous of the Day of Resurrection and Final Judgement. {The Day whereon neither riches nor sons will be of any
avail; Unless it be he, who shall bring to Allah a whole heart.}
The holy Prophet was more
impatient for the Hereafter than the bird is for the nest after a whole day’s
flight. He would exclaim: “O God! There is no
joy other than the joy of Futurity.” Wealth, in his
eyes, was of no greater significance than the foam of the sea or the grime of
the palm.
Why the Prophet (SAW) Chose Simplicity Over Comfort
To him the whole of mankind was
the family of Allah and he regarded himself to be the guardian and protector of
the orphans, the needy and the destitute. For others he wished ease and
comfort, but for his own household, poverty and indigence. It was he who
uttered spontaneously the words: “I may eat my
fill on one day and go without a meal on the other” and also: “O God! Bestow upon the descendents of Mohammad only as
much provision as may be necessary to sustain life.”
A Household Anchored in Faith, Not Worldly Luxury
He candidly conveyed his Lord’s
message that was comfort to his eyes and a solace to his heart to his wives: {O Prophet! Say to your wives: ‘If it be that you seek
the life of the world and its adornment, then come, I shall make a provision
for you, and shall release you with a handsome release. And if you seek Allah
and His Messenger and the abode of the Hereafter then verily Allah has prepared
for the well-doers among you a mighty reward.}
The pious wives of the Prophet (SAW), on hearing the Allah’s message, opted,
without a moment’s hesitation, in favour of living with him (SAW) and not with
their parents or brothers where every comfort and luxury was waiting with
extended arms to receive and embrace them.
Also Read:
- Wealthy in the Social Sphere: Luxury or Well-being?
- 10 Rewards in the Hereafter for Worshiping Allah
- Lessons from Abul Dahdah
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Taken from: “Economic Order in Islam” book by Abul Hasan Al-Nadwi
