Does Islam Support Us in Trying to Become Rich?

Thank you for your question. This is an important question whose answer people base their whole lives’ pursuits on.

Purpose of Islam

The purpose of Islam is not wealth, rather it is to worship Allah as though you see Him, and if not, then at least knowing that He sees you. That being said, trying to become rich is praiseworthy as long as one does good with the wealth.

Losers

Narrated Abu Dharr: I reached him (the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace)) while in the shade of the Ka`ba; he was saying, “They are the losers, by the Lord of the Ka`ba! They are the losers, by the Lord of the Ka`ba!” I said (to myself ), ‘What is wrong with me? Is anything improper detected in me? What is wrong with me?’ Then I sat beside him and he kept on saying his statement. I could not remain quiet, and Allah knows in what sorrowful state I was at that time. So I said, ‘Who are they (the losers)? Let my father and mother be sacrificed for you, O Allah’s Messenger!’ He said, ‘They are the wealthy people, except the one who does like this and like this and like this (i.e., spends of his wealth in Allah’s Cause).” [Bukhari]

The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said,  “Indeed there is a fitna (trial) for every umma, and the fitna for my umma is wealth.” [Tirmidhi]

The first three to enter Hell

People dispersed from around Abu Huraira, and Natil who was from the Syrians said to him: O Shaikh, “Relate (to us) a tradition you have heard from the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace). He said: ‘Yes. I heard the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) say: ‘The first of men (whose case) will be decided on the Day of Judgment will be a man who died as a martyr. He shall be brought (before the Judgment). Allah will make him recount His blessings (which He had bestowed upon him) and he will recount them (and admit having enjoyed them in his life). (Then) Allah will say: ‘What did you do (with these blessings)?’ He will say: ‘I fought for Thee until I died as a martyr.’ Allah will say: ‘You have told a lie. You fought that you might be called a brave warrior.’ And you were called so. (Then) orders will be passed against him and he will be dragged with his face downward and cast into Hell.

Then will be brought forward a man who acquired knowledge and imparted it (to others) and recited the Quran. He will be brought And Allah will make him recount His blessings and he will recount them (and admit having enjoyed them in his lifetime). Then will Allah ask: ‘What did you do (with these blessings)?’ He will say: ‘I acquired knowledge and disseminated it and recited the Quran seeking Thy pleasure.’ Allah will say: ‘You have told a lie. You acquired knowledge so that you might be called a scholar,’ and you recited the Quran so that it might be said he is a reciter and such has been said.’ Then orders will be passed against him and he shall be dragged with his face downward and cast into the Fire.

Then will be brought a man whom Allah had made abundantly rich and had granted every kind of wealth. He will be brought and Allah will make him recount His blessings and he will recount them and (admit having enjoyed them in his lifetime). Allah will (then) ask: ‘What have you done (with these blessings)?’ He will say: ‘I spent money in every cause in which Thou wished that it should be spent. Allah will say: ‘You are lying. You did (so) that it might be said he is a generous fellow, and so it was said.’ Then will Allah pass orders and he will be dragged with his face downward and thrown into Hell.” [Muslim]

Praiseworthy spending

As for those who spend their wealth for the sake of Allah, performing the obligatory and the voluntary with it, there is no doubt that their reward will be multiplied and Allah’s pleasure will be attained.

Allah Most High has told us in the Quran, “Those who spend their wealth in charity day and night, secretly and openly—their reward is with their Lord, and there will be no fear for them, nor will they grieve.” [Quran, 2:274]

He also said in the Quran, “The example of those who spend their wealth in the cause of Allah is that of a grain that sprouts into seven ears, each bearing one hundred grains. And Allah multiplies the reward even more to whoever He wills. For Allah is All-Bountiful, All-Knowing. Those who spend their wealth in the cause of Allah and do not follow their charity with reminders of their generosity or hurtful words—will get their reward from their Lord, and there will be no fear for them, nor will they grieve.[Quran, 2:261-262]

The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “When a man dies, his deeds come to an end except for three things: Sadaqah Jariyah (ceaseless charity); a knowledge which is beneficial, or a virtuous descendant who prays for him (for the deceased).” [Muslim]

Conclusion

There is no harm in trying to get rich as long as you renew your intention daily to spend on the poor, the needy, orphans, widows, mosques, travellers, building wells, feeding the hungry, feeding fasting people, paying other people’s debts, and much, much more, solely for the sake of Allah. You must not be emotionally attached to your money, spend on yourself moderately, nor rely on your good deeds, by rather entirely on Allah’s mercy.

Mu’adh ibn Jabal reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, sent him to Yemen and he said, “Beware of luxury, for the servants of Allah do not live luxuriously.”

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May Allah give you the best of this world and the next.
[Ustada] Shazia Ahmad
Checked and approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani