The virtue of a rich person who shows gratitude

Al Bukhari and Muslim reported on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) who said that the poor amongst the emigrants came to the Messenger of Allah (may peace and blessings be upon him) and said: The possessors of great wealth have obtained the highest ranks and the lasting bliss. lie (the Prophet) said: How Is that? They said: They pray as we pray, and they observe fast as we observe fast, and they give charity but we do not give charity, and they set slaves free but we do not set slaves free. Upon this the Messenger of Allah (may peace and blessings be upon him) said: Shall A not teach you something by which you will catch upon those who have preceded you, and get ahead of those who come after you, only those who do as you do being more excellent than you? They said: Yes, Messenger of Allah. He (the Prophet) said: Extol Allah, declare His Greatness, and Praise Him thirty-three times after every prayer. Abu Salih said: The poor amongst the emigrants returned to the Messenger of Allah (may peace upon him) saying: Our brethren, the possessors, of property have heard what we have done and they did the same. So the Messenger of Allah (may peace and blessings be upon him) said: This is Allah's Grace which He gives to whom He wishes. Sumayy reported: I made a mention of this hadith to some members of my family (and one of them) said: You have forgotten; he (the Prophet) had said (like this): "Extol Allah thirty-three time. praise Allah thirty-three times and declare His Greatness thirty-three times." Abu Salih said: The poor migrants returned to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). They said: Our brothers who have money heard of what we did and they did the same. Thereupon, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: This is the virtue of Allah which He gives whomever He wills.

Al Qady `Iyad said in Ikmal Al Mu`allim, commentery on the benefits taken from Sahih Muslim (2/ 546): Abul-Qasim ibn Abu Sufrah said: The previous Hadith stresses the virtue of rich people when they perform what Allah ordained on them then rich people shall have the virtue of extra righteous deeds which they performed with their money which the poor cannot perform. The poor only excel when the criterion is bodily actions only which have no relation with money. This is apparent in the Prophet's saying: (This is the virtue of Allah which He gives whomever He wills).

An-Nawawy said in Riyad As-Salihin (3/ 430): "Chapter on the virtue of rich people who show gratitude; they are the people who take money by lawful means and spend them in their proper channels. Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "As for him who gives (in charity) and keeps his duty to Allâh and fears Him, * And believes in Al-Husnâ. * We will make smooth for him the path of ease (goodness)." [Surat Al Layl: 5 - 7].

Allah (Exalted be He) says: "And Al-Muttaqun (the pious and righteous) will be far removed from it (Hell). * He who spends his wealth for increase in self-purification, * And who has (in mind) no favour from anyone to be paid back, * Except to seek the Countenance of his Lord, the Most High. * He surely will be pleased (when he will enter Paradise)." [Surat Al Layl: 17 - 21].

Allah (Exalted be He) says: "If you disclose your Sadaqât (alms-giving), it is well; but if you conceal them, and give them to the poor, that is better for you. (Allâh) will expiate you some of your sins. And Allâh is Well-Acquainted with what you do." [Surat Al Baqarah: 271].

Allah (Exalted be He) says: "By no means shall you attain Al-Birr (piety, righteousness - here it means Allâh's Reward, i.e. Paradise), unless you spend (in Allâh's Cause) of that which you love; and whatever of good you spend, Allâh knows it well." [Surat Al `Imran: 92].

Ayahs regarding the virtue of spending in righteous deeds are well-known.

Rich people who show gratitude are the people who take money lawfully and spend it in its proper channels, and Ayahs which contain praise to those who spend their money were revealed concerning benefactor rich people who spend secretly and publically as Allah (Glory be to Him) praised them saying: "Those who spend their wealth (in Allâh's Cause) by night and day, in secret and in public, they shall have their reward with their Lord. On them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve." [Surat Al Baqarah: 274].

`Abdullah ibn Mas`ud (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "There is no envy except in two cases: A man whom Allah has given money which he spends on righteous deeds and a man whom Allah has given wisdom with which he judges and teaches it." [Reported by Al Bukhari and Muslim].

Ibn `Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "There is no envy except in two cases: A man whom Allah has given the (knowledge of the) Qur'an and he recites it during the hours of night and day and a man whom Allah has given wealth and he spends day and night." [Reported by Al Bukhari and Muslim].

These Ayahs and Hadiths show the virtue of rich people who show gratitude. Scholars spoke about who is better: Rich people who show gratitude or poor people who observe patience. There is no doubt that a rich man who shows gratitude is better than a poor person who does not observe patience. Also, there is no doubt that a poor person who observes patience is better than a rich person who does not show gratitude. Ibn Al Qayyim said in Bada'i` Al Fawa'id (3 /162):

Shaykh-ul-Islam Ibn Taymiyah was asked about this issue and he said: The best of them is the one who shows piety to Allah but if they are equal in piety, their status shall be equal.