The importance of money and its virtue

Allah (Glory be to Him) says: "And give not to the foolish your property which Allâh has made a means of support for you, but feed and clothe them therewith, and speak to them words of kindness and justice." [Surat An-Nisa': 5].

Allah informed in this Ayah that He gave us funds to manage our affairs therewith. Commentators said: i.e., Allah made it a basis in your dealings and to manage your affairs. The meaning is: Funds are made to improve conditions or at least keep them them stable. See Fathul-Qadir of Ash-Shawkany (1 /489).

Allah (Glory be to Him) says: "Wealth and children are the adornment of the life of this world." [Surat Al Kahf: 46].

Allah (Exalted be He) says: "And forget not your portion of lawful enjoyment in this world." [Surat Al Qasas: 77].

Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says: "Say (O Muhammad peace be upon him): Who has forbidden the adoration with clothes given by Allah, which He has produced for his slaves, and At-Tayyibat [all kinds of Halal (lawful) things] of food? Say: They are, in the life of this world, for those who believe, (and) exclusively for them (believers) on the Day of Resurrection (the disbelievers will not share them)." [Surat Al A`raf: 32].

Of the Prophet's supplications which he used to say in the morning and in the evening: "O Allah! I seek refuge with You from disbelief and the poverty, and I seek refuge with You from the punishment in the grave." [Reported by Abu Dawud (5090) with good chain of narration].

Imam Muslim reported (2720) in his Sahih on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) who narrated: "The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to say: "Allahumma Aslih Ly Diny Alladhy Huwa `Ismatu Amry, Wa Aslih Ly Dunyay Allaty Fiha Ma`ashy, Wa Aslih Ly Akhiraty Allaty Fiha Ma`ady. Waj`al Al Hayata Ziyadatan Ly Fi Kulli Khayr, Waj`alil Mawta Rahatan Ly Min Kulli Shar. [O Allah, perfect our faith which is the most important thing to us, reform our world in which we live, and reform our Hereafter to which we shall return. O Allah, make our life an increase to our good deeds and make death a comfort to us from every evil]."

Allah taught us in the Glorious Qur'an to say: "And of them there are some who say: Our Lord! Give us in this world that which is good and in the Hereafter that which is good, and save us from the torment of the Fire!" [Surat Al Baqarah: 201].

The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to repeat this invocation frequently as was authentically proven in Sahih Al Bukhari and Sahih Muslim.

Imam Ahmad reported in his Musnad (17763) and Al Albany graded it as authentic on the authority of `Amr ibn Al `As (may Allah be pleased with him) who narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "The best money [which is used in righteous deeds] is for a good person [to spend it on righteous deeds]."

Ibn Abu Ad-Dunya reported in his book "Islah Al Mal" (98) on the authority of `Abdur-Rahman ibn `Awf (may Allah be pleased with him) who narrated: "I wish I had abundant money to maintain good relationship with my relatives and to draw nearer to my Lord (Glorified and Exalted be He)."

Ibn Majah reported (2141) and Al Albany graded it as authentic on the authority of Yasar ibn `Ubayd (may Allah be pleased with him) who narrated: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "There is no harm in wealth for someone who has piety, but health for the person who has piety is even better than wealth. Cheerfulness is a blessing."

Ibn Abu Ad-Dunya reported in his book Islah Al Mal (64) on the auhtority of `Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: "Keep to beauty and using money for righteous deeds, and beware not to say: I do not care."

Ibn Abu Ad-Dunya reported in his book Islah Al Mal (49) on the authority of `Abdullah ibn `Umar ibn Al Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) who narrated: "Do for your world as if you shall live forever and do for your Hereafter as if you shall die tomorrow."

Ibn Abu Ad-Dunya reported in his book Islah Al Mal (84) on the authority of Al Miqdam ibn Ma`dy Karib (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: "A time will come to people in which nothing avails but dinars and dirhams."

Al Hakim reported in Al Mustadrak (6565) on the authority of the venerable Companion Qays ibn `Asim Al Manqary (may Allah be pleased with him) who said to his children: "You should spend money in righteous deeds, for it draws the attention of the generous [to righteous deeds] and you can dispense therewith from mean and vile people."

Ibn Abu Ad-Dunya reported in his book Islah Al Mal (55) on the authority of the master of the Followers Sa`id ibn Al Musayyab (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul) that he said: "There is no goodness in people who do not want to collect money from its lawful means to prevent their need to people, maintain therewith the kind relationship with his kin, and give therefrom the due rights [of the poor and the needy]."

Ibn Abu Ad-Dunya reported in his book Islah Al Mal (60) on the authority of the master of the Followers of the Successors Sufyan Ath-Thawry (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul) that he said: Of the supplications of the Righteous Predecessors is: "O Allah, do not make us eager to obtain the world, give us abundant sustenance of it, and do not withhold it causing us to desire it."

Ibn Abu Ad-Dunya reported in his book Islah Al Mal (79) on the authority of Sufyan Ath-Thawry who also said: "Money in this time is the weapon of a believer."