Wealth and Poverty in the Holy Quran

ABSTRACT

Praise be to Allah; peace and blessings be on our Prophet Mohammad, his kin and companions; and thereafter:

This study has discussed the subject, “Wealth and Poverty in the Holy Quran” on the basis of the Book, Sunnah (Sayings and actions by Prophet Mohammad), commentary books of the Holy Quran and Hadith (traditions of Prophet Mohammad), and other books related to this subject. In brief, the study consists of the following points:

First:          According to scholars, wealth means having a lot of surplus money thereby leading the community wherein one is living to consider him rich for possessing such money. Wealth is something that differs according to places and times. However, poverty indicates a monetary income position according to which the person cannot meet required needs for goods and services to a sufficient extent.

Second:      Wealth and poverty have been used in the Holy Quran to signify different meanings.

Third:         Many ways for wealth have been encountered in both of the Holy Quran and Prophet’s traditions. Man is, therefore, required to follow these ways as far as he can if he wishes to be better off. On the other hand, both of the Holy Quran and Prophet’s traditions have tackled the poverty problem through highlighting reasons for poverty. We should, therefore, be cautious not to

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                   commit such actions lest we face, as others before us did, transforming our wealth into poverty.

Fourth:      Allah is capable of making a person wealthy or poor as He (Allah) disposes and for testing purposes.

Fifth:          Both of the Holy Quran and books on the Prophet’s life included samples of wealth and poverty.