Wealth is one of life’s necessities. But it is not life’s goal. If wealth is necessary to fulfill life’s material requirements, then it must be acquired as the mainstay of human existence. But if wealth is projected as life’s goal and its ever-increasing acquisition is considered the most important task, then it can become a source of great misery, which will destroy its seekers not only in this world but also in the Hereafter.

Man has to live in this world for a certain period of time. For this, he requires some material facilities, which may serve as a support in his life. The majority of these things must be purchased with money. So it is essential for everyone to provide himself with the means to do so. In this respect wealth is a precious asset for all of us.

Man is greater than money. Man should live for a higher purpose, and he should use money solely as his material base for constructive activity.

This world is a testing ground and man has been given freedom, and therefore everything which a man receives is for a test, including wealth. Based on this concept of the creation plan, wealth is also for the purpose of a test. The proper use of money leads man to all kinds of progress, whereas the wrong use of it casts man headlong into the pit of destruction.

Relative to money, there are two cultures prevailing in our society— money for the sake of man and man for the sake of money. The Quran rejects the concept of man for the sake of money, subscribing to the other concept that money is for the sake of man. In the chapter AlTakathur (Greed for more and more) the Quran has this to say: You were obsessed by greed for more and more till you reached the grave. (102:1-2)

According to the Quranic concept, money or material goods are only meant to fulfil man’s needs. Money is not a goal in itself. Money can fulfil the physical requirements of man, but man is more than a physical entity. Man is an intellectual being, and as such can only find fulfilment in pursuing some alternative goal which is higher than that of money.

Money gives you material comfort, but it cannot give you wisdom and learning. The best course for man is to live as a seeker of truth, wisdom, learning and an ultimate goal that is elevated. That is the only right way of life for man.

What is that elevated goal for a man? It is intellectual development; it is to unfold the spiritual nature of his personality; it is to enhance his mental capacity. All these things are superior to man’s physical being. One who makes the acquisition of wealth his life’s goal, will of course, continue to receive bodily nourishment, but his soul will all the while remain starving. The intellectual part of his mind, continuously in an under-nourished state, will finally cease to exist. The activities of earning have to be kept within a certain limit and only then will man find time to attain the nobler goals.

When man takes money as something which will fulfil his needs, he remains on the right path. He can travel along the road of life smoothly and successfully. But when he takes money as his supreme goal, he goes astray. For both men and women money-oriented thinking is the greatest source of distraction from the right path.

This world is a testing ground and man has been given freedom, and therefore everything which a man receives is for a test, including wealth.

Man is greater than money. Man should live for a higher purpose, and he should use money solely as his material base for constructive activity, such as acquiring knowledge, establishing educational institutes and providing essential services for the society. There are many such facilities which need money. Indeed without money it is very difficult to have a successful life on this earth.

Money is a good helper. But it is not a good leader. A money-obsessed man is like one who has made money his leader. Money which is commensurate with needs is good, but excess money is bad. Save yourself from greed and then you will be able to save yourself from being overly money-minded.

Money for the sake of money is bad, but money for the sake of some higher purpose is good; money as a necessity is good, but the money culture per se is a disaster. The money culture will keep a man at a very low level which does not behove the potential he is born with.