01/08/2026
Many people think that poverty is the greatest obstacle to happiness. However, the Prophet ﷺ shifted our attention to a much greater danger: the endless pursuit of worldly success.
When Allah blesses a person with wealth, a good job, a successful business, or social status, these are all blessings. But if those blessings become the primary focus of life, they can gradually distance a person from Allah without them even realizing it.
Today, this warning is more relevant than ever. People often spend years chasing promotions, higher salaries, bigger houses, luxury cars, expensive brands, and social media recognition. Every achievement is followed by another goal, creating an endless cycle of "more." As a result, many become so occupied with earning and maintaining their lifestyle that they neglect prayer, family, learning the Qur'an, helping others, or remembering Allah. Their calendar becomes full, but their heart becomes empty.
The Prophet ﷺ was not saying that wealth itself is dangerous. Many of his Companions were wealthy merchants, including Abdur-Rahman ibn Awf, Uthman ibn Affan, and Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with them). What he feared was competition for wealth—when people begin comparing themselves with others, measuring success only by possessions, and sacrificing their faith, character, and peace of mind in the process.
Imagine two people.
The first earns a modest income. He lives within his means, prays on time, spends time with his family, gives charity, and is grateful for what Allah has provided. Although he does not own luxury possessions, his heart is at peace because his relationship with Allah remains strong.
The second earns a very high income. He works late every night, checks emails constantly, and spends weekends trying to grow his business even further. He rarely prays on time, has little time for his family, and constantly worries about making more money because someone else always has more. Outwardly, he appears successful, but inwardly he lives with stress, dissatisfaction, and spiritual emptiness.
According to this hadith, the first person may actually be more successful in the sight of Allah, because his wealth serves him, whereas the second person has become a servant of wealth.
The Prophet ﷺ teaches that success is not measured by how much we own but by how well we remain connected to Allah while using what He has given us.
Wealth is a blessing when it helps us worship Allah, support our families, give charity, and benefit society. But when the pursuit of wealth becomes our life's purpose, it turns into a trial that can consume our time, our relationships, and ultimately our Hereafter.
The balance Islam teaches is simple:
Earn with excellence, spend with gratitude, give with generosity, and never let your love for the dunya become greater than your love for Allah.
That is the profound message of this hadith, and it is perhaps even more relevant today than it was fourteen centuries ago.
