Explain how Muslim teachings affect Muslim attitudes to wealth and poverty

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A02 - Explain how Muslim teachings affect Muslim attitudes to wealth and poverty

The believers are those who believe in God and his Messenger and then do not doubt, but exert every effort with their wealth and their persons in the cause of God. They are the truthful ones.’(Qur’an 49:16)

The Qur’an states that all possessions on Earth belong to God. As a result, Muslims are obliged to spend their wealth according to the Allah, as Qur’an 49:16 demonstrates. Muslim attitudes towards the poor and wealthy is that everyone is equal under God, and therefore they should all be treated the same. Wealth is entrusted to mankind by Allah, therefore one must spend it moderately and share it with others. Those spending extravagantly on idle things are not favoured by Allah: ‘O believers! Make not unlawful the good things that Allah has made lawful for you. But commit no excess, for Allah does not love those given to excess.’ (Qur’an 5:38)

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Muslims have a positive attitude towards the poor, because as the Hadith states, ‘Richness does not lie in abundance of worldly goods, but true richness is the richness of the soul.’. Not only do Muslims not despise those living in poverty, they treat them with care and love.  Poverty is not necessarily a punishment. It is a test for one’s patience, to see whether one can resist the temptation of earning money through illegal means and live an honest and humble life through their own hard work.  Muslims believe that they would be rewarded in the hereafter if they ...

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