Also Muslims believe Wealth is a test therefore Allah is watching us to see how we spend this wealth of ours, whether people waste the wealth on idle things or whether they spend the wealth in the way of Allah. This choice is given so a person will be accounted for what choice he took, about how he spent his wealth. It is a test for the poor to have patience and earn a living by lawful means; this will be rewarded by Allah. The test for the rich involves realizing that wealth is a gift which must be used for doing good deeds and sharing with the poor, otherwise temptations of spending it elsewhere on wrong things is immense, so resisting this temptation will grant a person many rewards given either in this world or the Hereafter.
The Prophet (p.b.u.h) has said: “For every nation and Ummah there is a temptation/test, and the test for my Ummah is wealth.”
Muslims also believe that Wealth is a trust, meaning this wealth was given by Allah therefore it is our responsibility to spend it in the right way. Muslims should not spend wealth so extravagantly, be moderate in spending meaning only for important necessities e.g. food, clothes, medicine.
In the Quran it says: “O believers! Make not unlawful the good things that Allah has made lawful for you. But commit no excess (i.e. be moderate), for Allah does not love those given to excess.”
Muslims regard themselves as Khalifahs (Trustees) so it is a responsibility upon us to use this wealth properly otherwise we would be betraying this trust that Allah has honoured us with.
“It is He who has made you Khalifahs of the earth” (6:165)
It has been commanded by Allah to share this wealth with others and we should do so as this wealth does not actually belong to us.
Also it is obligatory on every Muslim to give Zakat as it is the third pillar of Islam, Zakat is the given of a set proportion of one’s wealth to charity. It is regarded as a type of worship and purification of oneself and his wealth. It is not charitable gifts given due to kindness but it is the actual giving of 2.5% of one’s wealth (cash, gold, silver and commercial items ONLY, rates vary depending on the item of wealth) each year in charity. It is a duty to help Muslims in need. This wealth does not actually belong to us but it belongs to Allah so we have this duty to share it. It is said in the Quran:
“Zakah is for the poor, and the needy and those who are employed to administer and collect it, and the new converts, and for those who are in bondage, and in debt and service for the cause of Allah, and for the wayfarers, a duty ordained by Allah, and Allah is the All-Knowing, the Wise” (9:60)
This means that Zakah is a duty for Muslims to give to people in need and difficulty e.g. the needy people, those who are employed to collect Zakah, new converts because they may have difficulty in paying due to the fact that there is no family to support them because they converted to another religion. Also those in bondage, meaning to free from slavery, those in debt and in the path of Allah (Jihad), and the wayfarers that means travellers that are stranded in foreign lands. To give Zakah to these people is compulsory on Muslims and if they do not do so they may be punished.
Also Muslims believe Sadaqah is a voluntary act of giving alms for the cause of Allah, by Muslims who wish to give more in addition to their Zakah.
The Prophet (S.A.W.) said: 'Charity is a necessity for every Muslim'. He was then asked: 'What if a person has nothing?' The Prophet replied: 'He should work with his own hands for his benefit and then give something out of such earnings in charity.' The Companions asked: 'What if he is not able to work?' The Prophet said: 'He should help poor and needy persons'. The Companions further asked 'What if he cannot do even that?' The Prophet said 'He should urge others to do good'. The Companions said 'What if he lacks that also?' The Prophet said 'He should check himself from doing evil. That is also charity'.
This Hadith shows that Sadaqah can be any good deed to help another Muslims or even to encourage Muslims to do good deeds, refraining from bad deeds is charity also, smiling and teaching even a very small amount of knowledge that can be spread, acted upon and given as reward back to a person even after he dies (Sadaqah Jaariyah)-ongoing charity, it can be given anytime, to give water to a person is charity, also removing obstacles from another’s path is Sadaqah. There are many forms of Sadaqah, giving Sadaqah can remove difficulties and illnesses. Sadaqah pleases Allah, eases death, wipes out sins, and it is the believer’s shade on the Day of Resurrection.
Wealth is very important to Muslims, because firstly Muslims believe wealth should be earned by lawful means (to earn wealth according to the lawful ways that Allah and His Messenger (s.a.w) have set out, for us to follow) and not by unlawful means otherwise it will be a major sin. Secondly, Muslims believe wealth is a test, Allah is the true owner of all wealth, since it is not ours it is a duty upon Muslims to share the wealth and not to be tempted to waste it on idle things. Thirdly, Muslims believe wealth is a trust, because this wealth was given by Allah as a trust and it will be a major sin if one betrays this trust by not spending it properly and not sharing this wealth and as Khalifahs (Trustees) it is a job of ours to do so. Fourthly, it is an obligation on all Muslims to pay Zakah, as before the wealth it not ours so it should be shared, whosoever does not pay Zakah is committing a great sin because Zakah is regarded as the third pillar of Islam. Fifthly, Sadaqah, which is a voluntary, ongoing charity and can be given in addition to Zakah, Sadaqah can be done in many different ways e.g. removing something harmful from the path of another person. These are all teachings mentioned in the Quran and Hadith so it important for Muslims to realise the virtues and the sins in all of these.
