The second type of person is, “The person who has the knowledge but not the wealth. They understand the limits and the displeasure of Allah (SWT) as it relates to earning, keeping or disposing their wealth. This person inside has the intention that, if they were to have wealth, they would spend their wealth in the way that the first person is spending. Allah (SWT) treats this person with noble intention and the rewards of this person and the first person become the same. Allah (AWJ) rewarded that person for the way they used their wealth, and Allah (SWT) rewards this person for the same intention of the way he would use his wealth. Then, there is a person who has wealth but not the understanding. They use this wealth in the manner that pleases them and without limits. To them, the only limit is the amount of money they have. Other than that, whatever they have, they want to spend it in whatever way pleases them. They do not have any fear of Allah (SWT) or repercussions for spending in a certain way. He does not use this wealth to join ties with anyone; rather, he spends only on himself, and they might even be cutting themselves off from others. This person is the lowest of the four. Then, there is the fourth person, with neither wealth nor knowledge on how to use it. They have never earned the wealth and never spent it; however, they have a third category as an example. They spend in their own path to please themselves, not caring about anyone else and spending on whatever they feel like spending on. This person has the intention that, if they were to have money, they would spend it like the third person, who only squanders their wealth. Because this person’s intentions were impure, Allah (SWT) will treat him according to his intention, and even though he never earns that money and never spends it, he gets the sin of the third person and their sin is the same. The sin of the one who earnt and spent in an unlawful way and the one who intended to earn and spend in an unlawful way; their sin is equal because Allah (SWT) treats them the same due to their intentions.”

It’s not about how much we have or what we have – it’s about how we use it and what our intentions are. This is an important lesson because, at some point, everyone is going to earn and spend their own wealth. Our intention before any of that happens has a great deal to do with, A, how we are going to spend our lives with that money, and B, whether our wealth becomes a source of becoming better people or our wealth ruins and spoils us.

[Taken from a lecture titled “The Prophet (SAW)’s Advice on Wealth” by Mufti Aasim Rashid]