The Purpose of Wealth

Wealth is a means of putting man to the test. The proper use of wealth leads him to progress, while its wrong use leads him to destruction.

Where wealth is a need in life, it cannot be the aim of life. If wealth is earned so that life’s needs may be fulfilled, it is a person’s best supporter. But if the acquisition of wealth is set up as the aim of life and the making of more and more money comes to be regarded as a great achievement, then the possession of wealth becomes a misfortune which will destroy a person in this world as well as in the Hereafter.

Every human being has to live in this world for a specified period of time. This being so, a person needs the wherewithal to sustain himself in this world. There has to be considerable expenditure on resources and as such it is necessary for everyone to earn money. In this context, money or wealth is a valuable support for everyone.

But another facet of human life requires one to gain knowledge. One has to make efforts towards spiritual progress. One has to play a positive part in the development of humanity. One has to develop his personality in such a way that he may become a beneficial member of society.

This is the actual aim or purpose of life. The achievement of this purpose is possible only when a person devotes a considerable amount of energy to it. There should be a limit to the amount of time and energy spent on earning money so that other, more worthy activities may not be neglected.

Wealth fulfils the material or physical needs of a person. But wealth does not suffice to fulfil his spiritual and intellectual needs. One who makes the acquisition of money the be all and end all of life will nourish his body but starve his soul. His intellectual life will be so deprived that it will almost cease as to exist.

According to Islam, wealth is a means of putting a person to the test. The proper use of wealth leads him to all kinds of progress, while the wrong use of wealth leads him into the pit of destruction.