Wealth in Arabic expression is called 'al-ghina', meaning
'no needs or desires less' and wealthy is called 'al-ghaniyu' means 'self
sufficient', which is one of characteristics of God. Wealthy in Islam is made
up of 2 elements of life; spiritual and physical. The first dimension depicts
the ownership of materials that's called 'Maal', which essentially means
'property, assets or anything mankind posses'. The latter suggests spiritual
dimension like knowledge and virtue that live in their souls.
The organic relationship between the two measurements is
closely interrelated. For prosperity is a consequence of interactions between
humanity and their environment include everything in the heaven and in/on the
earth like flora, fauna and the like that can ease mankind to acquire a
convenient life in this world. In Arabic heritage, the first dimension of
wealth was generally cattle for traditionally the Arab wealthy households were
those who owned more camels. Nevertheless, it doesn't mean that wealth is just
derived from the animals. It may be from any things and some other forms.
Currently, lots of folks possess various forms of property. It might be in the
kind of money money, shares, property, house and other products.
The first wealth is also very appealing to the disposition
of humanity, thus every man inclines to get wealth. When folks consider that
the prosperity is everything then it could become their master. They may do
anything it is requested solely for the prosperity, and they're worry of the
wealth for being lost in their palms. Because of this their wealth is slowly
and unwittingly sensed as the most beloved one. At this stage people may serve
their wealth and they're consequently being covetous and niggardly type of
people as what happened to Qarun. Undoubtedly, this wealth doesn't grant
happiness to the humanity.
The latter dimension of riches is food of religious like
knowledge and virtue. Presently, first measurement of riches might be applied
as means to acquire the second dimension of riches that's knowledge and virtue
through training and education. Knowledge is complete understanding and
interaction with this understanding in the depths of their soul and conscience,
which is then followed by actions in harmony together.
Additionally, knowledge may also yield the first dimension
of riches. As it was understood, that knowledge will result in the profession,
and this profession consequently will solve the scarcity of skill of humankind
in using and researching the resources.
Muslim men and Muslim women should use both elements of wealth in rendering the
service to Allah. Wealth in Islam is "rizq" that connotes subsistence
or way of living. This way of living isn't necessarily as a consequence of man's
effort. It's really an endowment or a gift from Allah. Because He is the person
who sustains humanity's life. The effort of humankind is regarded as a process,
which will consequently result in either positive or negative outcome.
The prosperity in Islam, may also be the means of test and
trial to learn whether a man or woman is a true Muslim or vice versa; being
wealthy he has been tested and being poor or wealth-less he's also being
tested.
Handling the wealth isn't as simple as Muslims' coping with
different obligations. In actuality, many Muslims perform their obligation
towards their God such as doing prayers, fasting, and other ritual worships,
but they fail in wealth management. Thus Arabic shrewd word says, "Prayer
is a habit, Fasting is an inexpensive act, see and examine people through their
coping with the wealth". Prayer for being an obligatory thing it might
become a usual thing that people don't respect it as special and extraordinary.
Thus it slowly becomes a custom. Fasting is also an obligation that Muslims
perform it just a month at a lunar year, and in which Muslims join together to
celebrate the month, thus it will become affordable activity. While wealth is a
vital part of life, lots of people couldn't have the ability to pass this trial.
In sum, wealth isn't a thing that a Muslim should love, for
the one whom should be beloved is the giver and sustainer, which is Allah.
Therefore a person will be quite content and happy with what his beloved one
(God) provides. So as to find happiness in this world and hereafter, Muslims
should successfully manage their wealth in compliance with the injunctions of
Allah, use it as a way to worship Allah, and submit everything to Him after
we've accomplished jobs, for humanity plan and implement, while He determines
the outcome.
