Should I become an Entrepreneur/Multi-Millionaire/Billionaire?

We all have the potential to achieve exceptional accomplishments and be a great force of good. One of the powerful ways in bringing a positive impact on a global scale is through the route of entrepreneurship which aids one to become rich, such as a multi-millionaire or billionaire. The reality is, naturally, all individuals of a society cannot become extremely rich to the level of billionaires. This is due to society also requiring leaders, scholars, doctors, engineers, economists and so on, who may still become rich as a result of being a champion in their profession but in general are extremely unlikely to become so rich like the billionaires or multi-millionaires. Their commitment, focus and dedication is on their careers/professions rather on establishing multiple streams of income. In this article, we will in Shā Allāh (if Allāh (God) wills), explore if the route of becoming rich is the right one for us.

First of all, it depends on who you are as a person. That is determined by a number of factors such as your passions, talents, strengths, weaknesses, the condition of your heart etc. [1] You need to ask yourself some important questions such as the following and contemplate to find the correct answers:

1. What are you passionate about? Is it something other than business/entrepreneurship?

If your answer is in the negative, you can still embark on the route of entrepreneurship so that you end up having the free time to do that which you're passionate about, so long as it's within what is permissible of course.

2. What are your talents and strengths? What are you good at?

Are you sharp in observation and analysis? Or are you perhaps someone who is a natural leader?

Channel your talents, skills, abilities and strengths towards a product/service that can benefit the Ummah (Muslim communities) and humanity at large.

3. What are your weaknesses? Do you procrastinate a lot? Do you know you need to take action but feel weak to enact them?

Not working to improve on your weaknesses can make it harder for you to succeed as an entrepreneur.

4. Is your heart free from diseases such as envy, miserliness, arrogance, pride or self-admiration?

If it is not, but rather filled with them, then becoming an entrepreneur could make things worse for you in this World and the Hereafter. So what you need to do is work to cleanse your heart from such diseases. You can do this by learning about it, whether through a quick short course in relation to it, reading reputable books about it or through other means that you are more comfortable with.

Purifying our hearts from such diseases is a core teaching of the Qur'ān & Sunnah. One of the greatest scholars of all time, Shaykh Al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allāh have mercy upon him), wrote an important popular book on this topic titled 'Diseases of the Hearts and Their Cures.' In this book, he compiled the relevant Qur'ān & Sunnah content pertaining to those diseases, expounding upon them. The fact that he wrote such a book highlights its great importance. Many great scholars have taught and referenced this book. Short courses explaining this book by reputable people of knowledge have also been delivered, the audio recordings/videos of which can easily be searched and found online.

To further understand the extent to which cleansing our hearts from diseases breeds success in the journey of becoming wealthy for the sake of Allāh, I will briefly highlight Napoleon Hill's writings. He is the author of 'Think and Grow Rich' which is one of the best selling books of all time, selling over 70 million books since its publication in 1937 during the Great Depression. Other sources have stated over 100 million books have been sold to date. This stat alone reflects how impactful his writings are. One of his other books that also did very well is the 'The Law of Success'. A lot of what he has written in this book is in alignment with the Qur'ān & Sunnah principles and mindsets. He delves into personal and self-development. The first lesson in this book titled 'The Master Mind' highlighted that:

'The most successful men and women on earth have had to correct certain weak spots in their personalities before they began to succeed.' [2]

These 'weak spots' are in fact the diseases I was referring to, which can clearly be realised when he continued on to say:

'The most outstanding of these weaknesses which stand between men and women and success are INTOLERANCE, CUPIDITY, GREED, JEALOUSY, SUSPICION, REVENGE, EGOTISM, CONCEIT, THE TENDENCY TO REAP WHERE THEY HAVE NOT SOWN, and the HABIT OF SPENDING MORE THAN THEY EARN.' [2]

This statement should further open up our eyes to realise the treasures we have been gifted by Allāh in the Qur'ān & Sunnah. If the above book is deemed valuable, then how much more valuable is the Qur'ān & Sunnah? Of course multiple times more valuable since the lessons within them are much wiser, deeper and profound since it comprises of the words of the All-Wise. It most certainly means that the content in these two authentic sources of knowledge contain success laws that are much more impactful than any other book in this World.

Whatever mode of learning you understand, have the intention of applying the knowledge so that the objective of cleansing the heart from such diseases is achieved instead of just reading for entertainment or simply to know about it. Taking notes on how to practically implement the cleansing phase for your unique situations can be really helpful in smoothly and quickly making fast progression. Therefore, I'd highly recommend note taking.

5. Knowing yourself, by becoming a successful entrepreneur, multi-millionaire or billionaire, is it likely to help you succeed in the Hereafter or not?

I would rather not be extremely rich if that means it is likely to steer me towards attaining Jahannam (Hellfire) because by being rich I know i'll become arrogant, cruel, break ties with my family, oppress, be unjust and so on. Looking on the bright side, it's still possible to become extremely rich and attain Jannah (Paradise). One just needs to change the inner condition of their heart by cleansing it from diseases and instilling into it the correct mindsets, in turn, transforming into a personality who uses the money for the right reasons, thereby attaining the pleasure of Allāh.

The above five are some examples of key questions you should pose to yourself in order to be guided towards arriving at the right decision with regards to treading the path of becoming very wealthy. By all means, you can add any other necessary questions to help you figure out whether this route is right/best for you.

2 Crucial Positive Signs Which Indicate Treading The Path Of Being Exceptionally Rich May Very Well Be For You

1. Your ‘why’ or intention for becoming rich is noble, in line with that which is pleasing to Allāh. Examples of such intentions include:

• wanting to protect your īmān (belief)

• getting married to protect your chastity, increase the Ummah of Muhammad ﷺ etc.

• establishing organisations/institutions that are in the interests of the Ummah and humanity at large, including helping them come out of their weak, subjugated state of oppression

• to establish a great sadaqah jāri'ah (ongoing charity) so that it can benefit billions of people, thus help you to become from amongst the Siddeeqoon (The Truthful People). The Siddeeqoon are a group of believers that have achieved the highest possible rank any of us muslims can attain in the Hereafter. The rank of the Messengers and Prophets (peace be upon them) is the highest. This is not possible for us of course. The rank close to them which comes immediately after, is that of the Siddeeqoon. Allāh gives this order of ranks when He says:

'And whoso obeys Allāh and the Messenger (Muhammad ﷺ), then they will be in the company of those on whom Allāh has bestowed His Grace, of the Prophets, the Siddeeqoon (those followers of the Prophets who were first and foremost to believe in them, like Abu Bakr As-Siddeeq), the martyrs, and the righteous. And how excellent these companions are!' [3]

2. You are gaining knowledge on how to remedy the heart from diseases such as arrogance, pride, envy, self-admiration, miserliness and showing off. The diseases also include blameworthy (excessive) love of fame, power, status and wealth, whereby one begins to love any or all of these things more than Allāh, His Messenger and striving in His cause. Allāh highlights the danger of having this condition in one's heart when He says:

'Say: if your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your spouses, your kindred, the wealth that you have gained, the commerce in which you fear a decline, and the dwellings in which you delight are more beloved to you than Allāh and His Messenger, and jihād in His cause, then wait until Allāh brings about His decision (torment). And Allah guides not the people who are rebellious.' [4]

Footnotes

[1] What we mean here by the 'condition of your heart' is not in a physical sense but rather a spiritual one. The heart cleansed from diseases such as envy, pride, arrogance, self-admiration etc., is a heart that has a great advantage to succeed in the path of entrepreneurship.

[2] Hill, N. (1928). The Law of Success. The Ralston University Press. p. 19

[3] Al-Qur'ān. Nisā'(4):69.

[4] Al-Qur'ān. Tawbah(9):24.