The Dangerous Traps on the Road to Becoming Exceptionally Rich

First of all, it is not advised for you to pursue the path of making tens of millions of pounds, if you know you’re not going to be interested in applying the correct intentions/processes highlighted in the previous two articles. [1] Rather, you know you’ll end up looking down upon people, become extravagant/wasteful in your spending, show off, cut off ties with your family members, become cold-hearted/cruel and oppress others through this advantage you have over them. This can lead you to being severely punished in the Hereafter. If you find yourself having the urge to chase after wealth for the wrong reasons and without wanting to change the aforementioned negative characteristics, then you need to learn a lesson from history, the story of which I shall mention later on in this article.

Becoming Wealthy Without a Choice & the Story of Qarun

Before I mention the story, I want to bring your attention to a scenario where someone becomes very wealthy without a choice. For example, a young adult becomes a multi-millionaire due to inheriting millions of pounds from his parents. How should such a person perceive his state? In such a case, we must realise that this whole life is a test and part of it can be in the form of owning millions of pounds. Such a person is tested by Allāh on whether they'll utilise the money to do good or bad. Regarding such a scenario, keep in mind also that Allāh is All-Wise & All-Just. There is always a perfect wisdom behind why Allāh chooses certain individuals to be so rich. Returning the focus back on wealth being a trial, Allāh clearly highlights this when He says:

'Your wealth and your children are only a trial, whereas Allāh! With Him is a great reward (Paradise).' [2]

Those who have been blessed with riches, they also have been blessed with willpower or choice. They can either choose to use the money/wealth in a way that pleases Allāh or they can choose to use it in a way that displeases Him. They will have to taste the consequences of their choices. If a person utilises his wealth with evil intentions and actions, then Allāh has told us about an individual who was punished for doing this. His name is Qarun. Allāh says:

‘Verily, Qarun (Korah) was of Musa's (Moses) people, but he behaved arrogantly towards them. And We gave him of the treasures, that of which the keys would have been a burden to a body of strong men. When his people said to him: "Do not be glad (with ungratefulness to Allāh's Favours). Verily! Allāh likes not those who are glad (with ungratefulness to Allāh's Favours).’ [3]

In the next verse we shall see how his people advised him to adopt the correct balanced mindset he should adopt as a person possessing tremendous wealth. They said:

‘But seek, with that (wealth) which Allāh has bestowed on you, the home of the Hereafter, and forget not your portion of legal enjoyment in this world, and do good as Allāh has been good to you, and seek not mischief in the land. Verily, Allāh likes not the Mufsidūn (those who commit great crimes and sins, oppressors, tyrants, mischief-makers, corrupters).’ [4]

The mindset they're advising him to adopt at the beginning of the verse incorporates that Qarun should use his wealth to do good deeds for the sake of Allāh. If he does so, he will be rewarded in this World as well as the Hereafter. It also highlights that he can use the wealth for halāl enjoyment of this Dunyā such as quality clothes, food, drink, place of residence etc. [5] He can enjoy this all so long as it stays within the limits of Allāh. However, Qarun didn't apply this mindset. Rather, due to the diseases such as arrogance and pride which he manifested externally towards his people, he was inflicted with a terrifying punishment as we shall see below. Let's first look at the wrong thinking he employed due to the vast wealth Allāh granted him. Allāh says:

'He said, "I was only given it because of knowledge I have." Did he not know that Allāh had destroyed before him of generations those who were greater than him in power and greater in accumulation [of wealth]? But the criminals, about their sins, will not be asked.' [6]

Qarun saying here "I was only given it because of knowledge I have" reflects that he thinks Allāh gave him the mass amount of wealth because Allāh knows he deserves it and loves him. [7] We shall look further into the latter part of this twisted thinking later on in this article.

Allāh initially tells us about Qarun's evil and sinful behaviour which includes 'conceit and pride in his adornments' as well as behaving arrogantly towards his people and transgressing against them. [8] After Allāh mentions these factors which are part of the causes, He brings our attention to the effect of these causes, which is the punishment He inflicted him with. Allāh says:

'So We caused the earth to swallow him and his dwelling place. Then he had no group or party to help him against Allāh, nor was he one of those who could save themselves.' [9]

What a horrifying end! He was bestowed with a lot of wealth which impacted him negatively, but he chose to not purify his heart from the diseases such as arrogance and pride and did not stop transgressing. As a result, he suffered a dreadful ending. So what was the point of him being exceptionally rich? Is he now 'happy' or 'living the life' as they say? Do we also want a terrible ending? Let's realise that being saved from Allāh's punishment in this world and the Hereafter is way more important than becoming rich for vain reasons or fleeting pleasures which are in the disobedience of Allāh. May Allāh protect us.

If Allāh Makes Me Rich, Does That Mean He is Pleased with Me?

At times, we may associate being made rich, to Allāh being pleased with us. It depends on who the person is and their situation. If a person is a believer, does righteous deeds and asks Allāh to forgive them, then Allāh gives such individuals lawful provisions and increases their wealth. He says:

'Whoever works righteousness, whether male or female, while he (or she) is a true believer (of Islamic Monotheism) verily, to him We will give a good life (in this world with respect, contentment and lawful provision), and We shall pay them certainly a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to do (i.e. Paradise in the Hereafter).' [10]

Allāh also tells us regarding what Prophet Nuh (Noah) (peace be upon him) tells Him with regards to his people:

"I said (to them): 'Ask forgiveness from your Lord; Verily, He is Oft-Forgiving; 'He will send rain to you in abundance; 'And give you increase in wealth and children, and bestow on you gardens and bestow on you rivers." [11]

However, suppose a person thinks that because Allāh gave them a lot of wealth, it automatically means they won't be punished. They then continue on with life following their vain desires, sinning or causing corruption on Earth. Then in relation to this, Allāh tells us about those who said:

"We are more in wealth and in children, and we are not going to be punished." [12]

One of the great classical scholars of Tafsīr (Qur'ānic exegesis), Ibn Kathīr elucidates this verse as follows:

"they were proud of their great wealth and great numbers of children, and they believed that this was a sign that Allāh loved them and cared for them, and that if He gave them this in this world, He would not punish them in the Hereafter. This was too far-fetched." [13]

Allāh speaks regarding this sort of warped thinking when He says:

'Do they think that We enlarge them in wealth and children; We hasten unto them with good things (in this worldly life so that they will have no share of good things in the Hereafter)? Nay, but they perceive not.' [14]

Thus do we see how being gifted with wealth and children doesn't automatically imply Allāh loves us. And that we can now do whatever we feel like, be it transgression/oppression, because Allāh will still love us. This is a big deception of the devil.

Allāh Makes us Rich if it's Better for us

Let's now look at wealth from another perspective and other wisdoms behind why Allāh decides to give some people a lot of wealth whilst not giving so much to others. Allāh says:

'And if Allāh were to enlarge the provision for His slaves, they would surely rebel in the Earth, but He sends down by measure as He wills. Verily! He is in respect of His slaves, the Well-Aware, the All-Seer (of things that benefit them).' [15]

In this verse, the word 'provision' is the English meaning given to the Arabic word 'rizq'. Rizq is a term which includes all kinds of benefits for a person.

'Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allāh have mercy upon on him) said:

"What is meant by the word rizq (provision) is what Allāh, may He be exalted, has made permissible to a person and has granted to him. It also means that which nourishes a person."' [16]

Examples of rizq include: good health, positive mindedness, money, property, assets, a righteous spouse and beneficial knowledge.

Ibn Kathīr explains the aforementioned verse to mean:

"if We gave them more provision than they need, this would make them rebel and transgress against one another in an arrogant and insolent manner... but He gives them provision according to what is in their best interests, and He knows best about that. So He makes rich those who deserve to be rich, and He makes poor those who deserve to be poor." [17]

What Should I do if I Become Attached to Entrepreneurial Works?

Despite the aforementioned points so far, realise that people can change. Also, be aware that if at any time you’re becoming attached to the wealth, in turn, compromising on your principles/values because you're spending too much time engrossed in your entrepreneurship, you don't need to cut off from it completely. Instead, a good course of action at this point is to temporarily cut down on the work towards becoming rich. We can spend some more time reciting Qur'ān; reflecting upon its meanings; praying extra voluntary prayers (such as Qiyām al-Layl); reading/listening to a relevant reminder such as the dangers of loving the Dunyā; helping/doing good to our parents, family members and the community etc. We do such righteous deeds to ensure our love for Allāh becomes more than everything else. We must also apprehend that we all need reminders and are imperfect since naturally human beings are inclined towards doing evil. This reality is highlighted in the following verse:

'...Verily, the (human) self is inclined to evil, except when my Lord bestows His Mercy (upon whom He wills)....' [18]

To conclude this written piece, if we are of those who decide to embark on the journey of entrepreneurship or becoming a billionaire, we must always stay cautious. The condition of our hearts and behaviours need to be regularly checked after we experience an increase in riches. Also, our soul needs to be disciplined to ensure it does not become attached to it nor deluded due to it, thus leading to our destruction. Remember, the Messenger of Allāh (ﷺ) said:

“Verily, every nation has a trial, and the trial of my nation is wealth.” [19]

Footnotes

[1] 'Should I become an Entrepreneur/Multi-Millionaire/Billionaire?' & 'Advantages of Becoming Extremely Rich with Examples from the Sahābah (Companions)'

[2] Al-Qur'ān, Taghābun(64):15

[3] Al-Qur'ān, Qasas(28):76

[4] Al-Qur'ān, Qasas(28):77

[5] Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr, Qasas(28):77

[6] Al-Qur'ān, Qasas(28):78

[7] Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr, Qasas(28):78

[8] Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr, Qasas(28):81

[9] Al-Qur'ān, Qasas(28):81

[10] Al-Qur'ān, Nahl(16):97

[11] Al-Qur'ān, Nūh(71):10-12

[12] Al-Qur'ān, Sabā(34):35

[13] Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr, Sabā(34):35

[14] Al-Qur'ān, Al-Mu'minūn(23):55-56

[15] Al-Qur'ān, Shūrā(42):27

[16] Majmū‘ al-Fatāwā (8/545), quoted via Islamqa. Accessed from: https://islamqa.info/en/194503

[17] Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr, Shūrā(42):27

[18] Al-Qur'ān, Yusuf(12):53

[19] Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2336, Sahīh according to Al-Albani. Accessed from: https://www.abuaminaelias.com/dailyhadithonline/2012/08/15/trial-of-ummah-wealth/#:~:text=Ka'b%20ibn%20'Iyad%20reported,of%20my%20nation%20is%20wealth.%E2%80%9D