Prosperity

“Our Lord! Grant us the good of this world and the Hereafter, and protect us from the torment of the Fire.”
— (Quran 2:201)

Introducing Prosperity: Beyond Dunya

Building on our life analogy, we’ve described who we are—our body, mind, heart, and soul. We’ve discussed our destination, defined our purpose, discovered our passion, and chosen our path. Now comes the next chapter: Prosperity.

I could have easily named this chapter Dunya, as it encompasses everything we encounter on our journey. But I chose Prosperity intentionally. Why? Because as Muslims, we don’t just want Dunya—we want it to be full of Barakah (blessings).

The Concept of Barakah in Islam
In Islam, prosperity is not just about material success or wealth. True prosperity is defined by Barakah—a unique type of blessing that multiplies goodness in every aspect of our lives, whether in our wealth, health, relationships, or time.

This is the kind of prosperity we seek when we make the daily dua:

رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
“Our Lord, grant us the good in this world and the good in the Hereafter, and save us from the punishment of the Fire.”

When we ask for the “good in this world,” we’re asking for a life filled with Barakah. We’re not just seeking material success but a life of purpose, meaning, and blessings. This chapter will explore what prosperity means in Islam, how we can attain it, and why it’s essential to align it with our journey back to Allah SWT.

Stay with me as we redefine prosperity, not just as Dunya, but as a life rich with blessings that bring us closer to our Creator.

Untangling Money Misconceptions

Before we dive deeper into prosperity, we need to address a critical aspect of the journey: our relationship with money. Many of us have misconceptions that cloud our understanding. You might have heard people say, “Money is a fitna,” or “Money is a test and inherently evil,” or even, “Rich people must be greedy or corrupt.” These beliefs often stem from our experiences, upbringing, or societal conditioning, and they can greatly influence how we perceive wealth.

Rather than presenting a lot of theory, let me share my own story. I grew up in a poor family, and for much of my childhood, I viewed money through a narrow lens. I believed money was a fitna, that it was evil, and that those who had it—“the rich”—must be greedy and corrupt. Since I didn’t have much, it felt like those who did were somehow tainted.

But as I grew older and interacted with more people, my perspective began to shift. I realized that the world wasn’t black and white. Not all rich people were bad, and not all poor people were generous or kind. There are poor people who are stingy, unwilling to share even the little they have, and there are wealthy individuals who are incredibly generous, giving without hesitation.

One Ramadan stands out in my memory. A wealthy family gave us something small during the holy month, but their gesture carried immense meaning for me. It completely changed my perspective. I saw that wealth, when used to help others, could be a powerful tool for good. It wasn’t about the amount they gave; it was about the sincerity and impact of their generosity.

Through experiences like these, I began to untangle my misconceptions about money. I learned that wealth isn’t inherently good or bad—it’s a tool. It reflects the intentions and character of the person who wields it. Just as there are good and bad rich people, there are good and bad poor people. It’s not about how much you have; it’s about how you use it and whether it aligns with your purpose.

The Lesson for the Journey
As we walk this path, it’s essential to examine our own beliefs about money. If we see it as evil or corrupt, we may unconsciously distance ourselves from it, even when it could be used for good. If we see it as the ultimate goal, we risk losing sight of our purpose. The key is to understand money for what it is: a resource, a trust (amanah), and a means to serve Allah and His creation.

In the next section, I’ll share how I further untangled the mystery of money and developed a balanced perspective that aligns with Islamic principles and my personal journey toward prosperity.

Is Money Evil? A Balanced Perspective

Let’s address the question head-on: Is money evil? The same way we might ask, Is fire good or bad? The answer depends on how it is used. Fire can be good—it bakes bread, cooks food, and keeps us warm. But it can also be destructive, causing harm when uncontrolled.

Money operates in much the same way. On its own, it’s neutral. Money isn’t inherently good or bad—it’s a tool, a resource. What makes it good or bad is the intent and character of the person who uses it. In essence, money is an amplifier. It magnifies what’s in your heart.

If your heart is pure, guided by faith, and aligned with purpose, money can become a powerful tool for good. It allows you to give charity, support your family, and serve your community. But if your heart is corrupted by greed or selfishness, money can fuel destruction, harm relationships, and distance you from Allah SWT.

A Timeless Maxim on Wealth
One of my favorite maxims comes from Imam Al-Qarafi, who beautifully summarized the relationship between wealth and the heart:
“No matter how much money you have, it won’t harm you as long as it stays in your hand and not in your heart. But even if you have none, it will destroy you if it resides in your heart.”

This wisdom offers a profound lesson: wealth isn’t the problem—it’s the attachment to it. When money is in your hands, it becomes a tool to navigate life, serve others, and fulfill your obligations. But when it takes residence in your heart, it consumes you, whether you have a lot or none at all.

Living with a Balanced Approach
I try to live my life guided by this principle, though I’ll admit it’s easier said than done. Money is a test for all of us—whether we have it or not. But our goal as Muslims is clear: to ensure that money remains a means, not an end. It should serve us, not control us.

Ultimately, we should aim for a balanced relationship with money—recognizing it as a tool to amplify the good in our hearts while guarding against its potential to corrupt. When we keep money in our hands and out of our hearts, it becomes a source of Barakah (blessings), enabling us to live with purpose, serve others, and seek the pleasure of Allah SWT.

Mastering Money: The Key to a Balanced Journey

As we continue the analogy of our life’s journey, we understand that as we move through Dunya on the path, money becomes a resource—our food and fuel. Without fuel, the journey becomes impossible. But when it comes to money, how we approach it determines whether it helps us move forward or derails us completely.

There are three common relationships people have with money:

Avoid Money
Some people avoid money altogether, believing it’s inherently bad or corrupting. They treat it like forbidden food, thinking they’ll be purer by keeping their distance. While this approach might seem noble, it limits the ability to contribute meaningfully to society or support one’s obligations.
Chase Money
Others take the opposite extreme, making money the ultimate goal of their lives. They chase wealth relentlessly, prioritizing it above all else. For them, money becomes a god they worship, controlling their thoughts and actions. This approach leads to emptiness and spiritual ruin, as the pursuit of wealth replaces the pursuit of Allah’s pleasure.
Master Money
As Muslims, this is the relationship we are called to adopt. We must master money, ensuring it serves us rather than controlling us. Money should be a tool we use to fulfill our purpose, support our families, give in charity, and grow closer to Allah SWT by serving His creation. When money is in our hands, not our hearts, it becomes a source of blessings (Barakah), empowering us to navigate life’s journey with clarity and purpose.

A Choice to Make
Ultimately, we must choose one of these paths. If you avoid money, you’ll find yourself unable to fulfill many of life’s responsibilities. If you chase it, you risk losing your soul in the process. But if you master it, you harness its potential to support your journey toward Allah SWT.

Mastering money requires overcoming misconceptions, understanding its true role, and ensuring it remains a means, not an end. It’s easier said than done, but it’s the only path that aligns with our faith. Money should help us fulfill our obligations and serve Allah, not become the focus of our lives.

So, as you continue on your journey, ask yourself: How can I master money so that it serves my Deen and supports my purpose, rather than distracting me from it? The answer lies in aligning your wealth with your values, ensuring it remains in your hand and never in your heart.

How Do We Master Money?

Mastering money is a skill, and one of the best frameworks I’ve come across to understand this is Robert Kiyosaki’s Cashflow Quadrant. It provides a clear roadmap for how to navigate the money game, transitioning from simply working for money to having money work for you. Let’s break it down.

The Cashflow Quadrant

The quadrant consists of four stages, divided into two sides:

The Left Side: Trading Time for Money

Employee
- This is where most of us start. As an employee, you work for someone else, selling your time for a fixed amount of money. While it provides stability, it’s a form of modern slavery—you exchange your most valuable resource (time) for limited compensation.
Self-Employed
- In this stage, you work for yourself, which offers more freedom and control. However, you’re still trading time for money. You might earn more than an employee, but your income is directly tied to how much you work. If you stop working, the money stops coming.

The Right Side: Leveraging Systems and Wealth

3. Business Owner

This is the stage where you level up. As a business owner, you build systems and processes where others work for you. Your income isn’t limited to your personal efforts anymore; it scales with the work of your team. This stage requires vision, leadership, and the ability to create value on a larger scale.

Investor

The final stage is the investor, where money works for you. This is where you use your wealth to generate passive income, whether through real estate, stocks, or other investments. As an investor, you’re no longer tied to selling your time for money. Your money grows independently, giving you freedom to focus on what truly matters in life.

Mastering the Money Game

Transitioning through these stages requires a mindset shift and skill development:

Learn the Basics: Start by understanding money, budgeting, and managing your resources effectively.
Invest in Yourself: Build skills that increase your value, whether as an employee or entrepreneur.
Level Up Strategically: Transition from self-employed to business owner by creating scalable systems.
Build Passive Income Streams: Use your earnings to invest wisely, creating financial freedom that aligns with your Deen.

Why Mastering Money Matters

Mastering money isn’t about chasing wealth for its own sake. It’s about freeing yourself from the constant need to trade time for money, so you can focus on fulfilling your purpose and serving Allah SWT. By mastering money, you ensure it serves you, enabling you to create impact, support others, and live with Barakah.

Remember, the goal is not to become a slave to money or to avoid it altogether. The goal is to control it, use it as a tool, and align it with your ultimate purpose: to worship and serve Allah in the best way possible. This is how we turn Dunya into a means for success in both this world and the next.

The Value of Each Dollar Earned

Not every dollar earned holds the same value. For each of us, there is a basic level of income we need to live a good, comfortable life—not luxurious, but sufficient to provide for our family, cover necessities like housing, transportation, and food. This amount varies from person to person and region to region. For example, in countries like the US or Canada, a family of two to three might live comfortably on $10,000 a month.

Now, here’s a crucial question to consider: would you prefer to earn $10,000 working fewer hours, say 10 hours a week, and have more time for your family and other meaningful pursuits? Or would you rather earn $30,000 a month working 70-80 hours a week, leaving little room for anything else?

For me, the answer is simple. I would choose the first option: earning what I need while keeping time for my family, personal growth, and serving Allah SWT. It’s not just about how much you earn but how balanced and fulfilling your life feels. Of course, the choice is yours. The important thing is to understand that wealth isn’t just about numbers—it’s about how you use it and how it fits into your purpose.

The Responsibility of Extra Income

When we earn more than what we need, it’s essential to remember our obligations. Whatever surplus we have is a trust from Allah, and we are accountable for how we use it.

Zakah: The minimum obligation is to give 2.5% of your wealth in Zakah. This purifies your earnings and ensures that the blessings (Barakah) in your wealth remain intact.

Sadaqah: Beyond Zakah, I encourage giving at least 1% of your business revenue to charities that align with your values or the nature of your work. This practice not only benefits the community but also brings immense Barakah to your business.

Remember Allah’s promise: “Whoever spends in the way of Allah, their return will be multiplied up to 700 times.” (Quran 2:261). This isn’t just a spiritual reminder; it’s a practical way to build blessings in your wealth and to align your financial success with your ultimate purpose.

A Mindset Shift

The goal isn’t just to earn and hoard wealth but to use it wisely—to meet your needs, give generously, and build a life that balances financial security with time for faith, family, and service. In the next section, I’ll discuss inspiring examples of wealthy Muslims who mastered this balance, living their lives with purpose and earning their Jannah. Stay tuned!

Here’s a breakdown of those among the ten who were particularly notable as wealthy individuals or successful businessmen:

1. Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (RA)

Status: Wealthy

Profession: Businessman and tradesman, particularly known for his success in the cloth trade.

Contributions: Abu Bakr used his wealth extensively for the support of Islam, funding many early efforts and even purchasing the freedom of enslaved Muslims, such as Bilal ibn Rabah (RA). He is well-known for giving nearly all his wealth in the cause of Allah on multiple occasions.

2. Uthman ibn Affan (RA)

Status: Extremely wealthy

Profession: Successful merchant in the caravan trade, especially dealing in textiles and goods.

Contributions: Known for his immense generosity, Uthman funded many public works, including the famous “Well of Rumah” in Medina, which he purchased for the community. He also equipped the army for the Battle of Tabuk, spending a substantial portion of his wealth to support the Muslim cause.

3. Abdur-Rahman ibn Awf (RA)

Status: Extremely wealthy

Profession: Prominent businessman, known for his skills in trade and commerce.

Contributions: Abdur-Rahman ibn Awf was famous for his business acumen. He donated large amounts of his wealth in charity and supported many charitable causes, including feeding the poor, assisting widows, and funding military expeditions. He is an example of someone who continued to work hard and accumulate wealth while regularly giving generously for the sake of Allah.

4. Talha ibn Ubaydullah (RA)

Status: Wealthy

Profession: Tradesman, known for his success in business.

Contributions: Talha was known for his generosity, often giving large sums of money in charity. He used his wealth to support the Muslim community and helped many people in need. His wealth allowed him to contribute substantially to Islam’s growth and the welfare of others.

5. Zubair ibn al-Awam (RA)

Status: Relatively wealthy

Profession: Involved in business and trade, though he was more noted for his role as a warrior.

Contributions: Zubair invested in land and other forms of business, enabling him to support the Muslim cause. While he was known for his bravery and fighting skills, he also used his resources for the benefit of the community.

The Waqf Story of Uthman (RA)

During a time of drought in Medina, there was a dire need for water. A Jewish merchant owned the only well in the city, and he charged exorbitant prices for access. Uthman (RA), driven by his love for Allah and the Ummah, negotiated with the merchant to purchase the well. The merchant refused to sell it outright, but Uthman cleverly proposed a shared ownership, where Uthman would buy half the well and alternate days of its use. The merchant agreed.

Uthman (RA) then made the well free to use on his days, encouraging people to collect enough water to last through the merchant’s days. Realizing he was losing business, the merchant eventually sold the remaining half of the well to Uthman. Uthman dedicated the well as a waqf (endowment) for the benefit of all Muslims, ensuring free access to water for generations to come.

The waqf didn’t stop there. Over time, the land around the well was developed, and the revenue from it has been used to benefit countless Muslims, even centuries later. To this day, the income generated by Uthman’s waqf funds charitable initiatives, hospitals, and mosques, leaving a legacy of Barakah and service.

The Lesson for Us

These examples teach us that wealth, when used with sincerity and purpose, can become a powerful tool for earning Jannah. The companions didn’t see their wealth as a source of pride or attachment but as a trust from Allah SWT. They understood that true prosperity lies in serving Allah and His creation, using their resources to support the community and leave lasting legacies.

We, too, can adopt this mindset. Whether through small acts of charity or larger contributions, we can align our financial success with our ultimate purpose: seeking Allah’s pleasure and striving for Jannah. Let’s remember their stories as we navigate our own journey of mastering money with faith and intention.

The Barakah Mindset

At the heart of true prosperity is adopting a Barakah mindset—a mindset rooted in generosity, sincerity, and service. To master money and align it with our purpose, we must embrace the following principles:

Give Before You Get
Always lead with generosity. Whether it’s time, money, or effort, give without expecting anything in return. Trust that Allah SWT will multiply your efforts in ways you cannot imagine.
Give More Than You Get
Strive to contribute more value than what you receive. In business, relationships, or daily interactions, always overdeliver. This creates lasting Barakah in both your life and the lives of others.
Give to the Needy
Prioritize helping those who cannot repay you. Whether through Zakah, Sadaqah, or acts of kindness, giving to the miskeen, orphans, and those in need ensures your wealth is purified and blessed.
Give with a Full Heart
Give with sincerity and love, not out of obligation or guilt. A heart filled with gratitude and faith enhances the reward of your giving.
Give Ten Times in Value
Whatever you give—whether financial, intellectual, or emotional—aim to deliver ten times its value. This mindset ensures that your contributions are impactful and far-reaching.

A Dua for Barakah in Our Wealth

May Allah SWT help us master money, allowing it to flow abundantly through our hands to serve His creation without ever touching our hearts. O Allah, bless our journey, enrich us with Barakah, and align our wealth with Your pleasure. Grant us the best in this world and the Hereafter, and save us from the fire.

Dua
O Allah, help us master money, allowing it to flow abundantly through our hands to serve Your creation without ever touching our hearts. O Allah, bless our journey, enrich us with Barakah, and align our wealth with Your pleasure. Grant us the best in this world and the Hereafter, and save us from the fire.

O Allah, increase our gratitude for what we have, and give us the strength to give freely for Your sake. Bless our wealth and make it a means of attaining Your pleasure. Ameen.

Goals:
On a scale of 1 to 10, how you evaluate your Prosperity?
What are your Prosperity / Barakah goals to achieve 10?

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Beliefs:
What are your beliefs about your Prosperity?
What is holding you back to achieve 10 out of 10?

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Motivation:
Why does it matter to achieve these goals?
What happens if you do? What happens if you don’t?

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Methods:
What is your plan to achieve your Prosperity goals?
What simple steps can you take today?

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