By Sheikh Abdul-Bari ibn Awwadh Ath-Thubaiti – 03 Rajab 1435

His Eminence Sheikh Abdul-Bari ibn Awwadh Ath-Thubaiti, may Allah preserve him, delivered the Friday khutbah entitled “The Divine Wisdom behind Poverty and Wealth”, in which he talked about poverty and wealth, stating that Allah has allotted provision to his servants and has raised some of them in rank above others. Then he explained that poverty and wealth are a test from Allah, Exalted be He, to His servants. He also mentioned several qualities that the poor should have, highlighting the favourable status of the poor person who shows patience in the sight of Allah, Majesty and Glory be to Him. He concluded the khutbah by referring to the negative effects of poverty on society and the ways in which poverty can be confronted.

Praise be to Allah. Praise be to Allah, Who has made His servants fluctuate between wealth and poverty. I praise Him, Glorified be He, and thank Him for every command and prohibition that He has made. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone, Who has no partners and Who judges among His servants by truth and justice. I also bear witness that our master and prophet, Muhammad, is His servant and messenger, whose goodness, giving, and generosity had no limits. May Allah bestow His peace and blessings upon him and upon his family and Companions, who were known for their determination and grace.

Now, then!
I advise you and advise myself to fear Allah. Allah, Exalted be He, says:
“O you who believe! Fear Allah (by doing all that He has ordered and by abstaining from all that He has forbidden) as He should be feared. [Obey Him, be thankful to Him, and remember Him always], and die not except in a state of Islam [as Muslims (with complete submission to Allah)].” (Al ‘Imran: 102)

Poverty and wealth are a test from Allah, Exalted be He, to His servants. He gives in abundance to some in order to see whether they will praise and thank Him or will behave arrogantly and transgress all boundaries. He also straitens the provision for others and withholds from them some of the delights of this world to see whether they will show patience and contentment or show annoyance and dissatisfaction. Allah, Exalted be He, says:

“… and We shall make a trial of you with evil and with good. And to Us you will be returned.” (Al-Anbiya’: 35)

How wonderful the case of a believer is! If adversity befalls him, he endures it patiently and that is good for him, and if prosperity attends him, he thanks Allah and that is good for him. Whether he is experiencing an affliction or receiving a favour, a believer attains good by showing patience or giving thanks, and Allah knows his condition better than him.

“Should not He Who has created know? And He is the Most Kind and Courteous (to His slaves), the Well-Acquainted (with everything)?” (Al-Mulk: 14)

It is variation in provision that makes people in need of one another, which is necessary for the cycle of life to go on. Allah, Exalted be He, says:
“… and We raised some of them above others in ranks, so that some may employ others in their work …” (Az-Zukhruf: 32)

This means that people work for one another to cater for one another’s needs, which is bound to create harmony and solidarity among them. The rich employ the poor to work for them, thus each party is a means of livelihood for the other – the rich with their money, and the poor with their labour.

Poverty may be the best thing for the servant. Allah, Exalted be He, says:
“And if Allah were to enlarge the provision for His slaves, they would surely rebel in the earth …” (Ash-Shura: 27).

That is, this would cause them to neglect obedience to Him and lead them to oppression, transgression, and arrogance towards other people. Allah, Exalted be He, says:

“… but He sends down by measure as He wills. Verily, He is, in respect of His slaves, Well-Acquainted, All-Seer (of things that benefit them).” (Ash-Shura: 27)

Should a servant be tested with poverty, he must show patience, for that is the greatest act of worship in this case. He whose means of subsistence is straitened and who is leading a hard life should not feel annoyed or depressed, for the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and most of his Companions had no more than the adequate means of subsistence. Loss of the little, transient enjoyment of this world is not worth crying over.

In order that people may feel assured, realise the value of Allah’s favours to them, and give thanks to Him, the Noble Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, advised us saying, “When one of you looks at someone who is superior to him in property and appearance, he should look at someone who is inferior to him”. In his version of this hadith, Muslim has the following addition, “This is the more reason you should not belittle Allah’s favour to you.”

Islam calls the poor as well as the rich to train themselves to be content with what they have and to exercise self-restraint by curbing their desires and refining their inner drives in order to reach a state of contentment and satisfaction with what Allah has allotted to them, however small that may be. You will never miss anything that Allah, Exalted be He, allotted to you when He first created you. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Be satisfied with what Allah has allotted to you and you will be the richest of all people.”

There are certain qualities and ethics that a poor person should observe regarding his inward feelings, outward conduct, dealings with others, and personal deeds. Inwardly, he should be free of any feeling of hatred for the test of poverty to which Allah, Exalted be He, has put him, i.e. he should not be resentful of the act of Allah, Exalted be He, as such, even though he may hate poverty itself.

Outwardly, he should show decorum and abstain from begging. He should not complain about his poverty or seek to show it to others, but should try to conceal such poverty as much as possible. Allah, Exalted be He, says:

“… The one who knows them not thinks that they are rich because of their modesty. …” (Al-Baqarah: 273)

As regards his dealings with others, a poor person should not show humility before the rich because of their wealth. Ali ibn Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “How beautiful it is when a rich man shows humility to a poor man in the hope of attaining the rewards of Allah, Exalted be He!” In addition, a poor person should not be silent and abstain from telling the truth by way of flattery to the rich in the hope of obtaining their gifts.

As for his deeds, a poor person should not let poverty cause him to become negligent in any act of worship or to stop giving in charity from whatever exceeds his needs. This is the best contribution by one who is short of money, and its rewards are far greater than those of large sums of money that a rich person may give in charity.

Allah, Exalted be He, says:
“(And there is also a share in this booty) for the poor emigrants, who were expelled from their homes and their property …” (Al-Hashr: 8)

Allah, Exalted be He, also says:
“(Charity is) for Fuqara’ (the poor), who in Allah’s Cause are restricted (from travel), and cannot move about in the land (for trade or work) …” (Al-Baqarah: 273)

In these two verses, Allah gives precedence to describing his loving and obedient servants (awliya’) as poor over describing them as emigrants or as being restricted from travel in His cause. Allah, Exalted be He, does not describe those He loves except with what He loves. If poverty were not the most beloved attribute to Him, He would not praise and honour His beloved ones with it. Abdullah ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him and his father, narrated that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “I looked into Paradise and found that the majority of its dwellers were the poor.”

In addition to calling the poor to be content with what Allah has allotted to them and showing their favourable status, Islam provides a solution to the problem of poverty through calling the rich to be righteous and benevolent by supporting the poor, easing their pains, relieving their distress, and providing them with help. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “The one who looks after a widow and a poor person is like the one who fights in the cause of Allah.” The narrator said, “I think he also said, ‘and like the one who fasts all the day and stands (in prayer) all the night.’”

Islam also seeks to cure the problem of poverty by urging the poor to work and abandon idleness in order not to be a burden on their society, their families, and their own selves. Fighting poverty, striving in the land to attain provision, and using the lawful means to earn a living are highly commendable deeds that are prescribed by religion. Allah, Exalted be He, says:
“… so walk in the paths thereof and eat of His provision …” (Al-Mulk: 15)

Every poor person should turn himself into an active member of society – earning his living by his own work, providing himself with livelihood, protecting his own dignity, raising his children to have self-esteem and honour, building his society, and contributing to his country’s development and progress. This will help him show obedience to Allah, to deepen his knowledge of Him, establish a good relation with Him, and aspire to the hereafter, for that is better and more lasting.

Allah reminds His Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, of the favour that he conferred upon him by making him rich after he had been poor, showing that this is a sign of His grace. Allah, Exalted be He, says:
“And He found you poor and made you rich (self-sufficient with self-contentment.” (Adh-Dhuha: 8)

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, used to say the following in supplication, “O Allah! I ask You for guidance, piety, chastity, and freedom from want.” He also once prayed to Allah to grant his Companion and servant Anas ibn Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, abundant wealth, saying, “O Allah! Increase his wealth and his children and bless them for him.”

Abundant provision, O servants of Allah, is the fruit of good deeds. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “He who likes to have his provision expanded and his term of life lengthened should maintain the ties of kinship.” The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, also said, “The upper hand is better than the lower hand. The upper hand is the one that gives, and the lower hand is the one that begs.”

Work is honour and dignity, O servants of Allah, whether it is manual work, a skilled trade, or a farming job. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Nobody has ever eaten better food than that earned by the work of his own hands.” He was once asked, “What is the best of earnings?” He replied, “Those made by the work of a man’s hands or by a lawful sale.” This is the right practice and the straight path.
Begging people for charity to increase one’s own wealth is an ugly quality and an abominable deed. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “A man continues to beg people until he stands on the Day of Judgement without a shred of flesh on his face.” He also said, “Whoever begs people for money to increase his own wealth is in fact begging for burning coal, so it is up to him to decrease it or increase it.” This hadith urges those who give charity to search for people who really deserve it and give it to them, to the exclusion of others. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Charity is not lawful for the rich nor for the physically fit.” He also said, “Begging is lawful only for three [types of] people: one who is in severe poverty, one who is seriously in debt, or one who finds it too difficult to pay blood money.”

May Allah bless you and me with the Great Qur’an and make us benefit from its verses and wise words. I have said what you have heard and I ask forgiveness of Allah, the Most Great, for myself and for you. Ask Allah for forgiveness. He is the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.