The Difference in
Material Wealth among Mankind
By:
Shahid Bin Waheed شاهد
بن وحيد
بسم الله
الرحمن
الرحيم
الحمدلله
رب العالمين
والصلوة
والسلام على اشرف
الانبياء وسيدالمرسلين
نبينا محمد صل
ا لله عليه
وعلى آله
واصحابه
وازواجه
اجمعين -
امابعد
All the praises and thanks be to Allaah, Sustainer of the
Universe, and blessing and salutation to be the most distinguish of
the Messengers and foremost among the Prophets, our Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allaah be on him and on his wives,
children and Companions.
The difference in material wealth and/or economic
status has always existed among the mankind, which is yet another example of
divine wisdom and is a mercy for mankind. Allaah says in the Glorious Qur’aan,
Surah An-Nahl 71
وَاللَّهُ
فَضَّلَ
بَعْضَكُمْ
عَلَى بَعْضٍ
فِي
الرِّزْقِ
فَمَا
الَّذِينَ
فُضِّلُوا
بِرَادِّي
رِزْقِهِمْ
عَلَى مَا
مَلَكَتْ
أَيْمَانُهُمْ
فَهُمْ فِيهِ
سَوَاءٌ أَفَبِنِعْمَةِ
اللَّهِ
يَجْحَدُونَ
And Allâh has preferred some of you above others in wealth and properties. Then, those who are preferred will by no means hand over their wealth and properties to those (slaves) whom their right hands possess, so that they may be equal with them in respect thereof {1} . Do they then deny the Favor of Allâh?
{1}
(V.16:71): a) This example Allâh has set forth for the polytheists (pagans) who
associate false deities with Allâh, that they would not agree to share their
wealth and properties with their slaves, then how do they agree to share false
deities with Allâh in His worship? b) Allâh’s Statement: "And Allah
..." (V.16:71). Narrated Abu Hurairah رضي
الله عنه: The Prophet صلى
الله عليه
وسلم
said, "Prophet Ibrâhîm عليه
السلام emigrated with Sârah and entered a village where there was a
king from amongst the kings or a tyrant from amongst the tyrants. (The king)
was told that Ibrâhîm had entered (the village) accompanied by a woman who was
one of the most charming women. So, the king sent for Ibrâhîm and asked, ‘O
Ibrâhîm! Who is this lady accompanying you?’ Ibrâhîm replied, ‘She is my sister
(i.e., in religion).’ Then Ibrâhîm returned to her and said, ‘Do not contradict
my statement, for I have informed them that you are my sister. By Allâh, there
are not true believers on the earth except you and
The unwise and ignorant who attacks Islaam under the pretext of Muslims’ condition in some part of the world are unaware that (it is being said in the Ayaah 16:71 cited above) Allaah has not, in His infinite wisdom made all human beings equal in term of their provision (رزق). Instead, Allaah has blessed some of us over others to establish different degrees therein, making some of us rich and some of us poor. We find the same subject in another Qur’aanic Ayaah,
Surah Ar-Rum 28
ضَرَبَ
لَكُمْ
مَثَلًا مِنْ
أَنْفُسِكُمْ
هَلْ لَكُمْ
مِنْ مَا مَلَكَتْ
أَيْمَانُكُمْ
مِنْ
شُرَكَاءَ
فِي مَا
رَزَقْنَاكُمْ
فَأَنْتُمْ
فِيهِ سَوَاءٌ
تَخَافُونَهُمْ
كَخِيفَتِكُمْ
أَنْفُسَكُمْ
كَذَلِكَ
نُفَصِّلُ
الْآيَاتِ لِقَوْمٍ
يَعْقِلُونَ
He sets forth for you a parable from your own selves: Do you have partners among those whom your right hands possess (i.e. your slaves) to share as equals in the wealth We have bestowed on you whom you fear as you fear each other? Thus do We explain the signs in detail to a people who have sense. {1}
{1}
(V.30:28) That is: How do you join to Us partners of that which We created,
while you for yourselves will not accept partners from your slaves?
The Ayaah 16:71 (cited above) makes it absolutely clear that the presence of various degrees of economic status among mankind making some of us rich, some of us poor and some of us in the middle is neither accidental nor caused by so-called evolution. It is rather the divine wisdom of Allaah that has dictated this arrangement for human good as mercy for mankind. If all humans were made equal in wealth and possessions, it would have resulted in the breach of function of this world. Therefore, let it be understood clearly that in the history of mankind human beings have never been equal in terms of wealth, property and possessions. The diversity and contrast in humans intellectual and practical capabilities is a natural phenomena, thus, the pursuit of economic gain always depends on these very capabilities.