Money

[BabyBeaverIsAKit]

Let's talk about money. Is it bad to have a lot of money? Is it bad to be a millionaire? Is it better to be poor than rich? Thoughts?

[Shia_Debater]

It isnt bad to have a lot of money however only if you have acquired that money through halal means and also it is better to spend that money in the cause of Allah (swt)

We are slaves of Allah (swt) and all our belongings belong to him so what way better to spend it on than spending it in his cause.

[Abu'l Khattab]

BBK you're khoja, money means more to you than your own kin. Why ask such questions?

NOTE: For haters waiting in the background to call me a racist, this is a joke. Khojas are people too....

Edited August 7, 2011 by haidar al karrar

[BabyBeaverIsAKit]

LOL

Haidar, I'll let this slide this one time because I'm a nice person. Next time you might not be so lucky :).

:P

[baradar_jackson]

It is an established trend in the Quran that wealthy people were enemies of revelation because it placed burdens upon them which they didn't want and distracted them from the world in which they had become so successful.

Having said this, wealth is not inherently bad. But once it ceases to become a means and begins to become an end, that is where problems arise.

For example, the major maraji' all have a good deal of wealth to their name. But they clearly do not use this to build palaces for themselves and to make sure their children never have to work. Rather, they use this to build hawzahs, feed the poor, and the like. They themselves lead simple lives.

So wealth as a means is OK; wealth as an end is a taghut.

[Marbles]

Money means a good life, a good education, a good medical care, a good funeral. It means satisfaction and success.

Money earns you respect. It gets you support of people.

Money enables you to have options and opportunities. (Don't want a £0.28 bread? Ok. Get one for £1.67). It puts power in your hand.

In brief, money makes you human.

So how it can be a bad thing? :unsure:

Edited August 7, 2011 by Marbles

[Something Given]

Let's talk about money. Is it bad to have a lot of money? Is it bad to be a millionaire? Is it better to be poor than rich? Thoughts?

No, it's not bad to have a lot of money and no, it's not bad to be a millionaire. As to whether it's better to be poor than rich, this depends on the individual him/herself. And when I say better, I mean better for your faith.

If being poor means that you're spared from all the corruption money can bring out in you, and you are capable of being patient and grateful despite your poverty, you'll have a much easier time in the hereafter as you have less to account for. On the other hand, if being rich means that it makes you more thankful to God than you would have been otherwise, and you are able to fulfill all your responsibilities towards God, you'll have more opportunities to help people around you and thus have a pretty good time of it in the hereafter (and the world!) as well.

So, it all comes down to the individual. However, it's important to note that money is power, but 'with great power comes great responsibility'. What if you fail at that responsibility? The stakes are too great to risk, in my opinion.

Middle-class all the way! :D

Edited August 7, 2011 by Something Given

[Jay]

Money does have its advantages, as Marbles was quick to point out, but it also has its disadvantages. As I view it, it's unjust to be rich while poor people still exist in the world.

Anyway, money tends to make people forget about their faith; it's somewhat a double-edged sword. You might develop greed and arrogance, and you might forsake Allah سبحانه وتعالى, thinking you aren't in need of his mercy. If you are rich, you have more responsibilities, and ultimately, a more difficult/complex life. I prefer a simple life where you get paid little for your hard work, and happily thank Allah (swt) for it.

Edited August 7, 2011 by Jay

[Blissful]

All depends on the individual. Some of them can't be trusted with the multiple 0's in their bank accounts, some can use it for the right reasons (ie. family, education, living expenses, poor etc). Ultimately, we're all wealthy of the bounties of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, and the rest is all worldly and should be spent for the right reasons. Either way, like everything, it's going to come down to the individual and their intention.

Personally, I would rather be content with my savings and not be bothered about extravagance and what will get me more money. So long as your children and husband are content and happy, you are living well and all the basics of life are covered - why complain?

Edited August 7, 2011 by Blissful

[BabyBeaverIsAKit]

So, it all comes down to the individual. However, it's important to note that money is power, but 'with great power comes great responsibility'. What if you fail at that responsibility? The stakes are too great to risk, in my opinion.

Middle-class all the way! :D

With great power comes great responsibility, yes. But I think it is flawed reasoning to say "What if I fail at that responsibility?" Things like children are a huge responsibility, but our people keep having them anyway! Also, we must keep in mind that with great power comes great responsibility, but also greater reward from Allah.

You know, I think some people use the idea of money being evil as an excuse not to better themselves.

Another point to make is that even people with less money can and do spend irresponsibly.

Personally, I would rather be content with my savings and not be bothered about extravagance and what will get me more money.

Is having money necessarily equated with extravagance?

Edited August 7, 2011 by BabyBeaverIsAKit

[wonderer]

well it's good to have money and to be able to live comfortably, but I personally wouldn't like it with too much money because money does change some people ( could be the owner of the money and could be the surrounding people) plus money bring more enemies and LOADS of negative energy... but it's much better than being poor coz NOT having enough could be SUPER stressful and might cause loads of problems.. everything needs balance :)

[T_S]

" O son of Adam, whatever you earn beyond your basic needs, you will only be a trustee for someone else to use it." Imam Ali (as) Peak of Eloquence

[Replicant]

No problem with having lots of money, just remember to use it well. Nabi Sulayman (as) had a whole kingdom, yet remained infallible.

I think I've also read about when Imam Ali (as) was walking with a man and they saw a big house and the man started slating the owner of the house for being a "wordly" person. Imam Ali (as) replied as long there is worship of Allah (swt) going on that house then it's fine.

[Something Given]

With great power comes great responsibility, yes. But I think it is flawed reasoning to say "What if I fail at that responsibility?" Things like children are a huge responsibility, but our people keep having them anyway! Also, we must keep in mind that with great power comes great responsibility, but also greater reward from Allah.

Well then, I guess it comes down to whether or not you, as an individual, are willing to take up any particular responsibility (be it money or children -- both are referred to as a test in the Qur'an, after all). The important thing to realise is that it is a test, and you will be held accountable for all your blessings. Money can only corrupt if you lose sight of that.

You know, I think some people use the idea of money being evil as an excuse not to better themselves.

Who wouldn't want to better themselves? As to whether some people want to go the extra mile and try to become millionaires ... perhaps they are satisfied with their lives and find such an effort unnecessary? The fact that money has been known to change people for the worse, well, that's just one more argument in their favour. However, I don't think it's their sole excuse. They probably don't think, "I don't want to earn more money because I may become corrupted". It's more like, "There's no need for me to earn more money, and besides, don't you know that it corrupts?".

Edited August 7, 2011 by Something Given

[Guest Mushu]

Khadija (as) was an affluent business woman. If there was something wrong with it, the Prophet (as) would have put a stop to it.

I personally aim to have a business empire one day.

Edited August 7, 2011 by Mushu

[Shi3i4lyfYouTube]

It is never "bad" to be rich.

Think of Prophet Sulayman and his kingdom, think of Prophet Ayyoub in his early years...

It's absolutely fine to be rich, as long as you attain your riches through Halal ways and as long as

you maintain your khums and zakat..

[Haji 2003]

Money enables you to have options and opportunities. (Don't want a £0.28 bread? Ok. Get one for £1.67). It puts power in your hand.

That's right to an extent but it risks taking on an overly materialistic view on life and indeed one that is sub-optimal.

To put it in very simple terms, you can either see money as the route to better health (in terms of being able to buy the level of care that you need). Alternatively you may have an enlightened government that dissuades/discourages/prohibits unhealthy behaviour and then provides free at point of delivery healthcare to those who need it.

The same goes for education.

To run with your own example that £1.67 loaf of bread may seem more attractive, but the £0.28 may actually be better for your health. Remember that, for example, for many centuries e.g. in the west white bread was seen as being the expensive option (for various social and other reasons), but it was actually the cheaper brown bread that was better for you.

The same applies to all sorts of other activities - where the cheaper, less materialistic option is actually the one that is better for you, but it is individuals' perceptions, social pressures and other factors that lead people to choose the more financially expensive option.

This is what I was exploring in my Paris without Disneyland thread. I tried to show that there were lots of relatively cheap, productive, and fun options that people can choose to consume rather than the one which social pressures, lack of imagination and marketing leads them to choose.

So with enlightened government, the right friends and family and the right perception on your own part you can actually have a happier existence with less money.

There's also the issue of time, for most of us more money comes at the expense of having less time to ourselves. I see so many of my peers either running after even more money (than the already adequate amounts that they have) or desperately trying to keep hold of what they have.

Money can, surprisingly, become a prison.