and his command, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, to accept whatever is given without asking; his prohibition against wasting wealth and bequeathing more than a third; and other such hadiths, too numerous to enumerate. Moreover, the poor man is rewarded in two respects:

First, for patiently enduring poverty and need, while remaining content with that and thanking Allah Most High for it.

Second, for his efforts and work to provide the necessities of life for himself and those he is obliged to support.

The wealthy man, however, is rewarded in many respects. These include thanking Allah, Mighty and Majestic, for the bounty He has bestowed upon him, and patiently parting with his wealth for the sake of Allah, Mighty and Majestic: paying the zakat due from him, performing other acts of devotion, and supporting those he is obliged to maintain—his wives, young sons and daughters, and destitute parents—despite his love of wealth and reluctance to part with it. Allah, Mighty and Majestic, says:

“And gives wealth, despite his love for it” [al-Baqarah: 177].

And He says:

“And they give food, despite their love for it” [al-Insān: 8].

In this, He, Mighty and Majestic, praises them for doing so. A wealthy man may marry two, three or four wives and take a number of slave women as concubines, enjoying intercourse with them and being rewarded for it, whereas the poor man cannot afford any of this.

Once a man has discharged the obligations due on his wealth, it is better for him to enjoy what remains through fine clothing, good food, fine mounts and comfortable housing, without extravagance in any of these things, than to forgo such enjoyment and retain his wealth. For Allah, Mighty and Majestic, says:

“And those who, when they spend, are neither extravagant nor stingy, but keep a just balance between the two” [al-Furqān: 67].

There is no reward merely for retaining wealth; a man is rewarded for retaining it only when he intends to use it for some good deed. He may also be rewarded for enjoying his wealth by wearing fine clothing, for Allah Most High loves to see the signs of His favor upon His servant.

“The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said of Jābir ibn ‘Abd Allāh’s companion, when he put on the two new garments at his instruction