are proportionate to one’s intentions in that regard, the measure of which is known only to the One who rewards them. We must therefore withhold judgment, since a poor person may receive a greater reward for a single deed, owing to the strength of his intention, than a wealthy person receives for many deeds, owing to the weakness of his intentions. This is valid when speaking of particular individuals. We cannot say that a particular person’s reward in wealth is greater because of the many good deeds he does with it, or that it exceeds another person’s reward in poverty for his patience and contentment with what Allah has allotted him. Nor can we say that a person’s reward in poverty for his patience and contentment with what Allah has allotted him exceeds another person’s reward in wealth for the good he does with it.

In general, however, wealth is preferable to poverty, as we have demonstrated from the Book of Allah, Almighty and Majestic, and the Sunnah of His Prophet Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. As for preferring having just enough to either poverty or wealth, there is no sound basis for this upon examination. Allah knows best.

As for a poor person who cannot meet his needs without begging, a wealthy person is unquestionably superior to him. Allah knows best. This is based on the Prophet’s words, peace be upon him: “The upper hand is better than the lower hand,” for the upper hand is the one that gives, and the lower hand is the one that begs. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, sought refuge from poverty that causes heedlessness, just as he sought refuge from wealth that leads to transgression. Success comes only through Allah.