over the other. A third group held that neither has any superiority over the other except through piety: whichever has greater faith and piety is better, and if they are equal in these, they are equal in merit. This is the soundest view, for the Quran and Sunnah establish superiority only on the basis of faith and piety.

Allah Most High has said:

“Whether one is rich or poor, Allah can best take care of both.”

Among the prophets and the earliest believers were wealthy people who were better than most of the poor, and among them were poor people who were better than most of the wealthy. Those who have attained perfection fulfil the requirements of both states, practising gratitude and patience to the full. Such was the case with our Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and with Abū Bakr and Umar—may Allah be pleased with them both. Yet poverty may be more beneficial than wealth for some people, while wealth is more beneficial for others, just as good health may be more beneficial for some. This is reflected in the hadith reported by al-Baghawī and others:

“Some of My servants remain upright only through wealth; were I to make them poor, that would corrupt them. Some of My servants remain upright only through poverty; were I to make them wealthy, that would corrupt them. Some of My servants remain upright only through illness; were I to make them healthy, that would corrupt them. I manage the affairs of My servants; I am All-Aware and All-Seeing of them.”

It is authentically reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“The poor among the Muslims will enter Paradise half a day before the rich.”

Another hadith states: “When he taught the poor to remember Allah after the prayers, the rich heard of it and recited the same as