can remain upright only through wealth; were I to impoverish him, that would corrupt him. Among My servants is one who can remain upright only through poverty; were I to enrich him, that would corrupt him. Among My servants is one who can remain upright only through health; were I to make him ill, that would corrupt him. Among My servants is one who can remain upright only through illness; were I to restore his health, that would corrupt him. I direct the affairs of My servants; I am fully aware of them and see them well.”

A report conveying this meaning states:

“Allah shields His believing servant from worldly things, just as one of you shields his sick patient from food and drink.”

Something similar is also reported concerning Moses’ intimate communion with Allah. Ahmad mentioned it in al-Zuhd (Asceticism). This concerns someone whom wealth harms and poverty sets right. Another hadith states:

“How excellent is good wealth for a righteous man!”

Just as there are “three views” on this question, people fall into “three categories”: the wealthy person, who possesses more than he needs; the poor person, who cannot fully meet his needs; and a third category, those who possess just enough to meet their needs.

Thus, among the greatest prophets and messengers and the earliest forerunners in faith were some who were wealthy, such as Abraham, the intimate friend of Allah; Job; David; Solomon; ‘Uthmān ibn ‘Affān; ‘Abd al-Rahmān ibn ‘Awf; Talhah; al-Zubayr; Sa‘d ibn Mu‘ādh; Usayd ibn al-Hudayr; As‘ad ibn Zurārah; Abū Ayyūb al-Ansārī; ‘Ubādah ibn al-Sāmit; and others like them, who are among the finest of creation—the prophets and the utterly truthful.