and to outdo others in wealth will meet Allah while He is angry with him.”

He also said:

“The trustworthy, truthful merchant will be with the prophets, the steadfastly truthful, the martyrs and the righteous.”

And he said:

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

Know that scrupulousness does not benefit a person or earn him a reward unless he fulfils the command to be sincere. With regard to scrupulousness expressed in doing what is commanded, this is clear: Allah Most High accepts only deeds done for His sake. As for refraining from what is forbidden—which some people call scrupulousness—if a person refrains from sins for a reason other than seeking Allah’s pleasure, he is not rewarded for refraining, although he is not punished for those sins. If he refrains for Allah’s sake, he is rewarded. This can only arise from the hope for Allah’s mercy or fear of His punishment that resides in his heart. Hope for His mercy and fear of His punishment are positive states that one is commanded to cultivate. Thus, scrupulousness is only a righteous deed when accompanied by the commanded acts of hope and fear. Mere abstention, as an absence of action, carries no reward.

As for renunciation, which is the opposite of desire, it is praised without qualification, while desire is condemned for leading one to neglect working for the Hereafter. Allah Most High says:

“Whoever desires the life of this world and its adornment—We will repay them in full for their deeds therein, and they will not be shortchanged.”

“Those are the ones who will have nothing in the Hereafter but the Fire.”

And He says:

“Whoever desires the harvest of the Hereafter—We will increase his harvest. And whoever desires the harvest of this world—We will give him some of it, but he will have no share in the Hereafter.”

And He says:

“Whoever desires the fleeting life of this world—We hasten for him therein whatever We will