successive vicegerents in it: one generation follows another, and one of you inherits from the other. “So He will look to see how you behave”—will you give precedence to this world or to the Hereafter? For that reason He said, “Beware of the world, and beware of women.”

Yet when Allah enriches a person and that wealth becomes an aid to him in obeying Allah—he spends his money on what is right and in the path of Allah—then the world turns into a blessing.¹

Accordingly, the affluent man who spends his wealth in the path of Allah and in what pleases Him is ranked second only to the scholar whom Allah has granted wisdom and knowledge and who, in turn, teaches the people.

There is therefore a clear difference between the one who is engrossed in this world and turns away from the Hereafter and the one whom Allah enriches, whose wealth becomes a means of happiness and spending in the cause of Allah: “Our Lord, grant us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire” (Q 2:201).

4/460 – On the authority of Anas that the Prophet ﷺ said, “O Allah, no life is real except the life of the Hereafter.” Agreed upon.

5/461 – And on his authority that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Three follow the deceased: his family, his wealth, and his deeds. Two return and one remains; his family and his wealth return, while his deeds stay with him.” Agreed upon.