—night and day—neither hoarding nor being wasteful so that he goes to extremes. Instead, he disburses it for Allah, with Allah’s help, and within what pleases Allah: giving for Allah’s sake, relying on Him, and moving in accordance with His law. Such a person is the one who deserves to be envied.
By contrast, someone who merely enjoys a portion of worldly goods the way an animal enjoys its fodder, only for those goods to leave him, is not to be envied; no one should wish for what he has, for either he will perish or his property will perish. The man who spends his wealth in the path of Allah—that is the one who truly merits admiration.
This narration also indicates that a believer should live with the Quran through every hour of the night and day, making all of his deeds rest upon the Book, proceeding under its guidance. Likewise, whoever has been granted wealth by Allah must pay its due, fulfill the obligations that come with it, and spend it wherever spending is good. Allah alone grants success.
- Al-Barāʾ ibn ʿĀzib (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “A man was reciting Surah al-Kahf while a horse of his was tethered nearby with two long reins. A cloud came over him and began to draw closer, and the horse started to shy away from it. When dawn broke, he went to the Prophet ﷺ and told him what had happened. The Prophet said, ‘That was the sakīna (divine tranquility) that descended for the Quran.’” Agreed upon.