Mountains of Gold Don’t Stop the Desire to Accumulate Wealth

Have you ever bought a new cellphone, but a week later you feel like upgrading it again? Or have you just received a work bonus, but your mind is already running to installments for a new car, vacations, or branded goods that weren’t that urgent before?

That’s a small example of one big problem: the desire to accumulate wealth that doesn’t know the word enough.

The problem isn’t in the wealth, but in the heart that isn’t yet content. Sometimes we think, “If I had 100 million in savings, I would be calm.” Already at 100, so I want 200. Already at 200, I feel insecure seeing people who have 1 billion. And so on until… even a mountain of gold isn’t enough!

Rasulullah ﷺ has been warning about this for a long time:

لَوْ كَانَ لِابْنِ آدَمَ وَادِيَانِ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ لَابْتَغَىٰ وَادِيًا ثَالِثًا، وَلَا يَمْلَأُ جَوْفَ ابْنِ آدَمَ إِلَّا التُّرَابُ
“If the son of Adam had two valleys of gold, he would certainly look for a third. And he would never be satisfied until his stomach was filled with earth.” (Narrated by Bukhari no. 6439)

Even if there is a mountain of gold, if the heart is not grateful, it is still not enough. In fact, Allah ﷻ Himself has promised:

وَإِذْ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكُمْ لَئِن شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ
“If you are grateful, I will surely increase (favors) for you.” (QS. Ibrahim: 7)

Now, in this article we will discuss together how to organize the heart in the midst of a world that continues to tempt. We will discuss why trying to accumulate wealth can be a trap if you forget to be grateful, and why contentment is actually the path to peace of mind not because of the increasing wealth, but because of the way we view it which is increasingly correct.

Come on, let’s start discussing it slowly, but hopefully it reaches the heart.

When the World Becomes the Goal, Calmness Disappears

Be honest… have you ever felt restless even though your salary is secure, your dream items are in hand, and all your needs are met? But there is still a drive to accumulate more wealth, as if what you have now is not enough.

Well, this is not just about finances, but about a heart that is not yet content. When the urge to accumulate wealth becomes the main goal of life, the first thing that disappears is calmness. In fact, if we want to be honest, sometimes we work hard not because of urgent needs, but because we are afraid of losing style. What is saved is not only wealth, but also ambition and anxiety.

The Prophet ﷺ has reminded us for a long time:

«حُبُّ الدُّنْيَا رَأْسُ كُلِّ خَطِيئَةٍ»
“Love of the world is the root of all mistakes.” (HR. Baihaqi)

Don’t get me wrong, Islam does not forbid us from having wealth. But when the process of accumulating wealth paralyzes the heart and makes us forget to be grateful, that is a danger sign.

Allah ﷻ also gave a warning through His words:

ٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّمَا ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَا لَعِبٌۭ وَلَهْوٌۭ وَزِينَةٌۭ وَتَفَاخُرٌۭ بَيْنَكُمْ وَتَكَاثُرٌۭ فِى ٱلْأَمْوَٰلِ وَٱلْأَوْلَـٰدِ ۖ كَمَثَلِ غَيْثٍ أَعْجَبَ ٱلْكُفَّارَ نَبَاتُهُۥ ثُمَّ يَهِيجُ فَتَرَىٰهُ مُصْفَرًّا ثُمَّ يَكُونُ حُطَـٰمًۭا ۖ وَفِى ٱلْءَاخِرَةِ عَذَابٌۭ شَدِيدٌۭ وَمَغْفِرَةٌۭ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرِضْوَٰنٌۭ ۚ وَمَا ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَآ إِلَّا مَتَـٰعُ ٱلْغُرُورِ
“Know that the life of this world is nothing but play and amusement, adornment and mutual boasting among you and rivalry in increasing wealth and children. Like the rain whose plants delight the farmers, then it dries and you see it turning yellow and then it crumbles into crumbs. And in the Hereafter there is a severe punishment and forgiveness from Allah and His good pleasure. And the life of this world is nothing but a deceiving pleasure.” (QS. Al-Hadid: 20)

This is today’s reality. Many are busy trying to accumulate wealth with endless targets. Already have a house, want a second house. Already have a business, want a third branch. But still the heart is restless. Why? Because the feeling of sufficiency is not the result of numbers, but the result of a soul that knows how to be grateful.

Ibnul Qayyim رحمه الله once said:
“The richest person is the one who feels most satisfied with what Allah has given.”

So, it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t work hard or do business. But make sure that while you accumulate wealth, your heart remains calm because you know that the world is not a place to pursue endless satisfaction but a temporary field of charity.

Read also: Tawakkal in Islam: When Surrender Meets Hard Work

Calm is About the Right Process and Goal

We often think that calm comes after the number in the account reaches a certain amount. In fact, if we are honest, there are quite a few people who are already filthy rich but are actually getting more restless. Why? Because to accumulate wealth without direction and meaning is like rowing in the sea without a compass, it seems to go straight, but the end is empty.

Islam teaches us: it is not about how much wealth is collected, but how blessed and straight the process is, and where the final destination is. And the purpose of a Muslim’s life is clear: seeking the pleasure of Allah ﷻ. Not social validation, not just a level-up lifestyle.

That’s why Islam never forbids having a lot of wealth. But what is emphasized is: the process must be halal, and the goal is right. Allah ﷻ says:

وَمَا خَلَقْتُ ٱلْجِنَّ وَٱلْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ
“And I did not create the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me.” (QS. Adz-Dzariyat: 56)

This means that all our life activities including accumulating wealth must be connected to worship. Work, business, investment, all can be worship… as long as the intention is right, the path is halal, and the results are used for good.

And about the correct process, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ also gave a basic principle:

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ طَيِّبٌۭ لَا يَقْبَلُ إِلَّا طَيِّبًۭا
“Indeed, Allah is good and does not accept except that which is good.” (Narrated by Muslim no. 1015)

So, it is not only the target that is considered, but also how to achieve it. No matter how fast we can make money or accumulate wealth, if the method is different from the sharia, Allah ﷻ is not pleased. And the pleasure of Allah ﷻ is the source of true peace, not just the result of accumulating wealth.

Read also: Prophet Muhammad ﷺ as a Role Model of Character Education

Gratitude and Contentment, Not Resignation But Intelligence

There is an assumption that people who are content have no ambition. In fact, contentment does not mean stopping working hard. Contentment is about being aware of limits. That accumulating wealth is allowed, but it should not be enslaved.

Just look, how many people have lives full of plans, full of hard work, but are still restless? Because their hearts are too busy measuring “where am I lacking?” In fact, peace comes when we start to say “Alhamdulillah, enough.”

That is why gratitude is the opener of pleasure. Allah ﷻ Himself said:

وَإِذْ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكُمْ لَئِن شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ
“If you are grateful, I will definitely add (favors) to you.” (QS. Ibrahim: 7)

And contentment is not a weak attitude, but a form of strength of faith. The Prophet ﷺ said:

ليسَ الْغِنَى عَنْ كَثْرَةِ الْعَرَضِ وَلَكِنَّ الْغِنَى غِنَى النَّفْسِ
“Wealth is not in the abundance of possessions, but true wealth is the wealth of the heart.” (Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim)

Quality is a fortress of the soul amidst the hustle and bustle of the world that continues to tempt us to accumulate endless wealth. With contentment, we will not stop trying, but we know when enough is enough. We keep moving, but are no longer restless.

Read also: The Concept of Silence and Its Benefits in Islam

Khatimah

Finally, we come to one important conclusion: the problem is not the amount of wealth, but the direction of the heart when collecting wealth. Is our heart seeking the pleasure of Allah ﷻ, or is it just seeking recognition from the world?

Even a mountain of gold will not be enough for someone who does not know the meaning of gratitude. But a handful of sustenance can calm the soul if this heart knows that it is enough, and knows where all this effort is going.

So, let’s start now, let’s reorganize our intentions and paths in collecting wealth. Not only to be richer, but to be calmer and hopefully, more pleased with Allah ﷻ.

Read also: The Secret of Etiquette/Adab in Speech for Muslim Business Success!

Let’s Visit, Zeed and join for halal investment with Zeed.

References

Al-Qur’an Al-Karim https://tafsirweb.com 
Al-Bukhari, Muhammad bin Ismail. Sahih al-Bukhari. Accessed from https://www.hadits.id/hadits/bukhari 
Muslim, Abu al-Husain. Sahih Muslim. Accessed from https://www.hadits.id/hadits/muslim.