Wealth Isn’t Everything, So Why Does Losing It Feel So Hard?
There are people who truly understand that wealth is merely a gift. This world is temporary, and life is truly a journey home to Allah . But strangely, when you have to let go, even just a portion, it still feels heavy. It’s like a thin rope holding you back, invisible but strong.
It’s not that he doesn’t understand, but that sense of belonging sometimes grows insidiously. That’s where the test lies. It turns out, life’s tests aren’t just in times of scarcity, but also when we’re given more. Because attachment often arises in the midst of abundance.
Knowing that everything will be left behind, but still afraid of losing it. Knowing that it’s not his, but still having trouble letting go. Then his heart begins to ask: why is he still anxious, even though the knowledge is already there?
Perhaps what needs to be reviewed isn’t the knowledge itself, but how deeply faith truly lives in the heart. Because knowledge that isn’t yet integrated with faith can’t foster sincerity.
When Knowledge, Heart, and Standards Are Not Aligned
A person may know that wealth is a trust, that sustenance comes from Allah ﷻ , and that every blessing will be accounted for. Yet, their hearts can still waver. A small loss makes them anxious. A profit that isn’t maximized makes them anxious.
The problem isn’t simply a lack of knowledge, but rather that knowledge isn’t yet comforting. Because knowledge that doesn’t reach the heart becomes merely rote. And in a culture that measures success by profit, numbers, and prestige, we sometimes follow suit by judging blessings using worldly standards.
However, human standards are not necessarily God’s standards . What’s popular isn’t necessarily right. What’s profitable isn’t necessarily a blessing. The measure of a believer’s success isn’t based on numbers, but on attitude.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
عَجَبًا لِأَمْرِ الْمُؤْمِنِ إِنَّ أَمْرَهُ كُلَّهُ خَيْرٌ وَلَيْسَ ذَاكَ لِأَحَدٍ إِلَّا لِلْمُؤْمِنِ إِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ سَرَّاءُ شَكَرَ فَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَهُ وَإِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ ضَرَّاءُ صَبَرَ فَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَهُ
“The things of the believer are admirable, in fact all things are good and that is not the case of anyone other than the believer, when pleasure strikes, he is grateful and gratitude is good for him and when disaster strikes, he is patient and patience is good for him.” (HR. Muslim, No. 5318 )
So, loss isn’t necessarily bad. Sometimes it’s even more beneficial for the soul because it calls for patience and reminds us of the true nature of the world. Meanwhile, great gains can be a trap if the heart isn’t prepared. Because, in truth, trials are in every situation.
Read also: Wealth is Here, But Why Are You Still Anxious?
It’s Not About Profit and Loss, But About Who We Are at That Time
Life is a rollercoaster: sometimes it’s a win-win situation, sometimes it’s a loss. Sometimes it’s a breeze, sometimes it’s a tight squeeze. But what matters most isn’t where we stand, but who we are when we stand there. Are we staying honest? Staying patient? Staying trusting in God?
What’s most painful isn’t losing wealth, but losing direction. It’s not material loss, but personal quality loss.
Allah ﷻ says:
إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ اللَّهِ أَتْقَاكُمْ
“Indeed, the most noble person in the sight of Allah is the most pious among you.” (QS. Al-Hujurat : 13)
So if profit makes us arrogant, it’s not a blessing. If loss makes us despair, it’s not just a loss, but a sign that we’ve failed the test.
The strong aren’t those who are always on top, but those who remain obedient in every situation. They are given gratitude. They are taken with patience. Because for them, this world is merely a place of proving, not a final destination.
Also read: Prestige and Lifestyle in Islam
From Understanding to Submission: Uniting Knowledge and Faith
Many people know that wealth is a trust, profit and loss are tests, and life isn’t about numbers. But why remain anxious? The answer may be because knowledge hasn’t yet transformed into faith. It hasn’t yet formed a state of submission.
This is where the importance of idrāk ṣilah billāh ( إِدْرَاكُ الصِّلَةِ بِاللَّه ِ) lies—awareness of our direct connection with Allah ﷻ in every aspect of life, including matters of wealth. Without this, knowledge is merely information. But with ṣilah billāh, every decision becomes a form of worship. Every intention is purified.
This is the path to the maqām ihsān—the highest degree of worship. It is when we act not because we are seen by others, but because we feel we are seen by Allah ﷻ .
The Prophet ﷺ said :
أَنْ تَعْبُدَ اللَّهَ كَأَنَّكَ تَرَاهُ، فَإِنْ لَمْ تَكُنْ تَرَاهُ، فَإِنَّهُ يَرَاكَ
“…(Ihsan is) “You worship Allah as if you see Him, then if you do not see Him, then indeed He sees you…” (HR. Muslim No. 9)
When the heart truly realizes it’s being watched, its focus changes. It’s not about the outcome, but about Allah’s pleasure .
Also read: The Month of Rajab as a Spiritual Investment Opportunity
Ending
What makes loss so heavy is often not the value of the item, but rather the blurring of our connection with Allah ﷻ . We begin to judge everything through worldly means: what we lose is painful, what we fail is shameful.
In fact, the true test is not about how big the calamity is, but how far the test brings us closer to Allah ﷻ .
Piety is the key. Because the noblest are not the richest, but the most pious. And the most serene are not those who never lose, but those who know where their hearts lead when tested.
“Indeed, the most noble person in the sight of Allah ﷻ is the most pious…” (QS. Al-Hujurat : 13)
May we be among those who are able to maintain faith in the midst of trials, harmonize knowledge and heart, and still feel sufficient because we know: Allah ﷻ is always with His God-fearing servants.
Also read: The Impact of Fasting on Health
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Reference:
The Noble Qur’an.
Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj al-Qushayri. Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim . Hadith No. 5318. Accessed from https://www.hadits.id/hadits/muslim/5318
Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj al-Qushayri. Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim . Hadith No. 9. Accessed from https://www.hadits.id/hadits/muslim/9
