“Ever thought that the good deeds we do stick with us way more than piles of cash?”
Just imagine if tomorrow Allah ﷻ called us back, what could we really take? A fancy house? A cool car? Billions in savings?
Sadly, none of that comes along. We leave it all behind. The only thing that stays with us is our good deeds.
The Prophet’s ﷺ companions got this so well. For them, deeds were way more valuable than wealth. Money was just a trust, but sincere good deeds? Those became eternal provisions. And here’s the cool part: when they put deeds first, the world itself followed them.
Wealth is just decoration, glory is piety
Allah ﷻ has given a very clear clue in the Qur’an:
ٱلۡمَالُ وَٱلۡبَنُونَ زِينَةُ ٱلۡحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡيَاۖ وَٱلۡبَٰقِيَٰتُ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتُ خَيۡرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابٗا وَخَيۡرٌ أَمَلٗا
“Wealth and children are only worldly decorations, while eternal pious deeds have a better reward with your Lord and are better for hope.” ( Quran Surah Al-Kahf verse 46 )
This verse is very clear. Wealth is like makeup: it can enhance our outward appearance, but it never determines who we truly are. What truly matters before Allah are our good deeds.
In fact, Allah ﷻ has given a clear standard. The most noble in His sight is not the richest or the most wealthy, but the most pious.
إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ أَتْقَىٰكُمْ
“Indeed, the most noble among you in the sight of Allah is the most pious.” (Quran Surah Al-Hujurat verse 13 )
So the measure of glory isn’t the contents of our bank accounts, but the contents of our hearts. It’s not how many houses or vehicles we own, but how deep our submission and obedience to God is.
Therefore, it is a big mistake if wealth is made the main goal of life.
Wealth is a Tool, Not an End
Property is like a vehicle. If you have a luxury car but it’s only displayed in the garage, it won’t take you anywhere. Likewise, if we make wealth a goal, we will get tired of chasing it all the time without ever being satisfied.
But when wealth is used as a tool, the results are truly remarkable. It can help people, support religious initiatives, or build mosques, yielding a continuous flow of rewards. That’s why the Prophet’s companions (peace be upon him) bravely sacrificed their wealth in the path of Allah. They understood that wealth is merely a means for good deeds, not the purpose of life.
Imam Ibnul Qayyim said: “Wealth is like a shadow. If you chase it, it will move away. But if you focus on good deeds and the afterlife, wealth will actually come closer.” ( Madarijus Salikin , 1/456).
So the point is, wealth is in the hands, not in the heart.
Also read: The Power of Habits for Stable Financial Growth
Friends of the Prophet: Charity First, Then Wealth Follows
Now let’s look at the stories of our friends. There was Abu Bakar Ash-Siddiq ra, during the Tabuk war he came with all his wealth to spend. Until the Prophet ﷺ asked, “What did you leave for your family, O Abu Bakr?” and he replied casually, “I left Allah and His Messenger.” MashaAllah, the level of confidence is extraordinary.
Umar ibn Khattab (ra) was no less formidable. He once brought half his wealth, thinking, “This time I can defeat Abu Bakr.” But Abu Bakr ended up bringing all his wealth. Umar gave up, saying, “I’ll never be able to defeat him.”
Uthman bin ‘Affan (ra) even sailed thousands of camels to finance the Tabuk troops. The Prophet (peace be upon him) even said:
مَا ضَرَّ عُثْمَانَ مَا عَمِلَ بَعْدَ الْيَوْمِ
“Nothing that Uthman does after today will be harmful.” ( Hadith narrated by Tirmidhi )
It’s truly extraordinary. They sacrificed their wealth for charity, and the result? Allah ﷻ returned it many times over. Abdurrahman ibn ‘Auf (ra) was unique. When he migrated to Medina, he literally had nothing. But because of his hard work and blessings, Allah ﷻ granted him extraordinary wealth. The difference is, despite his wealth, his heart remained tied to charity, not wealth.
So, friends show one law of life: if we pursue the afterlife, the world will follow; but if we pursue the world, we can lose both.
Also read: Turn Wealth into Rewards with Islamic Financial Planning
Afterlife Destination, World of Vehicles
Rasulullah ﷺ has given the formula in the hadith:
مَنْ كَانَتِ ٱلۡآخِرَةُ هَمَّهُ جَعَلَ ٱللَّهُ غِنَاهُ فِي قَلۡبِهِ، وَجَمَعَ لَهُ شَمْلَهُ، وَأَتَتْهُ ٱلدُّنۡيَا وَهِيَ رَاغِمَةٌ. وَمَنْ كَانَتِ ٱلدُّنۡيَا هَمَّهُ جَعَلَ ٱللَّهُ فَقْرَهُ بَيْنَ عَيْنَيْهِ، وَفَرَّقَ عَلَيْهِ شَمْلَهُ، وَلَمْ يَأْتِهِ مِنَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا إِلَّا مَا كُتِبَ لَهُ
“Whoever intends the afterlife, Allah will make rich in his heart, Allah unites his affairs, and the world comes to him in a lowly state. And whoever intends the world, Allah places poverty before his eyes, Allah scatters his affairs, and the world will not come to him except what has been determined.”) ( Hadith Narrated by Tirmidhi )
This maxim is like a life formula: Focus on the afterlife, and this world will follow. Focus on this world, and you’ll tire yourself out.
Also read: Smart Lifestyle: Manage Your Money to Grow
Closing
Well, it’s very clear from this. Good deeds are far more valuable than wealth. The Companions have proven this by their example. Pursuing wealth can be tiring, but wealth placed in the path of Allah ﷻ will pursue its owner.
So let’s learn to put the world in its proper place. The world is a vehicle, not a destination. Good deeds are eternal provisions. If we love good deeds more than wealth, God willing, the world will bow to our steps, instead of us becoming slaves to the world.
Also read: Investing for Beginners: Start Smart Without Panic
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Reference:
Al-Qur’anul Karim.
At-Tirmidhi, Sunan at-Tirmidhi , no. 3701. Accessed from: https://sunnah.com/tirmidhi:3701
At-Tirmidhi, Sunan at-Tirmidhi , no. 2465. Accessed from: https://sunnah.com/tirmidhi:2465
Ibnul Qayyim al-Jauziyyah, Madarijus Salikin , Juz 1, p. 456. Beirut: Darul Pole al-‘Ilmiyyah.
