Does Islam hate the rich? Is it wrong to want to be wealthy?

The short answer

No. Islam does not condemn wealth; it condemns earning it unlawfully, hoarding it, being arrogant with it, or letting it distract from Allah. The Prophet ﷺ said there is nothing wrong with being rich for someone who fears Allah, prayed for a Companion's wealth to increase, and praised the person who spends wealth rightly.

Evidence 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Explanation

The Prophet ﷺ was once asked about being rich, and he said: "There is nothing wrong with being rich for one who has piety", adding that good health for the pious is better than riches 1. On another occasion he said, "How excellent the wealth of the Muslim is, if it is collected through legal means and is spent in Allah's Cause and on orphans, poor people and travelers", in the same sermon in which he warned that the temptation of worldly riches was what he feared most for his community 2.

He even named a wealthy person as someone worth envying in a good way: "A person, whom Allah has given wealth and he spends it righteously" 3. When Umm Sulaym asked him to pray for her son Anas, he said, "O Allah! Increase his wealth and offspring and bless (for him) whatever You give him" 4. The Quran records the advice given to the rich man Qarun: seek the Hereafter through what Allah has given you, "and [yet], do not forget your share of the world" 5.

So what is the warning about? Qarun, the wealthy man among the people of Musa (AS), rejected that advice and boasted, "I was only given it because of knowledge I have" 6. The problem was arrogance and ingratitude, not the money. Allah reminds us that it is not wealth that brings anyone closer to Him, but faith and righteous deeds 7, and that wealth is "a trial" 8: it tests whether we earn it honestly, pay what is due, and stay humble.

Wanting to earn well to support your family, give charity and be independent is good. The healthy approach is to pursue halal wealth with your hands while keeping it out of your heart.

The evidence

  1. 1
    Hadith Sunan Ibn Majah 2141
    Sahih graded by Al-Albani

    There is nothing wrong with being rich for one who has piety, though good health with piety is better.

    It was narrated from Mu'adh bin 'Abdullah bin Khubaib, from his father, that his paternal uncle said:"We were sitting in a gathering, and the Prophet (ﷺ) came with traces of water on his head. One of us said to him: 'We see that you are of good cheer today.' He said: 'Yes, praise is to Allah.' Then he spoke to the people about being rich. He said: 'There is nothing wrong with being rich for one who has piety, but good health for one who has piety is better than riches, and being of good cheer is a blessing

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدُ بْنُ مَخْلَدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ، عَنْ مُعَاذِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ خُبَيْبٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَمِّهِ، قَالَ كُنَّا فِي مَجْلِسٍ فَجَاءَ النَّبِيُّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ وَعَلَى رَأْسِهِ أَثَرُ مَاءٍ فَقَالَ لَهُ بَعْضُنَا نَرَاكَ الْيَوْمَ طَيِّبَ النَّفْسِ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ أَجَلْ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ ثُمَّ أَفَاضَ الْقَوْمُ فِي ذِكْرِ الْغِنَى فَقَالَ ‏"‏ لاَ بَأْسَ بِالْغِنَى لِمَنِ اتَّقَى وَالصِّحَّةُ لِمَنِ اتَّقَى خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْغِنَى وَطِيبُ النَّفْسِ مِنَ النِّعَمِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

  2. 2
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 2842
    Sahih Bukhari

    How excellent the wealth of a Muslim that is lawfully earned and spent on good causes.

    Narrated Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri:Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) ascended the pulpit and said, "Nothing worries me as to what will happen to you after me, except the temptation of worldly blessings which will be conferred on you." Then he mentioned the worldly pleasures. He started with the one (i.e. the blessings) and took up the other (i.e. the pleasures). A man got up saying, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Can the good bring about evil?" The Prophet (ﷺ) remained silent and we thought that he was being inspired divinely, so all the people kept silent with awe. Then the Prophet (ﷺ) wiped the sweat off his face and asked, "Where is the present questioner?" "Do you think wealth is good?" he repeated thrice, adding, "No doubt, good produces nothing but good. Indeed it is like what grows on the banks of a stream which either kills or nearly kills the grazing animals because of gluttony except the vegetation-eating animal which eats till both its flanks are full (i.e. till it gets satisfied) and then stands in the sun and defecates and urinates and again starts grazing. This worldly property is sweet vegetation. How excellent the wealth of the Muslim is, if it is collected through legal means and is spent in Allah's Cause and on orphans, poor people and travelers. But he who does not take it legally is like an eater who is never satisfied and his wealth will be a witness against him on the Day of Resurrection

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سِنَانٍ، حَدَّثَنَا فُلَيْحٌ، حَدَّثَنَا هِلاَلٌ، عَنْ عَطَاءِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَامَ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ إِنَّمَا أَخْشَى عَلَيْكُمْ مِنْ بَعْدِي مَا يُفْتَحُ عَلَيْكُمْ مِنْ بَرَكَاتِ الأَرْضِ ‏"‏‏.‏ ثُمَّ ذَكَرَ زَهْرَةَ الدُّنْيَا، فَبَدَأَ بِإِحْدَاهُمَا وَثَنَّى بِالأُخْرَى، فَقَامَ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَوَيَأْتِي الْخَيْرُ بِالشَّرِّ فَسَكَتَ عَنْهُ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قُلْنَا يُوحَى إِلَيْهِ‏.‏ وَسَكَتَ النَّاسُ كَأَنَّ عَلَى رُءُوسِهِمِ الطَّيْرَ، ثُمَّ إِنَّهُ مَسَحَ عَنْ وَجْهِهِ الرُّحَضَاءَ، فَقَالَ ‏"‏ أَيْنَ السَّائِلُ آنِفًا أَوَخَيْرٌ هُوَ ـ ثَلاَثًا ـ إِنَّ الْخَيْرَ لاَ يَأْتِي إِلاَّ بِالْخَيْرِ، وَإِنَّهُ كُلُّ مَا يُنْبِتُ الرَّبِيعُ مَا يَقْتُلُ حَبَطًا أَوْ يُلِمُّ كُلَّمَا أَكَلَتْ، حَتَّى إِذَا امْتَلأَتْ خَاصِرَتَاهَا اسْتَقْبَلَتِ الشَّمْسَ، فَثَلَطَتْ وَبَالَتْ ثُمَّ رَتَعَتْ، وَإِنَّ هَذَا الْمَالَ خَضِرَةٌ حُلْوَةٌ، وَنِعْمَ صَاحِبُ الْمُسْلِمِ لِمَنْ أَخَذَهُ بِحَقِّهِ، فَجَعَلَهُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَالْيَتَامَى وَالْمَسَاكِينِ، وَمَنْ لَمْ يَأْخُذْهُ بِحَقِّهِ فَهْوَ كَالآكِلِ الَّذِي لاَ يَشْبَعُ، وَيَكُونُ عَلَيْهِ شَهِيدًا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ‏"‏‏.‏

  3. 3
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 73
    Sahih Bukhari

    One may wish to be like a person given wealth who spends it righteously.

    Narrated `Abdullah bin Mas`ud:The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Do not wish to be like anyone except in two cases. (The first is) A person, whom Allah has given wealth and he spends it righteously; (the second is) the one whom Allah has given wisdom (the Holy Qur'an) and he acts according to it and teaches it to others." (Fath-al-Bari page 177 Vol)

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا الْحُمَيْدِيُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ أَبِي خَالِدٍ، عَلَى غَيْرِ مَا حَدَّثَنَاهُ الزُّهْرِيُّ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ قَيْسَ بْنَ أَبِي حَازِمٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ مَسْعُودٍ، قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ لاَ حَسَدَ إِلاَّ فِي اثْنَتَيْنِ رَجُلٌ آتَاهُ اللَّهُ مَالاً فَسُلِّطَ عَلَى هَلَكَتِهِ فِي الْحَقِّ، وَرَجُلٌ آتَاهُ اللَّهُ الْحِكْمَةَ، فَهْوَ يَقْضِي بِهَا وَيُعَلِّمُهَا ‏"‏‏.‏

  4. 4
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 6378
    Sahih Bukhari

    The Prophet ﷺ prayed for Anas, "Increase his wealth and offspring and bless whatever You give him."

    Narrated Um Sulaim:that she said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Anas is your servant, so please invoke for Allah's blessing for him." The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "O Allah! Increase his wealth and offspring and bless (for him) whatever You give him

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا غُنْدَرٌ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، عَنْ أُمِّ سُلَيْمٍ، أَنَّهَا قَالَتْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَنَسٌ خَادِمُكَ ادْعُ اللَّهَ لَهُ قَالَ ‏ "‏ اللَّهُمَّ أَكْثِرْ مَالَهُ وَوَلَدَهُ، وَبَارِكْ لَهُ فِيمَا أَعْطَيْتَهُ ‏"‏‏.‏ وَعَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ زَيْدٍ، سَمِعْتُ أَنَسَ بْنَ مَالِكٍ، مِثْلَهُ

  5. 5
    Quran Al-Qasas · 28:77

    Qarun was advised to seek the Hereafter through what Allah gave him, without forgetting his share of the world.

    وَٱبۡتَغِ فِيمَآ ءَاتَىٰكَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلدَّارَ ٱلۡأٓخِرَةَۖ وَلَا تَنسَ نَصِيبَكَ مِنَ ٱلدُّنۡيَاۖ وَأَحۡسِن كَمَآ أَحۡسَنَ ٱللَّهُ إِلَيۡكَۖ وَلَا تَبۡغِ ٱلۡفَسَادَ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُفۡسِدِينَ ۝٧٧

    But seek, through that which Allah has given you, the home of the Hereafter; and [yet], do not forget your share of the world. And do good as Allah has done good to you. And desire not corruption in the land. Indeed, Allah does not like corrupters

  6. 6
    Quran Al-Qasas · 28:78

    Qarun credited his wealth to his own knowledge, forgetting those Allah had destroyed before him.

    قَالَ إِنَّمَآ أُوتِيتُهُۥ عَلَىٰ عِلۡمٍ عِندِيٓۚ أَوَلَمۡ يَعۡلَمۡ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَدۡ أَهۡلَكَ مِن قَبۡلِهِۦ مِنَ ٱلۡقُرُونِ مَنۡ هُوَ أَشَدُّ مِنۡهُ قُوَّةࣰ وَأَكۡثَرُ جَمۡعࣰ اۚ وَلَا يُسۡـَٔلُ عَن ذُنُوبِهِمُ ٱلۡمُجۡرِمُونَ ۝٧٨

    He said, "I was only given it because of knowledge I have." Did he not know that Allah had destroyed before him of generations those who were greater than him in power and greater in accumulation [of wealth]? But the criminals, about their sins, will not be asked

  7. 7
    Quran Saba · 34:37

    Wealth and children do not bring one nearer to Allah; faith and righteous deeds do.

    وَمَآ أَمۡوَٰلُكُمۡ وَلَآ أَوۡلَٰدُكُم بِٱلَّتِي تُقَرِّبُكُمۡ عِندَنَا زُلۡفَىٰٓ إِلَّا مَنۡ ءَامَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَٰلِحࣰ ا فَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ لَهُمۡ جَزَآءُ ٱلضِّعۡفِ بِمَا عَمِلُواْ وَهُمۡ فِي ٱلۡغُرُفَٰتِ ءَامِنُونَ ۝٣٧

    And it is not your wealth or your children that bring you nearer to Us in position, but it is [by being] one who has believed and done righteousness. For them there will be the double reward for what they did, and they will be in the upper chambers [of Paradise], safe [and secure]

  8. 8
    Quran Al-Anfaal · 8:28

    Wealth and children are a trial.

    وَٱعۡلَمُوٓاْ أَنَّمَآ أَمۡوَٰلُكُمۡ وَأَوۡلَٰدُكُمۡ فِتۡنَةࣱ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ عِندَهُۥٓ أَجۡرٌ عَظِيمࣱ‏ ۝٢٨

    And know that your properties and your children are but a trial and that Allah has with Him a great reward

This answer was compiled with the help of AI, using only the verified texts shown here. Every reference links to its source. If you find a mistake, please report it. Updated 2026-09-24

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