In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful The Bestower of Mercy
Imaam Muhammad Bin Abdul Wahhaab (rahimahullaah) said:
Indeed they were deceived by the life of this world, so they thought that being given of it is an indication that Allaah is pleased (with those who receive it), as Allaah stated about their saying: ‘And they say: we are more in wealth and in children, and we are not going to be punished’ [soorah saba:ayah:35]
Sheikh Saaleh Al-Fawzaan (may Allaah preserve him) commented on the above statement saying:
The people of the era of pre-Islamic ignorance considered what they were given of children and wealth to be nobility they had in the sight of Allaah, and that Allaah will not punish them. ”And they say: we are more in wealth and in children, and we are not going to be punished. Say (O Muhammad): Verily, my Lord enlarges the provision to whom He wills and restricts, but most men know not. And it is not your wealth, nor your children that bring you nearer to Us’ [34:35-37] up to His saying: ‘Say: Truly, my Lord enlarges the provision for whom He wills of His slaves, and (also) restricts (it) for him, and whatsoever you spend of anything (in Allaah’s Cause), He will replace it. And He is the Best of providers’[34:39]
Therefore, abundant wealth, children and riches is not evidence of Allaah’s love for a slave; rather He gives the disbeliever in order to gradually lead him to destruction. And (it has been stated) in a hadith: ”Indeed Allaah gives the worldly things to the one He loves and to whom He does not love, but as for the religion He only gives it to the one He loves”(1)
And (stated) in another hadith: ”If the world was worth even the weight of a mosquito’s wing to Allah, He would not let a disbeliever drink even a sip of water in it.”(2)
The Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) is the noblest human being in the sight of Allaah, and likewise his companions were afflicted with hunger, poverty and destitution, whilst they are the noblest of the creation in the sight of Allaah after the Prophets. And the disbelievers, they graze freely and rejoice in the blessings of the worldly things in order to be gradually led to destruction.
Therefore, the glitter of this world is not what determines the nobility of its people in the sight of Allaah (The One Free from All Imperfections and Exalted Be He); rather what determines the nobility of a slave in the sight of Allaah is that he is a doer of righteous actions, whether he is rich or poor.
[Source:Sharh Masaa-il Al-Jaahiliyyah: page: 108-109]
1. [Reported by Ahmad 1/387] and [Al-Haakim 1/193, (No: 102) 5/230 (No: 7381) said that the isnaad of this hadith is saheeh]
2. [Reported by Tirmidhee 4/560 (No: 2325)]
Translated by: Abu mu-aawiyyah (Abdullaah Al-Gambi)