The Dual Nature of Wealth: Good vs. Bad Desires for Money in Islam

Understanding Wealth: When the Desire for Money is Praised or Condemned

The desire for wealth can be good or bad:

Ibn Kathir رحمه الله said:

وَحُبُّ الْمَالِ تَارَةً يَكُونُ لِلْفَخْرِ وَالْخُيَلَاءِ وَالتَّكَبُّرِ عَلَى الضُّعَفَاءِ، وَالتَّجَبُّرِ عَلَى الْفُقَرَاءِ، فَهَذَا مَذْمُومٌ، وَتَارَةً يَكُونُ لِلنَّفَقَةِ فِي الْقُرُبَاتِ وَصِلَةِ الْأَرْحَامِ وَالْقَرَابَاتِ وَوُجُوهِ الْبِرِّ وَالطَّاعَاتِ، فَهَذَا مَمْدُوحٌ مَحْمُودٌ عَلَيْهِ شَرْعًا.

The desire of wealth sometimes results out of arrogance, and the desire to dominate the weak and control the poor, and this conduct is prohibited.

Sometimes, the want for more money is for the purpose of spending it on acts of worship, being kind to the family, the relatives, and spending on various acts of righteousness and obedience; this behaviour is praised and encouraged in the religion.

[Tafsir 3:14]