Wealth is a Trust from Allah: Friday Sermon Urges Earning and Spending Through Halal Means

Wealth and material possessions in human hands are a temporary trust bestowed by Allah, and the entire community must adhere to Islamic principles in earning and spending wealth while diligently fulfilling all associated obligations, today’s Friday sermon emphasized.

Delivered across mosques in the Maldives under the theme “Wealth is a Right of Allah,” the sermon highlighted that Allah is the absolute and ultimate owner of everything in the universe. Humans have been placed as trustees and stewards over these provisions, making wealth not only a means to meet worldly needs but also an instrument through which Allah tests His servants. The variations in affluence and hardship among people are decreed through Divine wisdom and guidance to examine their faith and deeds.

Reminding congregants of accountability on the Day of Judgment, the sermon emphasized that every individual will be questioned not only about their lifespan, physical youth, and knowledge, but also specifically about where and how they acquired their wealth and how they spent it. It warned against unchecked greed and excessive materialism, noting that when the love of worldly possessions exceeds permissible limits, it corrupts moral character, damages religious commitment, and severs one’s relationship with the Creator.

Addressing sources of livelihood, the sermon strongly advised the community against all prohibited means of earning, including usury (riba), bribery, fraud, deceit, theft, and gambling. It recalled the Prophetic warning that any flesh nourished by unlawful earnings is most deserving of the Fire of Hell, reiterating the essential obligation of seeking lawful income through honest trade, legitimate employment, and mutually agreeable ethical transactions.

Furthermore, the sermon called for prudence and responsibility in financial expenditure, advising individuals to prioritize mandatory provisions for their spouses, children, and dependent family members. It also stressed the duty of properly paying obligatory Zakat while cautioning against wasteful extravagance, ostentation, and showing off. Concluding the sermon, it noted that wealth spent in righteous causes brings prosperity in both this world and the Hereafter, offering prayers for divine guidance to pass the test of wealth in ways pleasing to Allah.