Does Quran Approve of Wealth Accumulation?
Constructive accumulation of wealth is when a person increases his or her wealth through legal and permissible means for the purpose of meeting life’s needs and helping his or her fellow man and the poor.
Harmful accumulation of wealth, on the other hand, is that which is acquired by unlawful and unjust means and is spent in the path of injustice and oppression and in unlawful ways.
Wealth accumulation is a kind of wanting more wealth for different reasons. Some seek more wealth out of greed, some in order to get more power and some for meeting needs.
The Holy Quran approves of constructive wealth accumulation that is when a person increases his or her wealth through legal and permissible means for the purpose of meeting life’s needs and helping his or her fellow man and the poor.
In other words, positive wealth accumulation is for the purpose of helping others and serving the society. That is why inaction, laziness and idleness are criticized in the Quran. And that is why according to the Quran, wealth should be accumulated with a belief in divine Qadha and Qadar (belief that everything that happens in this universe happens by the will and decree of Allah), a belief in the fact that God is Razzaq (provider or sustainer), and through Tawakkul (putting one’s trust in God), piety and patience.
Harmful accumulation of wealth, on the other hand, is that which is acquired by unlawful and unjust means and is spent in the path of injustice and oppression and in unlawful ways. Such wealth may even disappear suddenly as a result of ungratefulness or injustice to others.
Negative wealth accumulation has been criticized in the Quran and people have been warned to avoid it. The Quran introduces individuals such as Qarun (Korah) as those who had harmful accumulation of verse as they had ignorant behavior and refused to help the needy and poor.
The great wealth did not benefit Qarun, but only gave him the opportunity to commit injustice and oppression.
Another example is those Jews who gathered wealth through illegal means such as usury and refused to help the needy.
Pharaoh is another example of harmful accumulation of wealth. Not only did he provide the ground for the spread of poverty and corruption, but he also caused people to deviate and forget about God and the Hereafter.
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Contrary to a Qaruni society is a Solomoni society, which, as a society of believers, emphasizes wisdom, effort and production in the field of economy and does not approve of financial self-glorification. Prophet Solomon (AS) had great wealth and power, but his wealth was not stagnant, but was spent to serve and help others. He also gave Zakat and helped the poor so his wealth accumulation was positive and there was no rebellion or ungratefulness in it.
Thinking good, doing good and paying attention to public welfare in a society of believers are achieved in the light of divine blessings and as a result of thankfulness for His favors. Therefore, it is of great importance to pay attention to the worship of God and life in the hereafter in economic activities. In monotheistic thought, all wealth, capital, and blessings are from God, and this belief means that one can benefit from them for good purposes, but should not use them in unlawful and incorrect ways and for rebellion, injustice, and corruption.
Such a valuable belief has many benefits in life and is a feature of the Islamic economy.
Thus, wealth accumulation is valuable and good if it serves the purpose of achieving salvation and strengthening the pillars of the society but it would be rejected and unacceptable if it makes one preoccupied with worldly things and causes him to rebel and move toward misery.
