Indeed the best wealth is that by which the freeman is...
Indeed the best wealth is that by which the freeman is enthralled and [by which] reward is earned. 25ـ إنَّ أفْضَلَ الأمْوالِ مَا اسْتُرِقَّ بِهِ حُرٌّ، واسْتُحِقَّ بِهِ أجْرٌ. Verily your wealth cannot fulfil the needs of all the people, so reserve it specifically for the followers of the truth. 26ـ إنَّ مالَكَ لايُغْني جَميعَ النّاسِ، فَاخْصُصْ بِهِ أهْلَ الحَقِّ. Wealth is reckoning [in the Hereafter]. 27ـ اَلمالُ حِسابٌ. Wealth is a borrowed loan [and will not remain with you forever].
28ـ اَلْمالُ عارِيَةٌ. Verily that which is in your possession has had an owner before you and will go to someone after you.
You are only amassing [wealth] for one of two kinds of people: either the one who will use what you amassed in obedience to Allah, thereby becoming felicitous by that which made you wretched, or the one who will use what you amassed in disobedience to Allah, thereby becoming wretched by what you amassed, and neither of these two deserve to be preferred by you over yourself or of being carried by you on your back.
29ـ إنَّ الَّذي في يَدَيْكَ قَدْ كانَ لَهُ أهْلٌ قَبْلَكَ، وهُوَ صائِرٌ إلى مَنْ بَعْدَكَ، وإنَّما أنْتَ جامِع لأحَدِ رَجُلَيْنِ: إمّا رَجُل عَمِلَ فيما جَمَعْتَ بِطاعَةِ اللّهِ فَسَعِدَ بِما شَقيتَ بِهِ، أوْ رَجُل عَمِلَ فيما جَمَعْتَ بِمَعْصيَةِ اللّهِ فَشَقِيَ بِما جَمَعْتَ، ولَيْسَ أحَدُ هذَيْنِ أهْلاً أنْ تُؤْثِرَهُ عَلى نَفْسِكَ، ولاتَحْمِلَ لَهُ عَلى ظَهْرِكَ. Wealth is the plunder of calamities. 30ـ اَلْمالُ نَهْبُ الحَوادِثِ. Wealth is a solace [and comfort] for the heir (or heirs).
31ـ اَلْمالُ سُلْوَةُ الوارِثِ (الوُرّاثِ). Wealth strengthens one who [is weak and] lacks support. 32ـ اَلْمالُ يُقَوّي غَيْرَ الأيِّدِ. People serve wealth, wealth does not serve people.[^3] 33ـ اَلرِّجالُ تُفيدُ المالَ، اَلمالُ ما أفادَ الرِّجالَ. Wealth is the leader of the wicked. 34ـ اَلْمالُ يَعْسُوبُ الفُجّارِ. Wealth is the object of desires. 35ـ اَلْمالُ مادَّةُ الشَّهَواتِ. Wealth strengthens one’s hopes. 36ـ اَلْمالُ يُقَوِّي الآمالَ.
Wealth manifests the intrinsic natures of the people and their characters. 37ـ اَلْمالُ يُبْدِي جَواهِرَ الرِّجالِ وخَلائِقَها. Wealth corrupts the outcomes and extends the [false] hopes. 38ـ اَلْمالُ يُفْسِدُ المَ آلَ ويُوَسِّعُ الآمالَ. Wealth is the cause of trials and the plunder of calamities. 39ـ اَلْمالُ لِلْفِتَنِ سَبَبٌ، ولِلْحَوادِثِ سَلَبٌ. Wealth is the inviter of difficulty and the riding mount of hardship. 40ـ اَلْمالُ داعِيَةُ التَّعَبِ ومَطِيَّةُ النَّصَبِ.
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