5 Ways to Gain Money and Wealth in Islam
By Yaser Birjas | 2026-01-13T08:10:13.825502+00:00 | Topic: Iman
5 Ways to Gain Money and Wealth in Islam
By Shaykh Yaser Birjas
Opening
Introduction: The Reality of Human Nature and Wealth
Alhamdulillah, we praise Him, we ask for His help, we ask for His guidance, and we ask for His mercy. And we seek refuge in Allah from the evil of our actions, and He guides those who are misguided, and He guides those who are guided. And I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and He has no partner. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.
We do love wealth, and we have this inclination towards that. However, because of this passion of love as human beings, we tend to panic whenever we see a threat coming towards our goal and our pursuit of what we consider happiness - that means being rich in this life.
We tend to fear whenever we see the economy goes down, and I guess you all know since 2008, many people have been struggling. There are many people who lost their houses, others who lost their jobs, and now the election is over. One of the biggest areas of debate was the subject of economy and bringing jobs back to the country and so on.
The Nature of Man's Anxiety
Everybody talked about the subject. As human beings, Allah says:
Indeed, mankind was created anxious: When evil touches him, impatient, and when good touches him, withholding [of it], except the observers of prayer.
Man was created in panic. We are so worried. We always have this anxiety, all the time. When a person is affected by a calamity, by a trial from Allah, we tend to panic immediately. We don't go to Allah first and foremost until later on.
When Allah blesses him with wealth and with so much of the ni'mah, they hold back from giving for the sake of Allah. There are few people who are considered generous.
Because Allah says:
And few of My servants are grateful.
In terms of number, in terms of ratio, percentage, they are not the majority. SubhanAllah, it comes down when we speak about wealth and money, at the end of the year, people now start counting the numbers, waiting for W2 to come.
They want to see how much they earn and how much they owe. And how much they're going to give. And now that's what they're going to give. Why do I have to give away the best of what I've earned? You know, the taxes, you start calculating that. But how do we compensate for the loss?
Sources of Wealth According to Islam
How do people usually manage their finances and their money and their wealth? Allah inspired us in the Quran, and informed us in the Quran that there are sources of wealth that you perhaps don't know about, you're not aware of altogether.
Naturally, as human beings, when the economy goes down, people start thinking of extending their business hours. Instead of going from 10 to 8 o'clock or 7 o'clock, they open from 10 to 10. If not even more than that. On the weekend, they open. During holidays, they open.
Other people take two jobs, three jobs. All they're trying to do is compensate for the loss, for the inflation.
But there are other sources Allah promised you. Allah promised that with all these resources, you don't have to claim them in your tax return application. And they're legal and halal.
But not so many people are aware of these resources. In this few words, I would like to share with you the concept of wealth and money from the Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. And I'll give you five resources from the Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam that will increase your wealth, increase your money, without having to do much effort or taking a second job.
Basic Principles of Wealth in Islam
First Principle: Wealth Belongs to Allah
The first thing we need to learn about wealth and money is that al-maal is maal Allah. When it comes to wealth and money, it is the wealth of Allah. Allah calls it maal Allah. It's the wealth - in the literal translation, you could say, the money of Allah. But that's the interpretation of it. That means the wealth that came from Allah.
Allah says:
To Him belongs what is in the heavens and what is on the earth and what is between them and what is under the soil.
He's the owner of what's there in the heavens and the earth and everything in between, and even what is there underneath the earth - like coal and treasure and gold. All these monies, this all comes from Allah.
Allah says:
And give them from the wealth of Allah which He has given you.
Give and spend from maal Allah, the money that Allah has given to you. So the money that you have in your hand, it indeed belongs to the One who created everything. Yes, it would be given to you, but the question comes, why do I have it in my hand then?
Second Principle: We Are Trustees
That's the second point. We are trustees for this world. You are His trustee. You've been entrusted with this amount in this world.
Allah says:
Believe in Allah and His Messenger and spend out of that in which He has made you successors.
Believe in Allah and His Messenger, and give in charity from what Allah has made you a trustee. He has put in your hand as a trust. Give away from that trust that's been given to you from Allah.
And those who believe among you and spend will have a great reward.
Those who believe in that principle, believe in the Day of Judgment and the Hereafter, and spend for the sake of Allah, they will have great reward from Allah.
Third Principle: Provision is Predetermined
The third point, in regard to the wealth and money that we have in our hands, we need to know and believe that it is decreed rizq. Rizq is provision.
Allah promised that He shall provide for you. And He said:
And He is the best of providers.
O you who believe, spend from what We have provided for you.
All you who believe, spend and give away from what we have provided for you, what we have given you as a rizq, as a provision.
The Story of Predetermined Provision
The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam mentioned:
(Ibn Hibban 725, Al-Hakim 2/2)
Indeed, the Holy Spirit (Jibreel) has inspired me that no soul will die until it completes its appointed time and consumes its provision in full.
Jibreel came and whispered to me. He told me something: that no soul shall depart from this world. No one will die until you fulfill two things - your rizq, your provision that was written for you, and your life term.
One of our mashayikh said that one day, as we were traveling back, before the revolution, we used to travel in caravans that go from Mecca through the central Arabian Peninsula, on the way to Iraq. There was a small town back then called Hatr al-Bab. It's a big city right now, in the northern region of Saudi Arabia.
He said there was a water well, on which there was one person serving from the neighborhood, from the area. He used to serve the caravan as they stopped by to drink water for their journey to Iraq in the desert. He said he used to work by himself, and he had only one bucket tied to a rope. He would lower it into the water well and then pull it all the way up so that he could give the water supply to the caravan.
He says one day, as he was trying to grab the rope, the wooden panel underneath his leg and his knee broke, and the man fell into the water well. They pulled him immediately. They just dropped the bucket down, they pulled him up. He was shaken, but he was still alive.
So when they pulled him up, they said, "Are you okay?" He goes, "I'm fine, I'm fine." They said, "Let us milk that camel for you. Give me some milk, I want to give you some milk." That's all he was asking for. So they went and milked that camel for him and brought him some milk. He took one or two sips until he was satisfied.
After that, when he was feeling good, he went back to work. He wanted to fix that panel. They told him, "It's okay. Why don't we wait until later? Let's rest something else inshallah, and then you can go back to work." He said, "No, let's go on. Let's keep going." And he fixed it.
Then he did the same thing. When that bucket went down, and he was about to bring it up, as he was pulling the rope, that wooden panel broke again. And he fell into the water again. But this time, he came out dead. The exact same method of death.
And it was only perhaps maybe half an hour, more or less, between the first attempt and the second attempt. The shaykh said, the moral of the story, which is a beautiful story he witnessed himself: this man, when he fell into the water for the first time, it wasn't his time yet, because his provision was not up. He still had a cup of milk to drink.
Therefore, those who think of the dunya as the source of provision, and forget Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala being the source of provision, take it easy. Don't think of your job, your work, your business to be a source of provision. It's only the means Allah has given you. But the source of provision is coming from Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.
Why Rich and Poor?
When it comes to money and wealth, now we know it's provision. But how come we see people rich and
people poor? What's that? What's going on?
Well, that's because Allah azza wa jal decides to give some more than others and decides to give some less than others. But why is that? That's the test Allah has chosen. It is a test.
Don't tell me that the rich is more righteous than the poor, and don't say the poor is more righteous than the rich. No, it doesn't matter.
Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you.
The one who's most righteous is the one who's the best with Allah. Whether rich or poor, it doesn't matter. As long as you have righteousness in your heart, that's what matters the most. But it's a test. Allah is testing the rich to see if they're going to be grateful or not. And He's testing the poor to see if they're going to be patient or not.
Allah says:
And it is He who has made you successors upon the earth and has raised some of you above others in degrees that He may test you in what He has given you.
He keeps raising you one rank above the other, ranks above the other. For what reason? So He would test you in what He has given you.
Allah azza wa jalla is the one who divides provision in the way that suits His divine plans:
Do they distribute the mercy of your Lord? It is We who have apportioned among them their livelihood in the life of this world and have raised some of them above others in degrees that they may take one another into service.
We distribute their provision in this dunya. And We raise them one level above the other, rank above the other. For a very simple reason: so that they might employ one another. Imagine everybody is rich -
who's going to work in service jobs? Imagine everybody is poor - who's going to build the Ummah and build civilization?
The Right of the Poor
Therefore, one of the principles of the Muslims is:
And for the petitioner and the deprived is a [right known] portion [of their wealth].
The poor has a right in the wealth of the rich. This right we call it Zakah.
The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said:
(At-Tabarani in Al-Awsat 4537)
Zakah is the right of the poor in the wealth of the rich.
And it's only 2.5%. Imagine, it's only 2.5%. If you really care about this right of the poor, you would not wait for anybody to remind you. You would be looking for the time and the opportunity to give it away because you believe that it is indeed the right of the poor.
Accountability for Wealth
Therefore, O servants of Allah, one of the principles that is very important is that when you pursue this rizq, pursue it through halal means. Don't you know you're going to be questioned one day when you see yourself standing before Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala? You are going to be questioned.
The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said:
(At-Tirmidhi 2417)
The feet of a servant will not move on the Day of Judgment until he is asked about four things: about his life and how he spent it, about his body and how he used it, about his knowledge and what he did with it, and about his wealth - where he acquired it and how he spent it.
These simple questions - five questions, one of them is where did you get the money from? Your money that you earned in this dunya, where did you get it from? And where did you spend it? Where did you
spend that money?
Allah says:
He is not questioned about what He does, but they will be questioned.
He can't be questioned by what He does, but you shall be questioned and asked about everything.
O servants of Allah, make sure what you earn is halal.
The Five Sources of Wealth
Now I'll give you inshallah five sources or five resources from the Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) that can increase your wealth and your money without having to take another job, without having to increase the hours of your job and working. From the Quran and the Sunnah. And you don't have to claim them in your taxes. They're blessed, and it's halal.
1. At-Taqwa (Righteousness)
The first source of income that you should look for: At-Taqwa - righteousness and piety.
How come? Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala said:
And whoever fears Allah - He will make for him a way out. And will provide for him from where he does not expect.
Whoever fears Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, if you truly fear Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, Allah shall provide for you a way out from every difficulty and provide for you from sources that you don't even imagine, from sources you don't count on.
From sources you're not aware of even. But it will come. I heard from a brother yesterday who said the same thing - he gave for the sake of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, instantly Allah provided for him a scholarship. Full scholarship, mashallah. You give money in one hand, Allah will provide with the other hand.
It's coming from sources you don't even count on. But if you have that belief in your heart and you work on the path of piety and righteousness, Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala shall provide for you.
2. Al-Istighfar (Seeking Forgiveness)
The second source: Al-Istighfar - seeking forgiveness from Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.
Allah azza wa jalla in the story of the Prophet Nuh alayhi salam, he was speaking to his people and he said:
And said, 'Ask forgiveness of your Lord. Indeed, He is ever a Perpetual Forgiver. He will send [rain from] the sky upon you in [continuing] showers. And give you increase in wealth and children and provide for you gardens and provide for you rivers.'
Seek forgiveness from Allah - that's what he's asking from them to say. He's asking for forgiveness from Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. As a result of your constant seeking of His forgiveness, He sent abundance in rain and provided for all of them with children and civilization, eventually establishing families by seeking forgiveness from Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.
3. Ash-Shukr (Gratitude)
The third source of income: Ash-Shukr - being grateful to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, being thankful to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.
Didn't Allah azza wa jalla say:
And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed, 'If you are grateful, I will certainly give you more.'
Allah vowed, Allah promised that if you show gratitude to Him, if you're grateful, if you're thankful, He shall increase His ni'mah upon you. Be grateful, show that gratitude to Allah in action and you will see how much Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala will give you in return.
4. Al-Infaq (Giving Charity)
The fourth source of income, which is a paradoxical source: Al-Infaq - giving away, to give charity.
You will say, "But I'm losing money over here." No, you're not losing money. In our perception as humans, yeah, the figures are coming down. But with Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, Allah azza wa jalla says:
And whatever you spend [in His cause] - He will compensate it; and He is the best of providers.
Whatever you give for charity, He shall give back. And He says, and He's reminding me and you, He is the best of providers. You give me, I'll give you back, I promise I'll give you back. And remember, you're dealing with the One who is the most generous subhanahu wa ta'ala, the One who provides the best. So you can expect how much you get from Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.
5. At-Tawakkul (Reliance on Allah)
And finally, the last source of income that we share with you in this khutbah: At-Tawakkul ala Allah - full dependence and reliance on Allah.
What is that exactly? That's a whole topic by itself that needs to be covered. But the essence of tawakkul, reliance on Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, is having that strong belief that everything is indeed in the hands of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. But I need to do my part.
The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said:
(At-Tirmidhi 2344)
If you were to rely on Allah with true reliance, He would provide for you as He provides for the birds. They go out hungry in the morning and return full in the evening.
If you just put your trust in Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, if you fully put your trust in Allah azza wa jalla, He shall provide for you like He does to the birds. Every day in the morning they leave their nest with empty stomachs, they come back with full stomachs.
Our culture today is difficult and different. I wish it was that easy, right? You wake up in the morning, you go and grab whatever you get from the forest and you come back home to cook it, alhamdulillah, you survive another day. I wish it's the same thing. It's not the same thing. But if you put your trust in Allah azza wa jalla, Allah shall provide for you.
The Importance of Halal Income
You need to make sure that you remember these things: Remember taqwa, seek forgiveness from Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, always be grateful and thankful to Allah azza wa jalla, show that by giving and sharing it with those who are less fortunate. And as you do so, you have your full trust that Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala will give back.
If you do so, I guarantee you, you'll enjoy this life inshallah comfortably in this dunya and in the akhirah.
But remember the warning of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. He mentioned a man who travels for a long journey, disheveled, dusty, raising his hands to the sky, calling "O my Lord! O my Lord!" But his food is haram, his drink is haram, his clothing is haram - so how can his supplication be answered?
O people, indeed Allah is good and accepts only what is good.
This is why it's crucial that we learn the basics of what is halal and what is haram in our transactions. Making sure that what you practice is acceptable and permissible.
Closing
I'm coming here to this community to teach this topic of money and transactions, hopefully to bring awareness among the Muslims so that they learn halal and also respect halal. And as a result of that, I hope that we will help the entire community and society to realize how we can really earn in the right way and also spend in the right way.
Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the hereafter and save us from the punishment of the Fire.