How to Get Rich

Have you ever wondered what Islam has to say about getting rich? Is Islam against getting rich and, is richness necessarily correlated with evil? The answer is quite simple. Islam is not against getting rich. What Islam is against is getting rich through unlawful means. In other words, as long as someone is getting rich based on a halal living, it is perfectly fine as far as Islamic rulings are concerned.

What Does Islam Say About Wealth?

Islam has a lot to say about wealth. First of all, wealth can be a good or bad thing like many other blessings. In many cases, Allah tests us with wealth. It is just like a knife, you can either kill someone with it or do a surgical operation and save someone’s life. However, certain things need to be considered when it comes to acquiring wealth.

The very first thing is that it must be acquired through a halal earning and not an unlawful one. It is then that the wealth acquired would be a source of blessing. The second important thing is that God does not like the accumulation of wealth and not using it in the right way.

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God has censured those who accumulate wealth and just count it instead of spending it in the right way.¹ Therefore, wealth must be spent on taking care of yourself, your family, helping those who are needy, and in the way of God. This, meaning helping the poor, has been emphasized greatly in various verses of the Quran, whether it is in secret or public.²

God has considered invaluable rewards for those who spend their wealth in His way.³ On the other hand, unlawfully acquiring wealth is what Islam considers bad and intolerable. All in all, being wealthy is not necessarily bad. It all boils down to how the wealth has been acquired and what the person does with the wealth.

How to Get Rich: Greatest Wealth – Contentment

Prophet Muhammad has said:

القَنَاعَةُ كَنزٌ لَا يَفنَى

Contentment is a treasure that never perishes.⁴

What is contentment? Contentment means that you are happy with what you are blessed with, and you thank God for giving you what you have. The person who is content is never after acquiring greater and greater wealth, rather, he thanks God for what He has already given him. The opposite of contentment, meaning greed, is truly evil as it leads to all kinds of vices. Greed may well cause the person to seek any and every means to acquire greater wealth, even if it is through unlawful means.

For example, the person might resort to theft, bribery, embezzlement, usury, and so forth. Besides, in Islam, we have been recommended to look at those who are below us in terms of social and financial conditions, not those who are above us.

When we see those below us, we thank God that He has given us more wealth than them and we become content, at the same time, we are motivated to share what we have with them, which, in turn, brings balance to social and economic justice in society.

How to Get Rich: What Makes Money Haram?

This is a question that is commonly asked. What exactly makes your money and income haram? The answer is any sort of income that is obtained through unlawful means. For example, if a person sells something, it is very important that what he sells is not forbidden to consume, such as, haram meat (example, pork), or intoxicating and alcoholic beverages.

Moreover, the person must not cheat people and rip them off, so to speak, if he is, for example, a clothes seller or has a grocery store and tampers with his scale so it shows more than the actual weight of his goods. Another thing that makes one’s money haram is not paying the religious taxes namely khums (خُمس) and zakat (زکاة). Stealing money or selling stolen things also makes money haram. Of course, these are just a few examples. For further information about what is halal and haram and halal earning, why not enroll in the course on halal? You will learn all that is necessary about halal food and halal earning.

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Verses of the Quran That Speak About Those who Were Wealthy

There are at least two very rich individuals and the Quran mentions their names. The first one is Korah (Qārūn: قارون), a rich man among the Israelites (بني اسرائيل), the person who opposed Moses (موسی) and God punished him for his disobedience and arrogance. He used to show off his wealth and was very proud of himself. The Quran tells his story in detail:

إِنَّ قَارُونَ كَانَ مِن قَوْمِ مُوسَىٰ فَبَغَىٰ عَلَيْهِمْ ۖ وَآتَيْنَاهُ مِنَ الْكُنُوزِ مَا إِنَّ مَفَاتِحَهُ لَتَنُوءُ بِالْعُصْبَةِ أُولِي الْقُوَّةِ إِذْ قَالَ لَهُ قَوْمُهُ لَا تَفْرَحْ ۖ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ لَا يُحِبُّ الْفَرِحِينَ ﴿76﴾

Korah indeed belonged to the people of Moses, but he bullied them. We had given him so much treasures that their chests indeed proved heavy for a band of stalwarts. When his people said to him, ‘Do not boast! Indeed Allah does not like the boasters.

وَابْتَغِ فِيمَا آتَاكَ اللَّـهُ الدَّارَ الْآخِرَةَ ۖ وَلَا تَنسَ نَصِيبَكَ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا ۖ وَأَحْسِن كَمَا أَحْسَنَ اللَّـهُ إِلَيْكَ ۖ وَلَا تَبْغِ الْفَسَادَ فِي الْأَرْضِ ۖ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُفْسِدِينَ ﴿77﴾

Seek the abode of the Hereafter by means of what Allah has given you, while not forgetting your share of this world. Be good [to others] just as Allah has been good to you, and do not try to cause corruption in the land. Indeed Allah does not like the agents of corruption.’

قَالَ إِنَّمَا أُوتِيتُهُ عَلَىٰ عِلْمٍ عِندِي ۚ أَوَلَمْ يَعْلَمْ أَنَّ اللَّـهَ قَدْ أَهْلَكَ مِن قَبْلِهِ مِنَ الْقُرُونِ مَنْ هُوَ أَشَدُّ مِنْهُ قُوَّةً وَأَكْثَرُ جَمْعًا ۚ وَلَا يُسْأَلُ عَن ذُنُوبِهِمُ الْمُجْرِمُونَ ﴿78﴾

He said, ‘I have indeed been given [all] this because of the knowledge that I have.’ Did he not know that Allah had already destroyed before him some of the generations who were more powerful than him and greater in amassing [wealth]? The guilty will not be questioned about their sins.

فَخَرَجَ عَلَىٰ قَوْمِهِ فِي زِينَتِهِ ۖ قَالَ الَّذِينَ يُرِيدُونَ الْحَيَاةَ الدُّنْيَا يَا لَيْتَ لَنَا مِثْلَ مَا أُوتِيَ قَارُونُ إِنَّهُ لَذُو حَظٍّ عَظِيمٍ ﴿79﴾

So he emerged before his people in his finery. Those who desired the life of the world said, ‘We wish we had like what Korah has been given! Indeed he is greatly fortunate.’

وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ وَيْلَكُمْ ثَوَابُ اللَّـهِ خَيْرٌ لِّمَنْ آمَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا وَلَا يُلَقَّاهَا إِلَّا الصَّابِرُونَ ﴿80﴾

Those who were given knowledge said [to them], ‘Woe to you! Allah’s reward is better for someone who has faith and acts righteously, and no one will receive it except the patient.’

فَخَسَفْنَا بِهِ وَبِدَارِهِ الْأَرْضَ فَمَا كَانَ لَهُ مِن فِئَةٍ يَنصُرُونَهُ مِن دُونِ اللَّـهِ وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُنتَصِرِينَ ﴿81﴾

So We caused the earth to swallow him and his house, and he had no party that might protect him from Allah, nor could he rescue himself.

وَأَصْبَحَ الَّذِينَ تَمَنَّوْا مَكَانَهُ بِالْأَمْسِ يَقُولُونَ وَيْكَأَنَّ اللَّـهَ يَبْسُطُ الرِّزْقَ لِمَن يَشَاءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ وَيَقْدِرُ ۖ لَوْلَا أَن مَّنَّ اللَّـهُ عَلَيْنَا لَخَسَفَ بِنَا ۖ وَيْكَأَنَّهُ لَا يُفْلِحُ الْكَافِرُونَ ﴿82﴾

By dawn those who longed to be in his place the day before were saying, ‘Don’t you see that Allah expands the provision for whomever He wishes of His servants, and tightens it? Had Allah not shown us favour, He might have made the earth swallow us too. Don’t you see that the faithless do not prosper?’⁵

How to Get Rich: Solomon the Wealthy Prophet and King

Another individual whose name has been mentioned in the Quran and was very wealthy yet righteous, unlike Korah, is Prophet Solomon. He was the son of Prophet David who was also a king of the Israelites. However, Solomon’s kingdom was much vaster and had control over all living beings including humans, jinn, and birds. There are many verses of the Quran that talk about Prophet Solomon such as this one:

وَوَرِثَ سُلَيْمَانُ دَاوُودَ ۖ وَقَالَ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ عُلِّمْنَا مَنطِقَ الطَّيْرِ وَأُوتِينَا مِن كُلِّ شَيْءٍ ۖ إِنَّ هَـٰذَا لَهُوَ الْفَضْلُ الْمُبِينُ ﴿16﴾

Solomon inherited from David, and he said, ‘O people! We have been taught the speech of the birds, and we have been given out of everything. Indeed this is a manifest advantage.’⁶

When Prophet Solomon is quoted in this verse as saying we have been given out of everything, it means that he was very well off and possessed plenty of riches that he used for building his kingdom. Although Prophet Solomon was very rich, he was also righteous and ruled justly over his people while according to most narrations, he lived a simple life. This shows that being wealthy and righteous is not contradictory. The Quran says:

وَوَهَبْنَا لِدَاوُودَ سُلَيْمَانَ ۚ نِعْمَ الْعَبْدُ ۖ إِنَّهُ أَوَّابٌ ﴿30﴾

And to David We gave Solomon—what an excellent servant he was! Indeed, he was a penitent [soul].⁷

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5 Most Richest Individuals in the Holy Quran

• Qārūn (Korah: قارون)
• Sulaymān (Solomon: سليمان)
• Dhul Qarnayn (literally meaning “the Two-horned”: ذوالقرنين)
• Namrood (Nimrod: نَمرود)
• Fir‘ayn (Pharaoh: فِرعَون)

How to Get Rich: Which Surahs to Recite to Get Wealthy?

There are certain surahs and verses that if recited, one’s provision and wealth will increase, God willing. For example, it is well-known that reciting surah Waqi‘ah (سورةُ الواقعَة) at night saves one from poverty and does not make one needy. Likewise, one of the Infallibles has said that reciting surah Humazah (سورةُ هُمَزَة) in one’s obligatory prayers causes poverty to be warded off from a person and one will become wealthy.

The Noble Prophet has said, whoever recites surah Lail (سورة الّيل), God will give him so much so that he becomes satisfied and he will be at ease in his life.⁸ Surah Dhariyat has also been said to improve one’s financial conditions if recited regularly.⁹

Now there are two verses of surah Talaq (سورة الطلاق) that if recited three times after one’s obligatory prayers, one’s sustenance and wealth will be increased, God willing. It is the last part of verse two and verse three of surah Talaq:

وَمَن يَتَّقِ اللَّـهَ يَجْعَل لَّهُ مَخْرَجًا ﴿2﴾

Whoever is wary of Allah, He shall make for him a way out [of the adversities of the world and the Hereafter]

وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُ ۚ وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّـهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ بَالِغُ أَمْرِهِ ۚ قَدْ جَعَلَ اللَّـهُ لِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدْرًا ﴿3﴾

and provide for him from whence he does not count upon. And whoever puts his trust in Allah, He will suffice him. Indeed Allah carries through His commands. Certainly, Allah has ordained a measure [and extent] for everything.¹⁰

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How to Get Rich: Duas to Recite to Get Rich

Of course, there are many duas and supplications that have been passed down to us from the Prophet and his Ahlul Bait (اهل البيت) in order to get rich in a halal way. For example, it has been said¹¹ that the following dua be recited or written and if hung up on the wall of your house or shop, it will increase your wealth and provision from God:

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيم‏

اللَّهُمَّ انّى‏ أَسْئَلُكَ یا قَریبَ الْفَتْحُ وَ الْفَرْجُ وَ سَهِّلَ الْفَتْحُ وَ الْفَرْجُ یا فَتّاحَ الْفَتْحُ وَ الْفَرْجُ یا مِفتاحَ الْفَتْحُ وَ الْفَرْجُ یا صادِقَ الْفَتْحُ وَ الْفَرْجُ یا رازِقَ الْفَتْحُ وَ الْفَرْجُ یا مُفَتِّحَ الاَبوابِ

Another dua¹² that has been said for us to recite a lot to get rich is the following:

يَا اللَّهُ يَا اللَّهُ يَا اللَّهُ أَسْأَلُكَ بِحَقِ‏ مَنْ‏ حَقُّهُ‏ عَلَيْكَ‏ عَظِيمٌ أَنْ تُصَلِّيَ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ أَنْ تَرْزُقَنِي الْعَمَلَ بِمَا عَلَّمْتَنِي مِنْ مَعْرِفَةِ حَقِّكَ وَ أَنْ تَبْسُطَ عَلَيَّ مَا حَظَرْتَ مِنْ رِزْقِكَ‏.

Furthermore, the duas that are recited after each obligatory prayer as part of the ta‘qībāt (تَعقیبات) increase one’s wealth and provision. The dua that is recited after the ‘Isha especially is for increasing one’s wealth and provision.

In addition, performing Salatul Layl (صلاة الّيل) is highly recommended as well. It is mentioned that whoever performs the Salatul Layl regularly, and yet complains of poverty is lying.

How to Get Rich According to Verses of the Quran and Narrations

Getting rich is not always something that is within our control. God has said in the Quran that He gives His provision to whomever He wishes without measure.¹³ That is, sometimes you will see that a person who is rich does not really work hard and it seems that he is just very lucky. On the other hand, you might see a very hard-working individual who works day and night yet he is not very rich.

One of many reasons God gives His provision to people without measure is that He wants to test them to see how they spend their wealth and whether they give thanks for it or not. Or he wants His servants to speak to Him and ask for His help and provision. God very much loves it when His servants turn to Him and open their hearts to Him. That is when He may or may not make them richer depending on what is in their interest.

Nevertheless, there is one sunnah (سُنَّة) or God’s way of doing things that has been mentioned in the Quran that is quite definitive for becoming richer. It is:

لَئِن شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ ۖ وَلَئِن كَفَرْتُمْ إِنَّ عَذَابِي لَشَدِيدٌ ﴿7﴾

“If you are grateful, I will surely enhance you [in blessing], but if you are ungrateful, My punishment is indeed severe.” ’¹⁴

Therefore, if we give thanks to God for the blessings He has given us, He will definitely give us more blessings. This is something He has promised. On the other hand, if we are ungrateful of His blessings, He may well take them away from us.

What Do the Narrations Say About How to Get Rich?

It is important to realize that all of this does not mean that we sit idle and do nothing and expect God to provide for us. Our narrations tell us that working hard to gain a halal income for our family is like jihad in the way of God.¹⁵ We must make the effort to earn money, or else we will never get rich. The Quran says in this regard:

وَأَن لَّيْسَ لِلْإِنسَانِ إِلَّا مَا سَعَىٰ ﴿39﴾

Nothing belongs to man except what he strives for,

وَأَنَّ سَعْيَهُ سَوْفَ يُرَىٰ ﴿40﴾

and that he will soon be shown his endeavour,

ثُمَّ يُجْزَاهُ الْجَزَاءَ الْأَوْفَىٰ ﴿41﴾

then he will be rewarded for it with the fullest reward;¹⁶

Moreover, the Noble Prophet of Islam has said:

طَلَبَ الحَلالِ فَریضَةٌ عَلی کُلِّ مُسلِمٍ وَ مُسْلِمَةٍ

Going after a halal income is necessary for every Muslim man and woman.

So, if we want to get rich, we first must work hard and find an appropriate job, then we must put our trust in God and carry out all of our religious obligations. Specifically, praying on time has been mentioned as one of the ways of fulfilling one’s worldly and otherworldly wishes.¹⁷

Therefore, taking our prayer seriously and not delaying it is very important as well. It is also important that we must not make wealth our only goal of this life. As a matter of fact, wealth is one of the ways that we attain closeness to God by spending it in the right path.

At the end of the day, whatever God ordains for us, we must be content with it because we tried our best and spared no effort to become wealthy. God willing, God will make all of us wealthy, and we must remember that we should spend a portion of our wealth to help the poor, needy, and orphan.

A Course on Halal Earning

Dear readers, if you want to learn more about halal earning and how it makes the food that you buy halal, please enroll in our course on halal. By enrolling in this course, you will learn about everything that is halal or haram to consume and what makes your income halal.