Understanding The Prophet's Life
From Issue: 846 [Read full issue]
Best Among Us
Islam views itself as a middle way between the life of this world and the world to come. It is related on the authority of Anas b. Malik that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
"The best among you are not those who neglect this life for the life to come, nor those who neglect the life to come for the sake of this life. Rather each of them serves as a path leading to the other. Hence blame accrues when one exceeds the limits of need and those of sufficiency." [Suyuti]
This hadith evidently advises everyone to earn their living, attend to their worldly affairs, and avoid exceeding the limits of sufficiency and need in this earthly life. Poverty and deprivation are evils that eat not only in the material assets of people but also into their moral integrity and faith. This is the clear message of another hadith in which the Prophet made the following supplication:
"O God! I seek refuge to Thee from poverty and from disbelief." [Nasai]
Compiled From:
"The Middle Path of Moderation in Islam: The Qur'anic Principle of Wasatiyyah" - Hashim Kamali