الحمد لله نحمده ونستعينة ونستغفره، ونعوذ بالله من شرور أنفسنا، ومن سيئات أعمالنا ، وأشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له ، وأشهد أن سيدنا محمداً عبده ورسوله ، اللهم صلِّ وسلم وبارك على سيدنا محمد وعلى آله وأصحابه  ومن تبعه إلى يوم الدين

To identify the most important issues in Islam, you need to look at the first revelation and the last one because any revelation in between will mainly be to support and expand their key commands of the first revealed verses and the last revelated verse. 

The first reveled verses are

ٱقۡرَأۡ بِٱسۡمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ (١) خَلَقَ ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنَ مِنۡ عَلَقٍ (٢) ٱقۡرَأۡ وَرَبُّكَ ٱلۡأَكۡرَمُ (٣) ٱلَّذِى عَلَّمَ بِٱلۡقَلَمِ (٤) عَلَّمَ ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنَ مَا لَمۡ يَعۡلَمۡ (٥)

“Read! In the Name of your Lord, Who created (all that exists), (1)

He created man from a clinging clot (2) Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous, (3) Who taught by the pen. (4) He taught man what he did not know. (Al-Alaq 96:1-5)

The last revealed verse after 23 years from the first revelation is

وَٱتَّقُواْ يَوۡمً۬ا تُرۡجَعُونَ فِيهِ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ‌ۖ ثُمَّ تُوَفَّىٰ كُلُّ نَفۡسٍ۬ مَّا ڪَسَبَتۡ وَهُمۡ لَا يُظۡلَمُونَ (٢٨١)

“And be fully conscious of a day when you shall be brought back to Allah. Then every soul shall be paid in full what he has earned, and they shall not be wronged.” (Al-Baqara 2:281)

The first revelation that starts with the command ‘Read” clearly highlights the importance of literacy for Muslims.   Reading, obviously with tadabour, is the means by which one can acquire knowledge.  The significance of acquiring knowledge and the emphasizes on its value are clearly expounded in many verses in the Quran. Let us look at few examples.

In Surat Al-Baqara, Allah informs us that it was the ability to learn and to retain knowledge are the reason why man was preferred over all creations, including the angels.  Allah says:

وَإِذۡ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلۡمَلَـٰٓٮِٕكَةِ إِنِّى جَاعِلٌ۬ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ خَلِيفَةً۬‌ۖ قَالُوٓاْ أَتَجۡعَلُ فِيہَا مَن يُفۡسِدُ فِيہَا وَيَسۡفِكُ ٱلدِّمَآءَ وَنَحۡنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمۡدِكَ وَنُقَدِّسُ لَكَ‌ۖ قَالَ إِنِّىٓ أَعۡلَمُ مَا لَا تَعۡلَمُونَ (٣٠) وَعَلَّمَ ءَادَمَ ٱلۡأَسۡمَآءَ كُلَّهَا ثُمَّ عَرَضَہُمۡ عَلَى ٱلۡمَلَـٰٓٮِٕكَةِ فَقَالَ أَنۢبِـُٔونِى بِأَسۡمَآءِ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَـٰدِقِينَ (٣١) قَالُواْ سُبۡحَـٰنَكَ لَا عِلۡمَ لَنَآ إِلَّا مَا عَلَّمۡتَنَآ‌ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلۡعَلِيمُ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ (٣٢) قَالَ يَـٰٓـَٔادَمُ أَنۢبِئۡهُم بِأَسۡمَآٮِٕہِمۡ‌ۖ فَلَمَّآ أَنۢبَأَهُم بِأَسۡمَآٮِٕہِمۡ قَالَ أَلَمۡ أَقُل لَّكُمۡ إِنِّىٓ أَعۡلَمُ غَيۡبَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَأَعۡلَمُ مَا تُبۡدُونَ وَمَا كُنتُمۡ تَكۡتُمُونَ (٣٣) وَإِذۡ قُلۡنَا لِلۡمَلَـٰٓٮِٕكَةِ ٱسۡجُدُواْ لِأَدَمَ فَسَجَدُوٓاْ إِلَّآ إِبۡلِيسَ أَبَىٰ وَٱسۡتَكۡبَرَ وَكَانَ مِنَ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ (٣٤)

“And (recall) when your Lord told the angels: I am placing a vicegerent (Khalifa) in the earth.  They said: will You place in it someone who will make mischief in it and shed blood, while we, we hymn Your praise and glorify Your holiness? He said: I know that which you do not know.” (30) 

“And He taught Adam the names of all things; then He placed them before the angels and said:  Tell me their names if you are truthful. (31)  They said: Glory to You: we have no knowledge beyond what You have taught us, You are the all-knowing, the all Wise” (32)

“He said:  o Adam, tell them their names.  When he told them their names, Allah said: Didn’t I tell you that I know what is unseen in the heavens and the earth, and I know what you reveal and what you have concealed.” (2:33)

“And behold, We said to the angels: Prostrate to Adam, and they prostrated down, except Iblis who refused and was arrogant and was of the disbelievers (disobedient to Allah)”. (Al-Baqara 2:30-34)

Another example of the importance of knowledge is associated with Prophet Suliman and the throne of queen of Sheba.  It was the man who has the knowledge who was able to teleport the throne of the queen from Yemen to Jerusalem in a blink of an eye and it was not the Jinn who has superpower. This emphasizes the importance of knowledge over power, and this is logical because it is knowledge that will allow any nation to develop the sources of power.  Allah reports to us this account by saying:

قَالَ يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلۡمَلَؤُاْ أَيُّكُمۡ يَأۡتِينِى بِعَرۡشِہَا قَبۡلَ أَن يَأۡتُونِى مُسۡلِمِينَ (٣٨) قَالَ عِفۡرِيتٌ۬ مِّنَ ٱلۡجِنِّ أَنَا۟ ءَاتِيكَ بِهِۦ قَبۡلَ أَن تَقُومَ مِن مَّقَامِكَ‌ۖ وَإِنِّى عَلَيۡهِ لَقَوِىٌّ أَمِينٌ۬ (٣٩) قَالَ ٱلَّذِى عِندَهُ ۥ عِلۡمٌ۬ مِّنَ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ أَنَا۟ ءَاتِيكَ بِهِۦ قَبۡلَ أَن يَرۡتَدَّ إِلَيۡكَ طَرۡفُكَ‌ۚ فَلَمَّا رَءَاهُ مُسۡتَقِرًّا عِندَهُ ۥ قَالَ هَـٰذَا مِن فَضۡلِ رَبِّى لِيَبۡلُوَنِىٓ ءَأَشۡكُرُ أَمۡ أَكۡفُرُ‌ۖ وَمَن شَكَرَ فَإِنَّمَا يَشۡكُرُ لِنَفۡسِهِۦ‌ۖ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ رَبِّى غَنِىٌّ۬ كَرِيمٌ۬ (٤٠)

” He Suleiman (Solomon) said: “O chiefs! Which of you can bring me her throne before they come to me submissively?” (38) A strong one from the jinn said: “I will bring it to you before you rise up from your place (council). And I am indeed strong, and trustworthy for this task.” (39)

But the one who has knowledge of the book said: “I will bring it to you before you glance returns to you!” Then when he (Solomon) saw it well placed before him, he said: “This is by the Grace of my Lord – to test me whether I am grateful or ungrateful!  And whoever is grateful, truly, his gratitude is for his own benefit, and whoever is ungrateful, certainly! my Lord is Free of all wants, Bountiful.” (Al-Naml 27:38-40)

The Quran has many verses that challenges the believers who are expected to serve as Allah’s vicegerent on earth to seek knowledge in all subjects that allow them to take advantage of what Allah created for them on earth. After all, a key responsibility of man is to build and develop the earth as a place for his settlement, Allah says:

هو أنشأكم من الأرض واستعمركم فيها

“He brought you forth from the earth and made you settle in it.” (Hud 11:61)

Settling in earth requires all kinds of knowledge to support farming, industry, construction, communication, business, health, defense, government as well moral and legal.  All the blessings that Allah created in earth for the benefit of man have keys and it is a moral obligation to search for these keys to take advantage of these blessings and prevent any harm that come from them. The Prophet (PBUH) said:

عن سهل بن سعد أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال إن هذا الخير خزائن ولتلك الخزائن مفاتيح فطوبى لعبد جعله الله مفتاحا للخير مغلاقا للشر وويل لعبد جعله الله مفتاحا للشر مغلاقا للخير ( ابن ماجه).

“The goodness has been stored in vaults, and those vaults have keys, blessed be the servant whom Allah made a key for the blessings and a lock for the evil and woe to a slave whom Allah made a key to evil and lock for the good.” (Ibn Majah)

Seeking knowledge that unlocks the sources of benefits for mankind is a religious obligation, Allah said:

قُلۡ هَلۡ يَسۡتَوِى ٱلَّذِينَ يَعۡلَمُونَ وَٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ‌ۗ إِنَّمَا يَتَذَكَّرُ أُوْلُواْ ٱلۡأَلۡبَـٰبِ (الزمر/9 (.

“Say: “Are those who know equal to those who do not know?” It is only the people of understanding who are receptive.” (Al-Zumur 39: 9)

رۡفَعِ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ مِنكُمۡ وَٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ ٱلۡعِلۡمَ دَرَجَـٰتٍ۬‌ۚ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ۬ (المجادلة/11 (.

“Allah raises in ranks those who believe among you, and those who have knowledge and Allah is well aware of what you do” (Al-Mujadala 58:11)

The Prophet (PBUH) said:

عن أبي الدرداء -رضي الله عنه- عن النبي -صلى الله عليه وسلم- قال: «مَنْ سَلَكَ طَريقا يَبْتَغي فيه عِلْما سَهَّل الله له طريقا إلى الجنة، وإنَّ الملائكةَ لَتَضَعُ أجْنِحَتها لطالب العلم رضًا بما يَصنَع، )رواه البخاري(

“Whoever follows a path in pursuit of knowledge, Allah will facilitate for him a path to Paradise. Indeed, the angels lower their wings for the seeker of knowledge, out of pleasure for what he does.”  (Bukhari)

The Quran discusses many natural sciences to encourage Muslims to study them. Allah praises those who study these subjects as the thinkers and as people of intellect.  The following are some examples:

1/ Pointing to the science of botany, Allah say:

يُنۢبِتُ لَكُم بِهِ ٱلزَّرْعَ وَٱلزَّيْتُونَ وَٱلنَّخِيلَ وَٱلْأَعْنَـٰبَ وَمِن كُلِّ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ

“He causes crops to grow for you, and olive trees, and date palms, and grapes, and all [other] kinds of fruit: in this, behold, there is a message indeed for people who think!” (Al-Nahl 16:11)

2/ Pointing to sciences related to bees, honey, and medicine, Allah says:

ثُمَّ كُلِى مِن كُلِّ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ فَٱسْلُكِى سُبُلَ رَبِّكِ ذُلُلًا يَخْرُجُ مِنۢ بُطُونِهَا شَرَابٌ مُّخْتَلِفٌ أَلْوَٰنُهُۥ فِيهِ شِفَآءٌ لِّلنَّاسِ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ

“Then, (O bees) eat from all the fruits and follow the pathways that your Lord made easy for you.  From their bellies come out a drink of various colors in which there is cure for people.  Surely, in that there is a sign for people who think! (Al-Nahl 16:69) 

3/ Pointing to the sciences of languages and the exploration for in-earth and outer-space creations, Allah says:   

تُسَبِّحُ لَهُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتُ ٱلسَّبۡعُ وَٱلۡأَرۡضُ وَمَن فِيہِنَّ‌ۚ وَإِن مِّن شَىۡءٍ إِلَّا يُسَبِّحُ بِحَمۡدِهِۦ وَلَـٰكِن لَّا تَفۡقَهُونَ تَسۡبِيحَهُمۡ‌ۗ إِنَّهُ ۥ كَانَ حَلِيمًا غَفُورً۬ا (٤٤)

“The seven heavens and the earth and all those therein praise Him, and there is not a single thing but hymns His praise; but you do not understand their praise. Surely, He is Forbearing, Most Forgiving.” (Al-Isra 17:44)

4/ Pointing to the science of physical cosmology to study the creation of the universe, Allah says:

ٱلَّذِينَ يَذْكُرُونَ ٱللَّهَ قِيَـٰمًا وَقُعُودًا وَعَلَىٰ جُنُوبِهِمْ وَيَتَفَكَّرُونَ فِى خَلْقِ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ رَبَّنَا مَا خَلَقْتَ هَـٰذَا بَـٰطِلًا سُبْحَـٰنَكَ فَقِنَا عَذَابَ ٱلنَّارِ

“Who remember Allah standing and sitting and (lying) on their sides and reflect on the creation of the heavens and the earth (and say): “Our Lord! You have not created all of this in vain.  We proclaim Your perfection, so save us from the punishment of the fire! (Al-Imran 3:191)

5/ Pointing at the importance of the science of meteorology, Allah says:

أَلَمۡ تَرَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُزۡجِى سَحَابً۬ا ثُمَّ يُؤَلِّفُ بَيۡنَهُ ۥ ثُمَّ يَجۡعَلُهُ ۥ رُكَامً۬ا فَتَرَى ٱلۡوَدۡقَ يَخۡرُجُ مِنۡ خِلَـٰلِهِۦ وَيُنَزِّلُ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مِن جِبَالٍ۬ فِيہَا مِنۢ بَرَدٍ۬ فَيُصِيبُ بِهِۦ مَن يَشَآءُ وَيَصۡرِفُهُ ۥ عَن مَّن يَشَآءُ‌ۖ يَكَادُ سَنَا بَرۡقِهِۦ يَذۡهَبُ بِٱلۡأَبۡصَـٰرِ (٤٣(

“Do you not see that Allah drives the clouds gently, then joins them together, then makes them into a heap of layers, and you see the rain comes out from their midst. And He sends down from the sky mountains of hail, that He afflicts with it whomsoever He wills, and averts it from whomsoever He wills. The vivid flash of its lightning nearly blinds the sight.” (Al-Noor 24:43)

6/ Pointing to embryology, Allah says:

ثُمَّ خَلَقۡنَا ٱلنُّطۡفَةَ عَلَقَةً۬ فَخَلَقۡنَا ٱلۡعَلَقَةَ مُضۡغَةً۬ فَخَلَقۡنَا ٱلۡمُضۡغَةَ عِظَـٰمً۬ا فَكَسَوۡنَا ٱلۡعِظَـٰمَ لَحۡمً۬ا ثُمَّ أَنشَأۡنَـٰهُ خَلۡقًا ءَاخَرَ‌ۚ فَتَبَارَكَ ٱللَّهُ أَحۡسَنُ ٱلۡخَـٰلِقِينَ (١٤) ثُمَّ إِنَّكُم بَعۡدَ ذَٲلِكَ لَمَيِّتُونَ (١٥) ثُمَّ إِنَّكُمۡ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَـٰمَةِ تُبۡعَثُونَ (١٦)

“Then We made the Nutfah into a clinging clot, then We made the clot into a little lump of flesh, then We made out of that little lump of flesh bones, then We clothed the bones with flesh, and then We brought it forth as another creation. So blessed is Allah, the Best of creators. (14) After that, surely, you will die. (15) Then (again), surely, you will be resurrected on the Day of Resurrection.” (Al-Mouminoun 23:14-16)

7/ Pointing to a very important principle to anyone who seeks knowledge, and this is to be honest and fair and always say the truth.  While Allah has clearly prohibited gambling and intoxicants and identified them as evil, Allah did not say that they do not have any benefits, Allah said that they have some benefits.  Allah says:

يَسْـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلْخَمْرِ وَٱلْمَيْسِرِ قُلْ فِيهِمَآ إِثْمٌ كَبِيرٌ وَمَنَـٰفِعُ لِلنَّاسِ وَإِثْمُهُمَآ أَكْبَرُ مِن نَّفْعِهِمَا

They ask you about intoxicants and gambling. Say: ‘In both there is great evil as well as some benefits for people; but their evil is greater than the benefits.’  (Al-Baqara 2:219)

These are just few examples, and the Quran includes far more.  Both Imam Abu Hamed Al-Ghazali (ابو حامد محمد الغزالي‎) and Imam Abu Bakr al-Arabi (ابو بكر العربى) said that the Quran includes over 77,000 forms of knowledge.   So, it clear that seeking knowledge is a foundational principle in Islam. Without knowledge, man does not deserve the honor that Allah bestowed upon him by being His vicegerent.

The second foundational principle in Islam is accountability which is summarized by the last revealed verse:

وَٱتَّقُواْ يَوۡمً۬ا تُرۡجَعُونَ فِيهِ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ‌ۖ ثُمَّ تُوَفَّىٰ كُلُّ نَفۡسٍ۬ مَّا ڪَسَبَتۡ وَهُمۡ لَا يُظۡلَمُونَ (٢٨١)

“And fully conscious of a day when you shall be brought back to Allah. Then every person shall be paid in full what he has earned, and they shall not be wronged.” (Al-Baqara 2:281)

While the verse refers to general accountability for all what man does, the context of this last revealed verse gives focus on financial accountability and gives special emphasis on the charity part of the financial accountability because the verse before this last revealed verse reads:

 وَإِن كَانَ ذُو عُسۡرَةٍ۬ فَنَظِرَةٌ إِلَىٰ مَيۡسَرَةٍ۬‌ۚ وَأَن تَصَدَّقُواْ خَيۡرٌ۬ لَّڪُمۡ‌ۖ إِن كُنتُمۡ تَعۡلَمُونَ (٢٨٠)

“And if the debtor is in financial difficulty, grant him a delay until a time of ease; and if you forgo the debt as charity, it would be better for you if you really know”. (Al-Baqara 2:280)

Acquiring money and other forms of wealth is encouraged in Islam because they are required to fulfill two of the five pillars on which the religion of Islam is built.  These 5 pillars are: confessing the faith, prayers, Zakat (obligatory charity), fasting and Hajj.   A Muslim cannot fulfill the third and the fifth pillars of paying Zakat and going to Hajj unless he has sufficient money that exceeds his needs.

Accountability of money is also two of the five questions that every person will be asked to address on the day of Judgment.   Ibn Mas’ud reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said:

عَنْ ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ عَنْ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ لَا تَزُولُ قَدَمُ ابْنِ آدَمَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ مِنْ عِنْدِ رَبِّهِ حَتَّى يُسْأَلَ عَنْ خَمْسٍ عَنْ عُمُرِهِ فِيمَ أَفْنَاهُ وَعَنْ شَبَابِهِ فِيمَ أَبْلَاهُ وَمَالِهِ مِنْ أَيْنَ اكْتَسَبَهُ وَفِيمَ أَنْفَقَهُ وَمَاذَا عَمِلَ فِيمَا عَلِمَ

“On the Day of Resurrection, the son of Adam will not be dismissed from (the court of) his Lord until he is asked about five issues:

1. His life and how he lived it
2. His youth and how he used it
3. His wealth and how he earned it
4. His Wealth how he spent it
5. His knowledge and how he acted upon it.” (Al-Tirmidhi)

Allah made money as a foundational test for every Muslim because it a measure of the person’s belief and trust in Allah. A Muslim should have no doubt in his mind of the following:

1. The wealth he has is granted to him by Allah as a trust (the skills and the opportunities that you have that allowed you to obtain your wealth are from Allah and He can take it away from you at any time)
2. The resources from which our wealth comes will never run out.
3. When you spend your money for the sake of Allah, your wealth will never diminish but rather it will increase in this life, and you will have great rewards in the hereafter.
4. Being poor is not a justification for being a miser.   
5. Be charitable now because the time will come when we will regret the opportunities, we have missed by not giving in the way of Allah, but it will be too late. Allah says:

وَأَنفِقُواْ مِن مَّا رَزَقۡنَـٰكُم مِّن قَبۡلِ أَن يَأۡتِىَ أَحَدَكُمُ ٱلۡمَوۡتُ فَيَقُولَ رَبِّ لَوۡلَآ أَخَّرۡتَنِىٓ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍ۬ قَرِيبٍ۬ فَأَصَّدَّقَ وَأَكُن مِّنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ (١٠) وَلَن يُؤَخِّرَ ٱللَّهُ نَفۡسًا إِذَا جَآءَ أَجَلُهَا‌ۚ وَٱللَّهُ خَبِيرُۢ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ (١١)

“Spend from what We have provided you before death comes to one of you and he would say: ‘My Lord, if You would only delay things for me for a short time, then I will give in charity and become one of the doers of good. (10) But Allah will never give respite to anyone, once his appointed time comes.  Allah is All-Aware of what you do.” (Al-Munafeqoun 63:10-11)

By being a miser, you are not hurting anyone but yourself, Allah says:

هَا أَنْتُمْ هَؤُلَاءِ تُدْعَوْنَ لِتُنْفِقُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَمِنْكُمْ مَنْ يَبْخَلُ وَمَنْ يَبْخَلْ فَإِنَّمَا يَبْخَلُ عَنْ نَفْسِهِ وَاللَّهُ الْغَنِيُّ وَأَنْتُمُ الْفُقَرَاءُ

“Here you are being invited to spend in the way of Allah, but among you are some who are miser. But anyone who is miser, his miserliness is only at the expense of his soul.  Allah is rich, and you are poor.” (Mohammad 47:38)

Because Allah uses money as a test to validate our claims of trusting Him, Satan also uses money to show that we don’t really trust Allah. Allah has warned us about Satan’s trickery of using the fear of poverty to make us fail in demonstrating our trust in Allah.  Allah said:

الشَّيْطَانُ يَعِدُكُمُ الْفَقْرَ وَيَأْمُرُكُمْ بِالْفَحْشَاءِ وَاللَّهُ يَعِدُكُمْ مَغْفِرَةً مِنْهُ وَفَضْلًا وَاللَّهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ

“Satan threatens you with poverty and bids you to conduct unseemly.  Allah promises you His forgiveness and bounties and Allah cares for all and He knows all things.” (Al-Baqara 2: 268)

Because Allah knows that Satan will use poverty as an excuse for convincing us to be a miser, Allah emphasized His promise of goodness and prosperity in this life and the hereafter to those who spend their money in Allah’s sake as He said:

وَسَارِعُوا إِلَى مَغْفِرَةٍ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا السَّمَاوَاتُ وَالْأَرْضُ أُعِدَّتْ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ الَّذِينَ يُنْفِقُونَ فِي السَّرَّاءِ وَالضَّرَّاءِ

“Hasten (rush, compete) to forgiveness from your Lord and for a garden that expands the heavens and the earth prepared for the righteous who spend (in cause of Allah) in prosperity and in adversity.” (Al-Imran 3:133-134)

We should rush, because the money we will be spending is an investment with huge return as Allah said:

مَثَلُ الَّذِينَ يُنْفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ حَبَّةٍ أَنْبَتَتْ سَبْعَ سَنَابِلَ فِي كُلِّ سُنْبُلَةٍ مِائَةُ حَبَّةٍ وَاللَّهُ يُضَاعِفُ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ وَاللَّهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ

“The parable of those who spend their money in the way of Allah is that of a grain that produces seven ears and each ear has a hundred grains.  Allah gives manifold increase to whom He pleases; and Allah is All-Embracing and All-Knowing, “(2:261). 

Spending of our wealth in charity does not only offer protection but it also increases the wealth in this life and the hereafter.  Be assured that your generosity will be answered by Allah Who said:

الَّذِينَ يُنْفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُمْ بِاللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ سِرًّا وَعَلَانِيَةً فَلَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ وَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ

“Those who spend (in charity) of their goods by night and by day in secret and in public have their reward with their Lord: on them shall be no fear nor shall they grieve,” (Al-Baqura 2:274). 

Since the wealth we own belongs to Allah, He uses it as a metric to measure of our level of righteousness, He said

لَنْ تَنَالُوا الْبِرَّ حَتَّى تُنْفِقُوا مِمَّا تُحِبُّونَ وَمَا تُنْفِقُوا مِنْ شَيْءٍ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ بِهِ عَلِيمٌ

“By no means shall you attain righteousness unless you give (freely) of that which you love; and whatever you give, Allah knows it well,” (Al-Imran 3:92). 

Asama bnt Aby Bakr said that the Prophet (PBUH) said:

عن أسماء بنت أبي بكر الصديق -رضي الله عنهما- قالت: قال لي رسول الله -صلى الله عليه وسلم-: «لا تُوكِي فيُوكَى عليك». وفي رواية: «أَنْفِقِي أو انْفَحِي، أو انْضَحِي، ولا تُحْصِي فيُحْصِي الله عليك، ولا تُوعِي فيُوعِي الله عليك». ) البخاري. مسلم(

شرح الحديث : لَا تَدَّخِرِي وَتَشُدِّي مَا عِنْدَكِ وَتَمْنَعِي مَا فِي يدك، فتنقطع مَادَّة الرزق عَنْك، ولا تحسبي خوفًا من انقطاع الرزق؛ فيكون سببا لانقطاع إنفاقك، قوله: (فيحصي الله عليك)، ولا تمنعي فضل المال عن الفقير فيمنع الله عنك فضله ويسده عليك.

“Give (in charity) and do not give reluctantly lest Allah should give you in a limited amount; and do not withhold your money lest Allah should withhold it from you.”(Bukhari and Muslim)

The bottom line is that the money we acquire is a test to demonstrate the nature and level of your trust in Allah and thus we will be held accountable for how we acquired and how we spend it.    In conclusion if you want to summarize Islam in two words, they will be knowledge and accountability with emphasis on financial accountability.  

We pray to Allah to grant us the wisdom to be source of knowledge and to be generous with the financial resources that He trusted us with.   DUA