Health Better than Riches

The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “There is nothing wrong with being rich for those who fear Allah, but for those who fear Allah, good health is better than riches. And peace of mind is also a blessing.” [Musnad Ahmad]

This hadith tells us:

(1) If we fear Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) then wealth won’t hurt us because we will use it appropriately.  

(2) If we do not have adequate fear of Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) but do have wealth, it is very unfortunate for us. This is because we will spend the wealth in ways displeasing to Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) and earn His Wrath on the Day of Judgement for misusing the trust He placed with us. All the needy people of the world, to whom the wealth should have been channeled through us, will take our good deeds on the Day of Judgement.

(3) Health is a greater blessing for the God-fearing than wealth is. Health allows us to perform deeds pleasing to Allah (subhana wa ta’ala). The more wealth we have, the longer our Reckoning will be. The less wealth we have, the shorter our Reckoning will be and the sooner we can reach Paradise if we have been God-fearing.

(4) Peace of mind is a great favour of Allah’s. It is an enormous blessing to be depression, anxiety and frustration free. Peace of mind and tranquility of heart have no connection with wealth. They come from obeying Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) and rejecting Shaitaan’s offers and advice.

Shaitaan’s name is “Iblees,” which means the one who causes despair. If we allow him to hang around us (for example, by having music or animate pictures in our environment, by not praying regularly, by not keeping ourselves clean of impurities, or by doing anything Allah has forbidden us from doing), then we allow him to transfer his germs to us and we begin to suffer from tension and depression. But the despair his obedience causes is greatest on the Day of Judgement.