New Year's Resolution -- Don't Make Wealth An End In Of Itself

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate

Abu Wail narrated:

"Mu'awiyah came to Abu Hashim bin 'Uthbah to visit him when he was ill (and dying). He said: 'O Uncle! Why do you cry? Is it from the pangs of death or desire for this world?' He said: 'Neither of these. But the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) had commissioned me with an obligation that I did not abide by. He sallallahu alayhi wasallam said: "It suffices you to gather the wealth of a servant or a rider in the cause of Allah." And (it is only) today I find that I have gathered it.'"

عَنْ أَبِي وَائِلٍ، قَالَ جَاءَ مُعَاوِيَةُ إِلَى أَبِي هَاشِمِ بْنِ عُتْبَةَ وَهُوَ مَرِيضٌ يَعُودُهُ فَقَالَ يَا خَالُ مَا يُبْكِيكَ أَوَجَعٌ يُشْئِزُكَ أَمْ حِرْصٌ عَلَى الدُّنْيَا قَالَ كُلٌّ لاَ وَلَكِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَهِدَ إِلَىَّ عَهْدًا لَمْ آخُذْ بِهِ قَالَ ‏ "‏ إِنَّمَا يَكْفِيكَ مِنْ جَمْعِ الْمَالِ خَادِمٌ وَمَرْكَبٌ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ وَأَجِدُنِي الْيَوْمَ قَدْ جَمَعْتُ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى وَقَدْ رَوَى زَائِدَةُ وَعَبِيدَةُ بْنُ حُمَيْدٍ عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ عَنْ أَبِي وَائِلٍ عَنْ سَمُرَةَ بْنِ سَهْمٍ قَالَ دَخَلَ مُعَاوِيَةُ عَلَى أَبِي هَاشِمٍ فَذَكَرَ نَحْوَهُ ‏.‏ وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ بُرَيْدَةَ الأَسْلَمِيِّ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏.‏

In gathering your wealth don't make wealth an end in of itself. Look at what is sufficient for you and what is of actual benefit, not of perceived benefit. Then direct your concern which ultimately of benefit. So seek of worldly matters with beautiful balance and restraint. Don't dedicate yourself so much to gathering of wealth such that it is of detriment to your relationship with Allah, your parents, your spouse, your children, and your capacity to do good in this life. Harm is in the excess.

We ask Allah that He grants us this balance and protect us from being excessive.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.

And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.

Wassalaam