The Chains of Wealth

DAILYREFLECTION

Miserliness does not begin with money—it begins with the heart.

A man with nothing can still be miserly, for miserliness is not measured by how much one owns, but by how tightly one clings and desires wealth.

It is the fear of losing, the anxiety of parting, the illusion that money can protect us from fate.

Wealth itself is praiseworthy.

The Prophet ﷺ said: “How excellent is the wealth of a righteous man if he uses it well.”

Wealth dignifies a person, frees him from begging, enables charity, and supports families.

But when it seeps beyond its measure, it corrupts, enslaves, and blinds.

Interestingly, the miser fears poverty, yet he never escapes it.

Even with millions, he lives anxious and deprived, unable to taste the sweetness of giving or even using it on himself.

Imam Ali (RA) said: “The worst of people is the miser. In this world he is deprived of his own wealth, and in the next, he is punished.”

There is a story of a man brought forth on the Day of Judgment.

His book of deeds lies bare.

No prayer, no fasting, no charity.

The angels prepare to cast him into the Fire.

But Allah calls out: “Stop. Is this man deserving of nothing from Me?”

They reply: “Our Lord, he has no record of good. The Fire is what he has earned.”

Then a hidden mercy is revealed to them.

This man had been a creditor in the world; he would lend money to people.

When people struggled to pay him back, he would be patient and give them time without inquiry.

And if they still could not pay, he would quietly forgive their debts, holding nothing of it within.

He never shamed, never demanded, never caused distress.

And he never spoke to anybody about it.

Allah, majestic and merciful, says: “He showed mercy. But I am the Most Merciful. Today I forgive him, as he forgave My servants. Raise him to the gardens of Paradise.”

The danger, then, is not wealth itself but attachment to it.

The greedy cling, thinking their wealth will protect them.

But in reality, this grip only chokes their provision.

The generous give, and Allah opens the doors of rizq in ways they never imagined

The cure for stinginess is only one.

It is to spend until giving becomes easy, and generosity becomes a habit.

Giving until detachment replaces greed.

It is to know that Allah is the provider, and have the courage to act on that.

Ultimately, the miser loses the most.

He hoards for fear of poverty but dies poor, never having tasted contentment.

He sought protection in money, but only imprisoned himself within it.

REFLECT ON THIS:

Do I spend from my wealth in a way that frees me, or in a way that chains me more tightly to it?

^{Share your reflections in the poll at the end of the email.}

WATERMELONWATCH

• Global Sumud Flotilla for Gaza suffered a second drone strike on one of its vessels docked in Sidi Bou Said, Tunisia; organizers, including Greta Thunberg, denounce the attack and vow to continue their mission despite the damage.

• Missing limbs and loved ones—children injured in Gaza are now beginning medical treatment in Beirut, where humanitarian groups are providing prosthetics, surgery, and psychological care to aid their recovery and hope for healing.

• Evacuation order issued by Israeli forces in Gaza City triggered widespread panic as residents were urged to flee to overcrowded humanitarian zones in the south; despite confusion and fear, some communities show resilience by seeking to organize locally amid the chaos.

• Israeli airstrikes hit top Hamas figures meeting in Doha during ceasefire negotiations, killing several including the son of a Hamas official; though the talks were rocked, some mediators remain committed to pursuing diplomatic efforts.

• Legal action taken in Germany as human rights groups sue a German-Israeli soldier for alleged war crimes in Gaza—this move signals growing efforts to uphold justice, even amid deepening conflict.

QURANCORNER

Each day, you’ll be introduced to one of the 300 most common Qur’anic words. The Qur’an has about 77,430 words in total, all built on just 2,000 root words. By learning these frequently recurring ones, you’ll recognize 70–80% of the Qur’an’s vocabulary and begin connecting more deeply as you read.

ٱلذُّنُوب (Adh-Dhunūb) — Sins

From the root ذ–ن–ب (dh-n-b), meaning to commit a fault or to be guilty, dhunūb is the plural of dhamb (sin). In Qur’anic usage, it refers to wrong actions that distance a person from Allah, often paired with the command to seek forgiveness—reminding us that His mercy is always greater than our sins.