— Written by a good friend
We frequently use Abdur Rahman ibn ‘Awf (RA) and Uthman ibn Affan (RA) as examples to state that “there is nothing wrong with being rich, it’s how you spend the wealth”. This is true but it’s a “premature” conclusion.
Imam Ghazali writes on the topic of “Love of wealth”:
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Know that the likeness of wealth is that of a snake in which there is both poison and medicine, as we have said. Whoever does not know the incantation for the snake and seizes one in his hand will be destroyed. It is for this reason that is not proper for someone to say: “Amongst the companions, there were some who were rich, such as Abdur Rahman bin Awf and the likes of him. Therefore, there is no fault in being rich.” This is as though a child, seeing a magician who takes a snake in his hands and puts it in a basket, thinks that (the magician) picks it up because it is soft and feels good in his hands. He goes to pick it up too, and is suddenly killed.
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Something to reflect on!
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On the Path of Knowledge 
Reblogged this on a Pinch of Perspective and commented:
Often times in our community we hear that if I was richer I would definitely contribute to this project or that cause. The money I have is just enough for me to get by and so on so forth.
Then we some how console ourselves by saying the day I have enough money I will surely give it here and there for the sake of Allah SWT.
How much is enough and who decides this? SubhanAllah our Prophet SAW admonished by saying “Save yourselves even if by the skin of the date”. Yet we fool ourselves in this materialistic/consumerist society that one day we will have enough money to spend in Allah’s SWT way after we have spent on ourselves.
Just yesterday one of the brothers I know reminded me that
He ﷺ said, “By Allah I don’t fear for you poverty, but I fear that the world would be abundant for you as it has been for those before you, so you compete for it as they have competed for it, so it destroys you as it has destroyed them.” (Agreed upon)
Reflect!