There are ample families in Pakistan that are making a lot of money, and their lifestyle vs. the lifestyle of the working and poor are very different. I’m not talking about dupattas and that sort of thing, I’m talking about the cars they drive, the watches they wear, etc - the materialism stuff.
Is it wrong to stay away from a muslim because they’re rich, and they’re living a lavish lifestyle in the setting of poverty around them? If someone like that invited you over for dinner or wanted to do rishta or wanted to become friends with you, or just socialize, would you avoid those people?
I wouldn’t have a problem with them just because of the money. As KKF said, as long as it’s acquired through Halal means, it’s fine. I’ll add as long as they’re not oppressors because of it, then I don’t see a problem.
If one can afford it there is no harm in enjoying finer things in life. It is their money , it is their lives. They have the right to live in any manner they want to live. Why would I have any problem with it?
Remember poor and rich are relative terms. For a construction worker , the civil engineer is a rich guy because of material possessions. For a civil engineer , the contractor who hired him is a rich guy and so on so forth.
For a guy who sleep on bare floor of his straw dirt anybody who sleeps on a bed in a one bedroom apartment is very rich person.
Islam encourages Muslims to adopt “miyaana Ravii” [median path]. Allah allows Muslims to live a life that reflects his wealth that Allah bestowed upon him but he’ll have to answer if he goes overboard in overspending.
Allah does NOT like those who spend excessively, like the kings in the middle east.
Hmm. PCG, if you discriminate against the rich…how does it help the poor exactly? How does your boycotting their invitations, rejecting their company, treating them with contempt…help improve the life of the poor?
Is it their fault that they are rich or that they were born into wealth and affluence? They don’t have much control over that than the one who is born into poverty. Their rizq was predestined…what sawaab or ajar do you get from shunning them and hurting their feelings?
Jis k paas hai…wohi dey sakta hai. Jis k paas nahi hai woh nahi dey sakta. What I mean is that the one who has been blessed with wealth has a greater potential for giving it to the needy than those who don’t have it. As for how much these folks give in charity…we don’t know. Maybe they give a lot and regularly and we’ve no idea. One doesn’t need to be decked out in designer wear to give to others. The middle class folks…who can’t afford designer labels as easily can also set aside some amount for regular charity/sadaqah…and it doesn’t have to be only for those living in Pak…what about the homeless community where you live. I get the frustration you feel with the huge disparity between the poor and the rich…but how many of the middle class pay zakat…or calculate it right without taking shortcuts…or give regular sadaqah and not just when we see a bad dream or when a calamity strikes? If you think about it this way…then we ALL have a lot to improve upon within ourselves before we turn up our noses at the wealthy. No person…wealthy or poor…is motivated to do good if they’re being snubbed. Perhaps daawaa or guidance or leading by example would have more impact.
And if it was really that “right”…you wouldn’t have questioned it. What feels “right” doesn’t come with feelings of doubt.
To be devils advocate I would say that You are contradicting yourself. Allah gave those kings in the middle east their wealth, if they live like a king then they are living a life that reflects their wealth. The discussion here is not about Kings and queens.
If you revisit the first post of this thread you will that notice that OP is asking about discriminating against those rich people you will have a chance to come in contact with. Do you have any chance to come in contact with a king or queen or invited by a king or queen for a dinner or just to hang around with?
Here is the post again for your reference and reflection.
There are ample **families **in Pakistan that are making a lot of money, and their lifestyle vs. the lifestyle of the working and poor are very different. I’m not talking about dupattas and that sort of thing, I’m talking about **the cars they drive, the watches they wear, etc - the materialism stuff. **
Is it wrong to stay away from a muslim because they’re rich, and they’re living a lavish lifestyle in the setting of poverty around them? If someone like that invited you over for dinner or wanted to do rishta or wanted to become friends with you, or just socialize, would you avoid those people?
I’ve never actually seen this happen. I’ve often seen cases where a rich person is treated better by middle-class folks.
I think the main reason when dealing with rishtas and marriage is that people feel comfortable within a financial range that they can manage. Marriages are expensive and what one can afford might be something very different for another.
The assumption that all rich are sinners and their gains have some content of haram is very common. People despise them just because they are rich. It is somewhat equal to the whole world’s hatred and contempt towards USA. I think this is normal human behavior and its kind of defense mechanism that our brain tries to come-up with reasons as to why others have done so well as compared to ourselves.