The Money Culture

Never judge a desire for its own sake: always judge it in terms of the result of its fulfilment. This result is the only criterion by which it may be determined whether a desire is good or bad for your life. Desire cannot be eliminated, but it can certainly be controlled. Don’t become a victim of your desires. Prove to be well in control of your desires.

According to the Quranic concept, money or material goods are only meant to fulfil man’s needs. Money is not a goal in itself. Money can fulfil the physical requirements of man, but man is more than a physical entity. Man is an intellectual being, and as such can find fulfilment in pursuing some alternative goal which is higher than that of money.

What is that higher goal for a man? It is intellectual development; it is to unfold the spiritual nature of his personality; it is to enhance his mental capacity. All these things are superior to man’s physical being.

When man takes money as something which will fulfil his needs, he remains on the right path. He can travel along the road of life smoothly and successfully. But when he takes money as his supreme goal, he goes astray. For both men and women money-oriented thinking is the greatest source of distraction from the right path.

Man is greater than money. Man should live for a higher purpose and he should use money solely as his material base for constructive activity. Money is certainly useful for man, but it is certainly a wrong option if he focuses on the acquisition and hoarding of money as the principal ends in his life.

Money gives you material comfort, but it cannot give you wisdom and learning. The best course is for you to live as a seeker of truth, wisdom, learning and ultimately a goal that is elevated. That is the only right way of life for man.