As we prepare to move forward on the offensive (keeping in line with the theme from last week’s Sun Tzu quote), the first offensive move I would like for us to take is on the stigma around money and it’s perception. We have all heard that money is the root of all evil. We have seen it used for the sake of the powerful to oppress the powerless. With most of the world living with financial dependence or even financial servitude, it is no surprise it has such a reputation. However, allow me to explore another side of it. In Surat Al-Kahf, Allah (SWT) says:
ٱلۡمَالُ وَٱلۡبَنُونَ زِینَةُ ٱلۡحَیَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡیَاۖ وَٱلۡبَـٰقِیَـٰتُ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتُ خَیۡرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثواباً وَخَیۡرٌ املاً﴿ ٤٦ ﴾
Wealth and children are [but] adornment of the worldly life. But the enduring good deeds are better to your Lord for reward and better for [one's] hope. Al-Kahf, Ayah 46
If money was so evil, how could it be decorative to this life and world? Some may interpret this as money is life’s window dressing and therefore isn’t of true substance. It may look nice, smell nice, and be seductive, but its core is rotten. That is only partially true, if used in the wrong way. To further drive my point, I’ll state another ayah from one of my favorite surahs:
وَوَجَدَكَ عَاۤىِٕلآ فَأَغۡنَىٰ﴿ ٨ ﴾ Aḍ-Ḍuḥā, Ayah 8
You see, even God reminds his servant that did he not find you in need and made you self-sufficient? In today’s day and age (even at the time of the prophet ﷺ ) how can you be self-sufficient if you don’t have some level of financial freedom? This is why debt is so frowned upon (let alone usury). So my brothers and sisters, do not let the difficulties that you face in life, or how the ultra wealthy waste their money, or thinking that you need millions upon millions of dollars to be truly satisfied with God’s blessings discourage you from taking the first step in building your own wealth. Money is not inherently evil. Making money is not sinful. In fact, being the person in your family or community who can afford to help others and make a change in one’s life can increase your connection to Allah (SWT). Money is a tool. And how you use that tool determines whether you are doing it in a manner that pleases Allah (SWT) or displeases Him.
With that said, my goal in starting and building investor clarity is to do just that. To provide you with the information you need to begin your investing journey in an arena that seems to want to keep Muslims (and ethical investors in general) out. It may seem that being a shareholder and making a profit can only be done in sleazy ways. That you must sell your soul to participate in the stock market. That is no where near the truth.
Disclaimer: investor clarity is for educational and research purposes only. We provide you with the data and information you need to take a confident offensive move towards your investing journey. We state all our sources, but that does not exempt you from doing your part and consulting certified professionals who can manage your money if you don’t want to manage it on your own or to confirm beyond the accepted standards of what is halal or haram in investing.
Thank you for reading. Keep searching forward.