﷽
Is a fat wallet the only measure of success, or is real wealth something more than that?
Believe me, I've been asking myself that question for years.
Whenever I heard the word "rich", the first thing that came to my mind was exactly what I see when scrolling through an average Instagram feed — a luxurious lifestyle filled with possessions and comfort.
Let's face it — materialism has influenced us all.
A moment that shifted my view
One moment in my life made me reflect on this question on a deeper level.
It happened a few years ago, on my second day after relocating to Indonesia.
One of my new friends, whom I didn't know very well yet, invited me to his home.
He was very generous, and offered me his guest room to sleep in for a few days.
There I was — in a new country, drinking tea and sharing stories with someone I had just met. Yes, I can have my moments of being adventurous.
My new friend told me how he had lost his job during the pandemic.
He spoke about his fear of getting by without a regular income.
But what struck him was how he was able to survive anyhow — with a small side hustle, barely covering his basic needs. He was able to get by with the support of family, friends, and neighbors, and through his garden full of fruit.
That conversation stayed with me long after I left his home.
It made me realize that richness is not just about what’s in your bank account.
There is much more to it…
Money is just a tool, not the end-goal
If you ask anyone, "Do you want to be rich?", almost everyone will immediately answer "Yes."
And that’s completely normal.
We all want comfort, security and a better life.
But here’s the truth: it’s not money itself that we’re really after.
Let’s test that idea with a thought experiment.
Imagine someone offered you a billion dollars and said you can us it however you wanted — but on one condition: you can never leave your house.
Would you take the deal?
Of course you wouldn't. Because the moment money costs you your freedom, it loses its purpose.
This shows that money is not the goal — it’s simply a tool.
What we’re truly chasing is what lies behind money.
Yes, we want financial freedom, but not if it costs us other, more fundamental forms of freedom.
So if being "rich" isn’t about money, then what is it really about?
What hides behind the money that we are constantly seeking?
The Arabic Word for Rich: غني (Ghani) — "Free of Need"
To understand the real meaning of being rich, we need to look beyond the modern, materialistic definition of wealth.
Because clearly, being wealthy today means having a lot of money and possessions.
But did wealth always carry this meaning?
For that, let’s dig a little deeper and look into the Arabic language.
In Arabic, the word for "rich" is غني (ghani) — which doesn’t just mean wealthy in terms of money. It means, in a broader sense, free of need.
At its core, it refers to someone who is self-sufficient — someone who doesn’t rely on others for their well-being.
And that's the key.
Isn’t true wealth the ability to stand on your own — emotionally, financially, spiritually, and mentally?
To be able to take care of yourself without being a burden on others?
And this might sound individualistic, but it isn't.
In fact, it's the opposite.
Because when you are self-sufficient, you are more capable of helping others.
- You can't help someone else if you haven't helped yourself.
- You can't buy medicine for another person if you are sick yourself.
- You can't emotionally support your children if you haven't solved your own inner struggles.
Taking care of yourself is a requirement of being able to take care of others.
The goal is to serve others from a place of strength, not dependency.
Let that meaning sink.
See wealth through that lens.
And by doing so, you will realize that the higher goal is to seek wealth out of contribution and empowerment — not out of ego.
The Prophet's Dua for Independence
In the Sunnah, there are many hadith that encourage us to seek sustenance in this world.
But there is one hadith that stands out for me.
The Prophet ﷺ taught us to make this dua:
— Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (Tirmidhi:3563)
Notice the word “independent” here — it comes from the same root as ghani, meaning to be free of need.
The Prophet ﷺ also said:
Be mindful of Allah and you will find Him before you.
When you ask, ask Allah, and when you seek aid, seek Allah's aid.
Know that if the entire creation were to gather together to do something to benefit you — you would never get any benefit except that Allah had written for you.
And if they were to gather to do something to harm you — you would never be harmed except that Allah had written for you.
— Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (Tirmidhi:2516)
We only need Allah ﷻ to provide for us.
Because when Allah gives, none can withhold; and when He withholds, none can give.
This is the essence of tawakkul — trusting that no person, no system, no paycheck truly provides for us except Allah.
Why self‑sufficiency matters at work
Think about it: how independent is the employee who constantly depends on his paycheck, compared to the one who knows that his true sustainer is Allah?
The first person might hesitate to speak the truth or act based on his principles.
Because he doesn't wanna lose his job.
But the second can stand firm, knowing that provision only comes from Allah — not from his boss.
We don’t want to be “rich” in the material sense — we want to be self-sufficient, content with what we have, and free of dependence on anyone but Allah.
Contentment = Real Wealth
One of the most powerful statements I’ve come across comes from Imam Shafi’i, who said:
“I saw that contentment was the essence of wealth, so I took firm hold of its robe.”
رأيت القناعة رأس الغنى
فصرت بأذيالها ممتســك
True wealth is not in what you own — it’s in being content with what you have.
Stoic philosophers also preached this timeless truth. Seneca wrote:
“Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants.”
— Seneca
These ideas come from different eras and different languages — yet they share the same truth: richness follows contentment.
My Personal Takeaway
When I think back to that Indonesian tea session, I remember the calmness in my friend’s eyes, despite his considerably modest means.
That peace is what I now call true richness:
- Independence - not being a slave to money.
- Reliance on Allah - trusting that He is the real sustainer.
- Contentment - being satisfied with what we have.
A simple yet powerful step for you
Tonight, write down one area where you feel dependent—maybe a debt, a job, or a habit.
Say a short dua: “Ya Allah, make me self‑sufficient in this matter.”
That's all for today's letter.
Do you have any questions or thoughts? Please leave a comment or get in touch! 💬
Want to continue this journey of growth together?
Subscribe below & stay inspired and up to date! 📩
Discussion