Dr. Uzair Mahmood Al-Azhari
(Member, Council of Islamic Ideology Pakistan & President, The World Association for Al-Azhar Graduates Pakistan)
delivered an insightful address at the Urs ceremony of Hakim Qazi Mushtaq Ahmed Haidari (رحمہ اللہ علیہ) in Karachi, where he spoke on an important point about “Wealth (Ghina) and Poverty (Faqr).”
Dr. Uzair narrated a profound moment from the blessed life of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. He said that one day the Prophet ﷺ asked Hazrat Abu Dharr (رضی اللہ عنہ):
“O Abu Zar, what do you think — is the abundance of wealth true richness (ghina)?”
Hazrat Abu Zar replied, “Yes, O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, it is so.”
The Prophet ﷺ then asked, “And what do you think — is the lack of wealth true poverty (faqr)?”
Again, Hazrat Abu Zar replied, “Yes, O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, it is so.”
At this point, the Prophet ﷺ gently corrected and trained him, saying:
“O Abu Zar, it is not like that. True wealth is the richness of the heart (‘Innama al-ghina ghina al-qalb*), and true poverty is the poverty of the heart (wa innama al-faqr faqr al-qalb).”*
Dr. Uzair explained that the Prophet ﷺ taught us that simply having a lot of money does not make one truly rich — rather, true wealth is when one’s heart is content. Likewise, having little money does not automatically mean a person is poor — rather, true poverty is when the heart remains needy and restless despite having plenty.
In conclusion, Dr. Uzair highlighted the beautiful message: Being truly rich means being grateful for whatever one has been given, even if it is just a single piece of bread — while true poverty means having everything yet still being greedy and never satisfied, always craving more.
May Allah grant us hearts that are content and thankful. Ameen.
