Be warned O’ Men! Your wealth and children are only a trial - An oft repeated warning in Al-Qurʾān

Love of one's family and wealth/positional status is more often than not is  the man reason why a man works or even overworks. Although love for family and wealth is natural (fitrah), yet many of us do not know (or at least try to know) that these are intentionally placed in us as a test. The Divine Wisdom behind the love and quest for more rests on one simple principle: Whether a man still loves his Creator more or his wordily relations and wealth? In fact It’s what comes first when there is a conflict between one's family/wealth and love of the Creator who provided us means of sustenance, wealth and the family. 

For this very reason, we often prefer family & wealth  for these are visible and provide us immediate pleasure. On the other hand we tend to defer worship of our Creator for its effects are invisible and hidden to be rewarded till the life of Hereafter (Akhirah). Human النفس naturally prefers What it can see and feel now. For this very reason, there are many a warnings in Al-Qurʾān that warn men that his wealth and children, though a Divine blessings, are only a trial and temptation. This does not however mean that one must sacrifice his family for devoting himself for the worship of God only. It means that one must always try to balance out his priorities and proportionate his attention to both - though priority to find time to always thank Allah for His countless blessings.

Here in under, we share some of the verses from AL Qur'an from different parts to impress upon our readers the Divine warnings to not to engross one self in his wordily love and forgetting his Creator altogether, and will also try to expand the core of these verses as interpreted by scholars of Islam.

Selected verses from Al Qur'an

• Surah At-Taghābun (64:15): “Your wealth and your children are only a trial (fitnah), and Allah—with Him is a عظیم (great) reward.”
• Surah Al-Anfal (8:28): “Your wealth and your children are but a trial…”
• Surah Al-Kahf (18:46): “Wealth and children are adornment of worldly life…”
• Surah Al-Munafiqun (63:9): “Do not let your wealth and children distract you from the remembrance of Allah…”

Reasons of the oft repeated warnings in Al Qur'an

These warnings and cautions are repeated time and against to keep the man on the set course as defined by his Creator and not to be distracted in anyway should a conflict between the two appears as a test. 

• The Apparent (Ẓāhir) Meaning: 
• At the surface, although the love for wealth and children are not condemned, yet these are called a fitnah (test/trial), 
• That is these can neither bring you closer to Allah nor distract you away from Him.
• Deeper Wisdom (Bāṭin)
• Fitnah is not always negative: Wealth and children are neutral tools to inculcate love among men - but these also reveal: (1) Your true priorities, and (2) Your relationship with Allah
• A Subtle distraction: The danger is not obvious sin - but it is: Being so busy earning, providing, and pleasing family that you slowly drift away from Allah.
• Competing loves: 
• These verses highlight a hidden tension: Love of Wealth and Family vs Love of : Allah and rewards of the آخِرَة (Hereafter)
• The test is: Which one comes first when they conflict?

Explanation by Scholars

• Ibn Kathir
• Wealth and children are blessings but also tests of responsibility.
• The real question: Will you use them in obedience—or disobedience?
• Al-Qurtubi
• Fitnah here means something that tests your priorities.
• That is do these Distract you from Allah? or Or help you earn reward?
• Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi
• Here one should also keep in view the Holy Prophet's saying which Tabarani has related on the authority of Hadrat Abu Malik al-Ash'ari, saying: "Your real enemy is not he whom if you kill there is success for you, and if he kills you, there is Paradise for you; but your real enemy may b your own child who is born of your own loins, or the wealth of which you are the owner." That is why here us well as in Al-Anfal: 28, Allah says: If you save yourselves from the temptation and allurements of worldly possessions and Children and succeed in keeping love of them subject to the love of Allah, there are rich rewards for you with Allah.

For elaboration of the verse 64:15 by other scholars, refer to our previous post: Which two things are a trial for the Believers?

Hadith of the Prophet ﷺ

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ too has asked his companions to strike a balance between the two so as to be successful in the  آخِرَة (Hereafter). Herein under are some authentic Hadiths:

• The Prophet ﷺ said: “Every nation has a trial, and the trial of my الأمة is wealth.” (Sahih al-Bukhari)
• “The son of آدم says: ‘My wealth, my wealth’—but what is truly yours is what you spend, eat, or give in charity…” (Sahih Muslim)

These Hadiths and the verses above mean that What you love and keep will  be left behind, and What you give and worship will stay with you even after the Hereafter.

Relevance in Today’s World

In our materialistic approach to our lives, these verses and Hadiths are extremely relevant for our priorities and goal posts are at tangent with what is expected of us a true believers. 

• Modern definition of success: 
• Today success means Wealth (High income), career status and family comfort. But Al Qur'an reframes this priority and cautions that these These are tests, not final goals.
• “I’m doing it for my family” This is a common justification for working endlessly, thereby neglecting deen - that is skipping prayers while at work and not making up immediately after when one is free, or not giving out a penny in charity to save it for the well being of one's family. Thus the family itself can become a fitnah.
• Endless pursuit of wealth We become so engrossed with seeking Promotions and inviting our wealth in Investments for better dividends required for Lifestyle upgrades. These pursuits rob our time for Salah, recitation of Al Qur'an and reflecting over such warnings and cautions.
• Children as distraction The education and career success of our children of perfecting and developing their career skills often neglect us developing their īmān and character. This takes our children from religions and makes them more materialistic rather than better humans.

Balanced Islamic Perspective

• Islam does NOT and in no way suggests to leave the pursuit of wealth and ignore our families. For wealth is necessary for the ensuring providing good life for our children and loving our families to ensure a peaceful home and resting peace of mind. Instead Islam encourages earning wealth from Halal means and not forgetting to give a part of it in charity for Allah loves those who give out charity for the better life of Have NOTs.
• Islam allows loving our families for one of the basic pillars of Islam is establishment of family rather than having affairs that are considered Haram. However, the love of family should not let us pull away from remembrance of Allah.

Practical Application Today

• Re-check priorities: Ask yourself Is my schedule centered around dunya or Allah?
• Use wealth as a tool: While supporting one's family from the earnings, do not forget helping the needy by giving charity and Zakat - for these too support our Deen.
• Raise righteous families: We must impart wordily education to our children so that they are able to earn for their them and their families - however at the same time we must teach them Deen by praying with them, reciting Qur'an together, reflecting on Qur'anic wisdom so that they too become a balanced personality when they enter their practical life.
• Set limits: One must work hard to be successful and earn money for good sustenance of one's family, but this should not be at the cost of one's worship (Salah), bettering one's Character (اخلاق) and preparing for the Hereafter (آخِرَة).

That is we must strike  a balance in our lives for both wordily life and preparing for the life after this life.

Final Reflection

These verses ask a powerful question: Are your blessings bringing you closer to Allah… or quietly pulling you away? For wealth and family are tests, not guarantees of success - but Real success is what we earn with Allah. Are we ready for it?

You may refer to more Selected Verses from Sürah 64. At-Taghābun - The day of Loss and Gain, already published.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

You may also refer to our exclusive reference page: Selected verses from selected Surahs of Al-Qurʾān for compiled verses from other surahs.

For verses on Selected Subjects, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from Al Qur'an about a Specific Subject (Reference Page) to know more about what Qur'an says about specific subjects and our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'an. 

You may also refer to our Reference Pages  and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Photo | Reference: | 1 | 2 | 3 |

An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs and selected verses of Al-Qurʾān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi.  

In addition, other sources which have been explored and views of other scholars have been incorporated while explaining meaning of a verse. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites. For expansion of meaning and themes / contextual background help from ChatGPT is also taken.

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook. You may also refer to our Facebook  Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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Seek Allah's refuge when being drawn into a sin (Surah 12. Yusuf - Joseph)

Evil is one such force that can mislead and draw someone in to a sin. The evil temptation is so strong that even the most upright people of high moral fiber are drawn into a sin, only to repent when the tide is over. Let us first know what is evil temptation before we share a verse from Al-Qurʾān to seek refuge of Allah when being drawn into a sin:

Temptation is the desire or urge to engage in short-term, often harmful or immoral actions, despite knowing they conflict with long-term goals, values, or moral principles. It acts as an enticement to choose immediate gratification over what is right. Temptation can arise internally or externally, often leading to guilt or negative consequences.

With the understanding of evil temptations, let us share and explain the meaning of verse 23 of Sürah 12. Yusuf (Joseph). This verse describes one of the most morally intense moments in the life of Prophet Yusuf (Joseph عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ). This verse is important because it shows how a person seeks refuge in Allah in a moment of temptation and vulnerability.

وَرَاوَدَتۡهُ الَّتِىۡ هُوَ فِىۡ بَيۡتِهَا عَنۡ نَّـفۡسِهٖ وَغَلَّقَتِ الۡاَبۡوَابَ وَقَالَتۡ هَيۡتَ لَـكَ​ؕ قَالَ مَعَاذَ اللّٰهِ​ اِنَّهٗ رَبِّىۡۤ اَحۡسَنَ مَثۡوَاىَ​ؕ اِنَّهٗ لَا يُفۡلِحُ الظّٰلِمُوۡنَ‏ 

(12:23) And it so happened that the lady in whose house Joseph was living, sought to tempt him to herself, and one day bolting the doors she said: "Come on now!" Joseph answered: "May Allah grant me refuge! My Lord has provided an honourable abode for me (so how can I do something so evil)? Such wrong-doers never prosper."

Historical and Narrative Context

Sürah 12. Yusuf (Joseph) is a chapter of Al Qur'an exclusively dedicated to the life history of Prophet Yusuf (Joseph عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ). We have already explained the circumstances and events in which young Yusuf fell prey to the machination of his brothers and was thrown into a dead well in the exegesis / tafsir of Surah Yusuf (link given at the end of the post). From where he was rescued by a passing caravan and was sold into slavery in Egypt. There, he was raised in the house of a powerful official and a high-ranking minister.

As Yusuf grew into adulthood, he became known for his beauty, character, and integrity. The unfaithful wife of the minister got attracted to Yusuf's extraordinary beauty and one day tried to entice him into a sin as is mentioned in the verse shared above. She locked the doors and openly invited him to commit adultery.

This creates a moment where no one else was present and obviously Yusuf was socially powerless. With the strong desire and temptation of minister's wife and in utter secrecy, this made the moral test of Yusuf extremely difficult. (Please read the following verses to know the entire anecdote given in Part 2 of the exegesis of Surah Yusuf.)

Yusuf’s Immediate Response

Upon unfolding of evil desires of his master's wife, Yusuf’s first reaction was to seek refuge in Allah (“Maʿādh Allāh” - “I seek refuge in Allah.”). This is significant. Before reasoning or debating, he turns immediately to God for protection. This shows that spiritual awareness can become an instinctive reaction when a person trains their heart toward faith.

Meaning of “Seeking Refuge in Allah”

Seeking refuge (istiʿādhah) means asking God to protect you from: (1) temptation (2) harmful desires (3) evil influences and (4) moral failure.

It is both spiritual and psychological protection. In this verse, Yusuf recognizes that resisting temptation requires divine help, not just personal willpower.

Yusuf’s Ethical Reasoning

After seeking refuge, Yusuf explains why he cannot commit the act. He says: “My Lord has provided me an honourable abode.” This statement reflects gratitude and loyalty.

Interpretations include: Gratitude to God for protecting and providing for him and loyalty to the man who gave him shelter and trust. In other words, Yusuf refuses to betray both God and human trust.

Moral Principle in the Verse

Yusuf concludes: “Wrongdoers never prosper.” This means wrongdoing may appear attractive in the moment but ultimately leads to loss.

The verse therefore combines: (1) spiritual awareness, (2) ethical reasoning and (3) long-term thinking.

How to Seek Refuge in Allah (Practical Understanding)

Such like conditions often appear in one's life and it is the strength of the character that saves one from taking the bait and falling into the trap of a sin. The sin may be in any form, like temptation to adulatory, taking bribe, taking false oaths and harming innocent for own ulterior motive or acting on behalf of someone to hamr interests of others, specially the innocent.

The verse teaches several practical steps.

• Immediate remembrance of God: Turning to God quickly when facing temptation and saying “Aʿūdhu billāh” (I seek refuge in Allah).
•  Remember blessings and responsibilities: Yusuf remembers the kindness he received. Gratitude can strengthen moral resistance.
• Recognize consequences: Understanding that wrongdoing ultimately harms the individual and society.
• Avoid situations of temptation: This is most important. One must never allow a situation to develop in which one is threatened to be tempted or drawn into a sin. Later in the story, Yusuf even prefers prison over remaining in an environment where temptation continues.

This shows that changing circumstances is sometimes necessary to protect one’s integrity.

Psychological Depth of the Verse

This moment reveals a sophisticated understanding of human behavior. Temptation becomes strongest when:

• privacy is guaranteed
• opportunity exists
• social pressure is high
• emotional vulnerability is present.

The verse shows that resisting such pressure requires spiritual awareness, moral clarity and extreme self-control.

Relevance Today

Although the setting is ancient, the situation is universal. With the expansion of one to one communication through internet, mobile chatting and open unrestricted meeting of both sexes, today, the chances of being tempted into adulatory, sin and all kinds of action unbecoming of man have become uncontrollable.

Modern temptations may involve Abuse of power, unethical relationships, corruption in positions of authority and private opportunities for wrongdoing.

The verse teaches that integrity depends on inner accountability to God, even when no one else is watching.

The deeper lesson

This moment shows the difference between external control and internal character. Yusuf could have committed the act without immediate consequences. But his awareness of God created internal restraint.

In simple terms, the verse teaches to seek God’s help immediately when facing temptation, remember the blessings and trust given to you, think about long-term consequences and protect integrity even in private moments.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

Please visit our reference page: Surah 12. Yusuf - Prophet Josef (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) for more selected verses from Surah Yusuf. You may also refer to our exclusive reference page: Selected verses from selected Surahs of Al-Qurʾān for compiled verses from other surahs.

For verses on Selected Subjects, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from Al Qur'an about a Specific Subject (Reference Page) to know more about what Qur'an says about specific subjects and our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'an. 

You may also refer to our Reference Pages  and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Photo | Reference: | Overview | Exegesis: | Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Lessons |

An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs and selected verses of Al-Qurʾān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi.  

In addition, other sources which have been explored and views of other scholars have been incorporated while explaining meaning of a verse. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites. For expansion of meaning and themes / contextual background help from ChatGPT is also taken.

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook. You may also refer to our Facebook  Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

Read More