Ahadith

Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud relates that the Holy Prophet said: Do not run too much after property lest you should be absorbed by the world (Tirmidhi). (Yunus 26, Al-Hadid 22, Aal-e-`Imran 16, Fatir 7, Al-`Ankabut 66)

Abdullah ibn Amr ibn ‘As relates: We were repairing our thatched cottage when the Holy Prophet passed by and asked us: What are you engaged in? We said: The thatch had become feeble and we are repairing it. He said: I see the matter approaching sooner than this (Abu Daud and Tirmidhi). (Yunus 26, Al-Hadid 22, Aal-e-`Imran 16, Fatir 7, Al-`Ankabut 66)

Ka‘ab ibn Iyaz relates that he heard the Holy Prophet say: Every people is subjected to a trial; the trial of my people will be through wealth (Tirmidhi). (Yunus 26, Al-Hadid 22, Aal-e-`Imran 16, Fatir 7, Al-`Ankabut 66)

Uthman ibn Affan relates that the Holy Prophet said: A son of Adam is entitled only to three things: a dwelling to live in, a garment to cover his nakedness and a piece of bread and water (Tirmidhi). (Yunus 26, Al-Hadid 22, Aal-e-`Imran 16, Fatir 7, Al-`Ankabut 66)

Abdullah ibn Shikir relates: I came to the Holy. Prophet while he was reciting sura Al-Takathur (Chapter 102) of the Quran. He said: Man says: My property, my property; while out of his property only that is his which he eats and consumes, and wears and wears out and spends in charity and sends ahead (Muslim). (Yunus 26, Al-Hadid 22, Aal-e-`Imran 16, Fatir 7, Al-`Ankabut 66)

Abdullah ibn Mughaffal relates: A man said to the Holy Prophet: Messenger of Allah, I do love you. He said: Watch what you are saying! The man said: Indeed, I love you; and repeated it three times. The Holy Prophet said: If you do love me prepare for poverty, for poverty advances more rapidly towards one-who loves me than does flood water towards its objective (Tirmidhi). (Yunus 26, Al-Hadid 22, Aal-e-`Imran 16, Fatir 7, Al-`Ankabut 66)

Ka‘ab ibn Malik relates that the Holy Prophet said: Two hungry wolves let loose among a flock of sheep do not do more damage than is caused by a man’s greed for wealth and standing to his faith (Tirmidhi). (Yunus 26, Al-Hadid 22, Aal-e-`Imran 16, Fatir 7, Al-`Ankabut 66)

Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud relates that the Holy Prophet slept on a mat and when he got up the impression of the mat was visible on his body. We" said: Messenger of Allah, shall we prepare a mattress for you? He said: What have I to do with the world? I am in the world like a rider who stops in the shade of a tree awhile, then passes on and leaves it (Tirmidhi). (At-Takathur 10, Bani Isra'il 20)

Abu Hurairah relates that the Holy Prophet said: The poor will enter Paradise half a millennium sooner than the rich (Tirmidhi). (At-Takathur 10, Bani Isra'il 20)

Ibn Abbas and Imran ibn Husain relate that the Holy Prophet said: I had a view of Paradise and saw that most of its dwellers were the poor; and I had a view of the Fire and saw that most of its denizens were women (Bokhari and Muslim). (At-Takathur 10, Bani Isra'il 20)