Arab Wealth and Muslim Decadence

Written by Muhammad Tahir

"Verily for every nation there is a trial, and the trial of my nation is wealth." (At-Tirmithi)

The recent conviction of the "playboy Saudi prince", Saud Abdulaziz bin Nasser al Saud, for viciously murdering his man-servant, beating and biting him in public, serves as an extreme reminder of the warning the Prophet (saw) gave us with regards to wealth.
Wealth is a trial and a test, not necessarily the deserved result of our self-possessed intelligence and hard work or, in the case of natural resource wealth, a free ticket to unrestrained conspicuous consumption. While we all wish that we had more, seldom do we reflect on the potentially negative consequences of sudden or excessive wealth, not to mention the implications of choices we make which are driven primarily by financial considerations.

While the media in general and even some Muslims (particularly those in the West) are quick to tut-tut the decadence of wealthy Arabs, the spectacle of Arab debauchery in London amongst other Western capitals with large Muslim populations ought to give us pause for thought. How can we so smugly criticize those who escape their own "repressive" cultures to come and live it up while visiting the West when we live in the West? While the ulema of many Muslim countries including Saudi Arabia have given very clear advice discouraging family tourism to the West partially on the basis of the easy access to corrupting influences, how are we protecting ourselves from the invitations to moral corruption that we are bombarded with on a daily basis?

Saud Abdulaziz bin Nasser al Saud is reported to have picked up several gay guidebooks and phone numbers in London to pursue his "vacation activities". Remember, these are services that this society takes for granted, are freely available and while not strictly legal, openly tolerated. And you don't need to be a Saudi billionaire prince to afford them either - in addition to cheap electronics and trainers, globalisation has also been kind enough to provide affordable prostitution for all. Adam Smith would be proud.

Similarly, while everyone is quick to note that the Arabs haven't "earned" their wealth - it just came out of the ground after all - we forget that the consultant surgeon or businessperson making a fortune through hours and years of hard work is still only receiving whatever wealth Allah decreed for him or her. While many argue that the Arabs are so profligate with their wealth because they didn't "earn" it, those who think their prosperity is the deserved result of intelligence and hard work should not feel so smug.

We would do well to remember the story of Qarun which Allah relates in Surah Qasas:

76. Verily, Qarun (Korah) was of Musa's (Moses) people, but he behaved arrogantly towards them. And We gave him of the treasures, that of which the keys would have been a burden to a body of strong men. When his people said to him: "Do not be glad (with ungratefulness to Allah's Favours). Verily! Allah likes not those who are glad (with ungratefulness to Allah's Favours).

77. But seek, with that (wealth) which Allah has bestowed on you, the home of the Hereafter, and forget not your portion of legal enjoyment in this world, and do good as Allah has been good to you, and seek not mischief in the land. Verily, Allah likes not the Mufsidun (those who commit great crimes and sins, oppressors, tyrants, mischief-makers, corrupts).

78. He said: "This has been given to me only because of knowledge I possess." Did he not know that Allah had destroyed before him generations, men who were stronger than him in might and greater in the amount (of riches) they had collected. (Qasas, 76-78)

Qarun was no God-less lout: he was the cousin of a prophet (Musa (ahs)), had memorized the entire Torah, and was known for his beautiful recitation. Despite this, the wealth which Allah gave him caused him to forget that all affairs must ultimately return to Allah, and that no matter how clever we may be, it is all still from Allah.

So the next time you walk by a super-car in central London and curse those arriviste Arabs, think about the compromises we make living in the West: if we are not working for Islam while safeguarding our own emaan, is the comfort we enjoy worth the corruption we expose ourselves to in return?

See you in the comments section.