On Poverty (Kashf Al Mahjub)

The sufi masters differ in opinion as to whether poverty or wealth is superior,both being regarded as human attributes,for true wealth belongs to God,who is perfect in all his attributes.Many sufis hold this view that wealth is superior to poverty.They argue that wealth is an attribute of God whereas poverty cannot be ascribed to him.Ali Hujwiri (RA) in his book Kashf -al-Mahjub further states that a man is metaphorically called rich,but he is not really so.To give a clear proof,human wealth is an effect due to various causes,whereas the wealth of God,who himself is the Author of all causes,is not due to any cause.Therefore there is no community in regard to this attribute.It is not allowable to associate anything with God either in essence,attribute or name.The wealth of God consists in His independence of anyone and in his power to do whatsoever He wills,such He has always been and such He shall be for ever.Mans wealth,on the other hand,is,for example,a means of livelyhood,or the presence of joy,or being saved from sin or the solace of contemplation,which things are all of phenomenal nature and subject to change.
                  Some people think that the rich is preferable then the poor,on the ground that God has made the former blest in both worlds and has bestowed the benifit of riches on him.Here they mean by wealth-abundance of worldly goods and enjoyment of pleasures and pursuits of lusts.They argue that God has comanded us to be thankful for prosperity He made thankfulness the means of increasing our prosperity but when He comanded us to be patient in adversity He made patience the means of drawing nigh unto Himself.He said "Verily,if you return thanks,I will give you an increase"(Quran.xiv,7),and also ,"God is with the patient"(Quran.ii,148).

                    The sufi masters who prefer wealth to poverty do not use the term "wealth" in its popular sense.What they intend is not "acquisition of a benifit" but "acquition of the Benefactor". to gain union (with God) is a different thing from gaining forgetfulness (of God).Shaykh Abu Sa'id ,said Poverty is wealth in God.Ali Hujwiri (RA) says that one whose attributes still survive is not rich,and one whose attributes are annihilated is not entitled to any name whatever.Therefore the rich man is he who is enriched by God.

  Every man is poor,even though he be a prince.Essentially the wealth of Solomon and the poverty of Solomon are one.God said to Job in the extremity of his patience,and likewise to Solomon in the plentitude of his dominion,
"Good servant that thou art!"When God's pleasure was accomplished,it made no difference between the poverty and the wealth of Solomon.Therefore,both wealth and poverty are Divine gifts.Wealt is corrupted by forgetfulness(of God) and poverty by covetousness(of wealth).Poverty is the seperation of the heart from all but God,and wealth is the preoccupation of the heart with that which does not admit of being qualified.When the heart is cleared (of all except God),poverty is not better than wealth nor is wealth better than poverty.