Did you know that Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him) was a businessman—and a successful one at that? He built his reputation through trust, honesty, and competence. In his youth, he made cross-border trade journeys to Syria and Yemen. By the age of 25, he had the financial capacity to give mahar to Khadijah in the form of 20 young female camels—which some estimate, if translated to today’s terms, to be around USD 100,000. He was clearly able to live comfortably.
And yet, we often hear that for most of his life—especially after he was chosen as a Prophet—he and his family lived with great modesty. They sometimes went hungry for days, and his bed was no more than a simple mat on the floor.
The fact that Prophet Muhammad lived such a modest life is deeply inspiring. But it becomes even more remarkable when we remember that this was a chosen path—a path embraced by someone who was fully capable of living comfortably, but who chose Islam. As a result, he endured the economic hardships imposed by the Quraysh elites: boycotts, confiscation of property, and persecution.
Allah says in Al-Hujurat:13
“Surely the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous among you.”
Nobility in Allah’s eyes comes from righteousness (taqwa), not from wealth or poverty. The true measure is not one’s net worth but one’s ethical stance and God-consciousness. Wealth itself is not shameful, nor is it the ultimate goal. What matters is whether it is hoarded for status—or mobilized for the Ummah.
We see a clear example in Khadijah (RA), one of Prophet Muhammad’s greatest pillars of support. She was immensely wealthy and used her fortune—earned in a male-dominated Quraysh economy—to sustain the early Muslim community. She provided food, shelter, and critical financial aid during times of persecution. Her backing was vital for establishing the early foundations of Islam when so many opposed the Prophet and the new faith.
From Prophet Muhammad we learn that being trustworthy—an essential trait in business—is also an essential trait of faith. Wealth, too, does not need to be shunned; but if Allah takes it away, we must be rida (content) and remember that it was never truly ours. Our priority must always be Islam and the Ummah. From Khadijah we see that immense wealth can be a powerful opportunity to uplift the Ummah, and that this responsibility is not limited to men, but women too.
This Friday (26 September), we will be launching the book Muslim Entrepreneur’s Guide to Venture Capital Fundraising. Let us come together, join forces, and become the economic engine of today’s Ummah through our contributions and integrity.
Grand Launching of Muslim Entrepreneur’s Guide To Venture Capital Fundraising Book
🗓 Friday, 26 September 2025
⏰ 19.30 Western Indonesian Time
📍 Live via Zoom
Join this WhatsApp group for the Zoom link:
https://chat.whatsapp.com/GbDoHLvszwf0F4GjoRFNcJ?mode=ems_copy_t
📞 Further info: +62 851-8478-9028 (Admin Ummah)