Abstract

The secular perspective on wealth has amply been explained in Chapter 1. This chapter is meant to clarify the meaning of wealth from the Islamic (shariah) perspective based on its main sources, the Quran and the Sunnah (Prophet’s sayings-cum-practices). Wealth is earned, accumulated and invested by its owner: contemporary perspective is that wealth is rightfully owned without much thoughts about the community in which it is held. Islam dictates wealth should be earned by permissible means, and should not be invested to harm the community in which the wealth is found. More than that, part of additions to wealth each year from investment returns must be paid as charity while wealth should be optionally be put to promote good deeds to serve the community needs. These differences create challenges to Islamic wealth management and estate planning for those who wish to fall in line with Islam’s injunctions on wealth.