He had everything people dream of wealth, status, a beautiful home, and a career that made others envy him. Yet at night, when the noise of the world faded and the phone finally stopped ringing, an emptiness crept in. A question echoed in his heart: “Is this all there is?”
This feeling is not unique. Many of us chase success thinking it will fill the void, but worldly gains alone never satisfy the soul. Islam teaches us why: the heart was not designed to be filled with money, titles, or recognition. It was created to be filled with Allah.
THE QUR’ANIC TRUTH
Allah reminds us in the Qur’an:
“Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest.” (Surah Ar-Ra’d 13:28)
Notice how the verse doesn’t say “might” find rest it says “do.” It is a certainty. Peace of heart is not found in material abundance but in dhikr: the conscious remembrance of our Creator.
WHY WEALTH ALONE FALLS SHORT
Wealth buys comfort, not contentment. A soft bed can cradle the body, but only dhikr soothes the heart.
Status fades. Today’s applause can turn into tomorrow’s silence. Dhikr connects you to a source of honor that never ends.
Success is temporary. Every promotion, every deal, every milestone eventually loses its shine. Dhikr brings lasting light into both this world and the next.
WHAT DHIKR REALLY MEANS
Dhikr is not limited to repeating words it is living in awareness of Allah. Saying SubhanAllah while admiring a sunset, whispering Alhamdulillah after a meal, breathing Allahu Akbar when you feel overwhelmed. It transforms ordinary moments into acts of worship and anchors the soul when the world feels unstable.
A STORY OF TRUE SUCCESS
One companion of the Prophet ﷺ once said: “If our hearts were pure, they would never have enough of the Qur’an.” Their measure of success was not how much wealth they owned, but how close their hearts were to Allah.
Contrast that with today: someone can own skyscrapers and still lie awake restless at night. The difference isn’t in the bank account it’s in the heart’s connection to Allah.
A DAILY REMINDER
Try this: before chasing your to-do list, pause after Fajr and spend five minutes in dhikr. Or as you drive, instead of scrolling through endless news, let your tongue repeat Astaghfirullah. You’ll notice something powerful contentment grows not from what’s in your pocket, but from what’s in your remembrance.
THE TAKEAWAY
Wealth and success are blessings, but they were never meant to replace dhikr. When success feels empty, it’s a sign that the soul is craving what only Allah can give. True success is not measured in numbers, but in a heart alive with His remembrance.
Because in the end, money can buy almost everything but only dhikr can buy peace.
