Is seeking money good or bad in Islam?
Well, the answer is: It depends.
This is illustrated in a beautiful hadeeth collected by Al-Tabarani.
The Prophet ﷺ was sitting one day with his Companions, and they saw a strong young man setting out early to work. The companions commented that it may have been better if he had used his youth and strength in the path of Allah.
The Prophet ﷺ said, “Do not say this; for if he works for himself in order to restrain himself from begging and to be independent of people, then he is in the path of Allah.
“If he works for his needy parents or for his needy children so as to enrich and suffice them, then he is in the path of Allah.
“If [however] he works for the sake of showing off and accumulation [of wealth], then he is in the path of Satan.” [At-Ṭabarānī in his three Maʿājim (Itḥāf 6:252)]
So it really depends on our intention. Then, of course, the means to earn that money must be halal as well.
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