The Restoration of Wealth (Islah al-Mal) of Ibn Abi al-Dunya

As Muslims, we will know (or should know) that the preservation of wealth (hifz al-mal) is among the injunctions of the Holy Qur'an, and one of the five maqasid or over-riding objectives of the Revealed Law (al-shariah'ah). But what is the definition of wealth? How is it defined the way it has been defined by the fuqaha' and 'ulama', and why? How do we actually go about implementing the principle of wealth preservation in all our social and commercial activities and transactions? What is the whole purpose of this preservation anyway? The diecering and reflective reader will find answers to these and many other related questions by reading and stydying the pages of this translation of the hadiths and reports on how the Prophet (s.a.w.) and his Companions, the Followers and the Pious Predecessors have approached the twin questions of wealth and poverty.