Individuals spoiled by overabundance are considered corrupt. Those who boast of their wealth are despicable people who inspire covetousness and hatred among their fellow beings of modest disposition and give rise to strife and make the latter a potential source of threat to peace.
… Allah loveth not the arrogant, the vainglorious. (4/36) … Truly Allah leaveth, to stray, whom He will; But He guideth to Himself those who turn to Him in penitence,- (13/26) God apportions wealth among his creatures at his sole discretion. Some are granted greater portion of it and some receive more modest sum. The wealthy should share his riches with his fellow beings and the poor should show patience with resignation. The former, in the belief that he himself is the author of his fortune, boasts of it.
QARUN WHO HAD PERPETRATED EXCESSES
Qarun was doubtless, of the people of Moses; but he acted insolently towards them: such were the treasures We had bestowed on him that their very keys would have been a burden to a body of strong men, behold, his people said to him: "Exult not, for Allah loveth not those who exult (in riches). "But seek, with the (wealth) which Allah has bestowed on thee, the Home of the Hereafter, nor forget thy portion in this world: but do thou good, as Allah has been good to thee, and seek not (occasions for) mischief in the land: for Allah loves not those who do mischief. (28/76-77)
He said: "This has been given to me because of a certain knowledge which I have." Did he not know that Allah had destroyed, before him, (whole) generations,- which were superior to him in strength and greater in the amount (of riches) they had collected? but the wicked are not called (immediately) to account for their sins. So he went forth among his people in the (pride of his wordly) glitter. Said those whose aim is the Life of this World: "Oh! that we had the like of what Qarun has got! for he is truly a lord of mighty good fortune!" But those who had been granted (true) knowledge said: "Alas for you! The reward of Allah (in the Hereafter) is best for those who believe and work righteousness: but this none shall attain, save those who steadfastly persevere (in good)." (28/78-80)
Then We caused the earth to swallow up him and his house; and he had not (the least little) party to help him against Allah, nor could he defend himself. And those who had envied his position the day before began to say on the morrow: "Ah! it is indeed Allah Who enlarges the provision or restricts it, to any of His servants He pleases! had it not been that Allah was gracious to us, He could have caused the earth to swallow us up! Ah! those who reject Allah will assuredly never prosper." (28/81-82)
Qarun had equated God with worldly gifts, and was oblivious of the existence of an afterlife. He boasted of his wealth which he thought he himself had created; it did not occur to him to share part of his assets with the poor; he was a slave to his unsatiated passion and ended up a prey to perdition.
GOD DECIDES AS HE PLEASES
Verily thy Lord doth provide sustenance in abundance for whom He pleaseth, and He provideth in a just measure. For He doth know and regard all His servants. (17/30)
Is it they who would portion out the Mercy of thy Lord? It is We Who portion out between them their livelihood in the life of this world: and We raise some of them above others in ranks, so that some may command work from others. But the Mercy of thy Lord is better than the (wealth) which they amass. (43/32)
If Allah were to enlarge the provision for His Servants, they would indeed transgress beyond all bounds through the earth; but he sends (it) down in due measure as He pleases. (42/27)
Sustenance provided by God is according to his discretion. Although it is God's providence that decides on it, man is obliged to work in order that he may get it. Had the human beings been granted an equal share of all the available wealth in nature there would be no activity, no work of any kind, thus no economy.
THE POOR HAS A SHARE IN THE WEALTH OF THE RICH
And in their wealth and possessions (was remembered) the right of the (needy,) him who asked, and him who (for some reason) was prevented (from asking) (51/19)
So give what is due to kindred, the needy, and the wayfarer. That is best for those who seek the Countenance, of Allah, and it is they who will prosper. (30/38)
Allah has bestowed His gifts of sustenance more freely on some of you than on others: those more favoured are not going to throw back their gifts to those whom their right hands possess, so as to be equal in that respect. Will they then deny the favours of Allah. (16/71)
Economic imbalance in a given population brings about polarization and discords. The wide gap between the rich and the poor is a potential bone of contention. God desires that men redresses the balance. The principle 'The poor has a share in the wealth of the rich' strikes a balance in the population. Islam has been based on solidarity; in the lifetime of the Prophet this principle was successfully applied…. What Allah has bestowed on His Messenger (and taken away) from the people of the townships,- belongs to Allah,- to His Messenger and to kindred and orphans, the needy and the wayfarer; In order that it may not (merely) make a circuit between the wealthy among you … (59/7) It's God's preference to see a community that follows the middle path.
GOD IS WITH THE OPPRESSED
And We wished to be Gracious to those who were being depressed in the land, to make them leaders (in Faith) and make them heirs, To establish a firm place for them in the land, and to show Pharaoh, Haman, and their hosts, at their hands, the very things against which they were taking precautions. (28/5-6)
And We made a people, considered weak (and of no account), inheritors of lands in both east and west, - lands whereon We sent down Our blessings … (7/137)
The meek and feeble Israelites were oppressed by the Pharoah of Egypt; to compensate for this God sent Moses to save his people. Pharaoh and his followers were destroyed. This divine law is still valid throughout the universe. Nevertheless, the Jews who strayed later non from the path of truth were also punished.
TRANSGRESSOR COMMUNITIES
When We decide to destroy a population, We (first) send a definite order to those among them who are given the good things of this life and yet transgress; so that the word is proved true against them: then (it is) We destroy them utterly. (17/16)
Never did We send a warner to a population, but the wealthy ones among them said: "We believe not in the (Message) with which ye have been sent." (34/34)
It is pointed out that God who decides to destroy a population, grants prosperity to those whose wealth has spoiled them; and when they prove to be ungrateful and continue to do evil deeds and goes on insisting on their malfeasance they are doomed to perish.
TRAITORS