Suhaib Webb – Poverty in Religion

About this lecture

In this lecture, Suhaib Webb explores the Islamic concept of poverty (*faqr*) on multiple levels — cultural, political, and most importantly, spiritual — arguing that true *faqr* means a heart utterly reliant on and impoverished before Allah. Drawing on classical scholars like Ibn al-Qayyim, Ibn Ajiba, and stories from the lives of Abu Barakat al-Dardir and al-Sha'rani, he makes a compelling case that genuine inner poverty before God is the foundation of freedom, justice, and meaningful community work. The lecture challenges Muslims to start by reforming themselves before seeking to change the world, and closes with practical calls to volunteerism and institution-building.