How is justice achieved in sustenance and equality among people?

Allah created man and bestowed upon him countless blessings, among them: the tongue and the intellect, which enables him to ponder, weigh matters, and innovate, unlike animals that lack these capabilities. Allah Almighty differentiates between His servants in their provisions for great wisdoms, among them:

1. If all people were at the same level of provision, life would come to a halt, and many tasks would be suspended. Allah Almighty says: ﴿Are they the ones who apportion the mercy of your Lord? It is We who have apportioned among them their livelihood in the life of this world, and raised some of them above others in ranks, so that some may employ others in their service.﴾ [Az-Zukhruf: 32]. 2. Trial and test: So that the grateful and the truthful may be revealed, for the rich are tried by their wealth and the poor by their poverty. 3. Allah gives and withholds what is best for His servants, as Allah Almighty says: ﴿And if Allah were to extend [provision] for His servants, they would surely transgress in the earth. But He sends down [provision] in due measure whatever He wills. Indeed, He is, concerning His servants, Acquainted and Seeing.﴾ [Ash-Shura: 27].

It is a mistake to think that wealth is an honor and poverty is a humiliation, for the criterion with Allah is piety, as Allah Almighty says: ﴿And it is not your wealth or your children that bring you nearer to Us in proximity, but only he who believes and does righteous deeds.﴾ [Saba: 37]. Otherwise, how many people with humble professions are higher in the sight of Allah than those with status and wealth who turn away from Allah. Furthermore, those who misunderstand look at this world separately from the Hereafter. If they were certain of the Day of Judgment, they would behold the truth, as Allah Almighty says: ﴿Or do those who commit evil deeds think that We will make them like those who believe and do righteous deeds — [that] their life and their death are equal? Evil is that which they judge. And Allah created the heavens and the earth in truth and so that every soul may be recompensed for what it has earned, and they will not be wronged.﴾ [Al-Jathiyah: 21-22].