Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the Promised Messiah & Mahdi^as – the Founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat, says: (Read this article in Maltese)

In actuality, there are magnificent promises for the righteous. What could be more than the fact that Allah the Exalted is a friend of the righteous? Those who claim to enjoy the nearness of Allah, without being righteous, are liars; in fact, such people lead a life of sin and transgression. They commit an immensely grave injustice when they claim for themselves the rank of sainthood and nearness to God, because Allah the Exalted has stipulated that one must be righteous in order to attain these ranks.

Divine Succour

Another condition that Allah the Exalted has stipulated in this context, or rather—one could say—a sign of the righteous as stated by God, is as follows:

Verily, Allah is with those who are righteous. [Quran, 16:129]

Meaning, God is with those, i.e. bestows divine succour, to those who are righteous. The greatest proof of the fact that God stands by a certain person is the succour and support that He bestows upon them. Since people are no longer righteous, the door to saintliness has been closed to them, and as they are no longer righteous, the gate of God’s company and support has also been shut on them. Always remember that the succour of God is never granted to the impure, nor to those who are transgressors, for divine succour depends on righteousness. The help of God is reserved for the righteous.

Affluence and prosperity

Then, there is another aspect as well. Human beings suffer from various difficulties and hardships, and have various needs. Again, it is righteousness that is the fundamental means by which one can see their difficulties resolved and their needs fulfilled. Righteousness alone is the path of deliverance from financial hardship and other difficulties as well. Allah the Exalted states:

And he who fears Allah — He will make for him a way out, and will provide for him from where he expects not. [Quran, 65:3-4]

Meaning, in every difficulty, he who fears Allah—He will make for him a way out, and provide for him the means of deliverance from the unseen; and grant him provision from where he expects not.

Now reflect and observe, what more does a human being want in this life? The greatest desire a person has in this world is to find peace and happiness, and for this purpose, Allah the Exalted has made only one path available—the path known as righteousness. This could be described in other words as the path of the Holy Quran, which is synonymous with the straight path (sirat-e-mustaqim).

True Happiness

True happiness, in actuality, is reserved for a God-fearing person, in relation to whom, Allah the Exalted states that there are two paradises. A God-fearing person can find more happiness in a hut, than a worldly person, who is a slave to greed and avarice, can ever find even in a magnificent castle. The more a worldly person acquires the material wealth of this world, the more they are confronted with afflictions. Hence, remember that true comfort and pleasure is not partaken of by worldly people. Do not be mislead to believe that abundant wealth, expensive and elegant clothing, and fine foods can bring happiness. Absolutely not. True happiness depends on righteousness alone. (Malfuzat, Vol. 2, p. 133-135)