How do we respond to those who believe wealth is evil and prefer simplicity, and what is the virtue of the wealthy for society, and who were the wealthy Companions whose faith was not affected by that?

Wealth is not inherently evil; rather, it is praised or condemned based on what it leads to. If a believer spends their wealth on good deeds, it is beneficial for them. If they spend it on sins, it is harmful. It is narrated in a hadith: "How excellent is righteous wealth for a righteous man." Among the righteous wealthy individuals whose wealth did not lead them to arrogance were Uthman ibn Affan, Abd al-Rahman ibn Awf, and Hakim ibn Hizam. The benefits of a righteous Muslim rich person for society include spending on the needy, orphans, widows, and the poor, and assisting students of knowledge.