The creation of life on the earth Part 03

Once again we will observe that the range of means of subsistence which is righteous is within the framework of Divine laws and commandments. It is delimited by Him, and those who enjoy such means amply should help other Moslems. This is because the accumulation of wealth, even lawfully gained, is forbidden and is used to destroy one’s prosperity. On the other hand, the strain in the means of subsistence of the form which befalls the believer due to a catastrophe, depends on Allah. But if this state of the affairs happens due to one’s living extravagantly or delving into sins, it is not related to God.

One who is able to discern the truth does not consider the range of subsistence as important. What is significant for him is to carry out his tasks. When he has abundant wealth, he will spend it freely on the needy, and when he is in dire poverty, he will be patient.

لَهُ مَقَالِيدُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ يَبْسُطُ الرِّزْقَ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ وَيَقْدِرُ إِنَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ.

“His are the treasures of the heavens and the earth; He makes ample and straitens the means of subsistence for whom He pleases; surely He is cognizant of all things. 42:12”

The Holy Quran, in some verses, attributes the strain in the means of subsistence to the purifying factors to keep the believer away from sins. It considers this state of affairs as man’s savior and the connector of man to God.

وَلَوْ بَسَطَ اللَّهُ الرِّزْقَ لِعِبَادِهِ لَبَغَوْا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَكِنْ يُنَزِّلُ بِقَدَرٍ مَا يَشَاءُ إِنَّهُ بِعِبَادِهِ خَبِيرٌ بَصِيرٌ.

“And if Allah should amplify the provision for His servants, they would certainly revolt in the earth; but He sends it down according to a measure as He pleases; surely He is aware of, seeing, His servants. 42:27”

Thus, the ample amount of provision does not indicate God’s favor, or love towards anybody; neither does its absence show God’s lack of interest in anybody.

For those who lack human traits such as Abulahab, Qarun, Busofyan, wealth is a permanent and eternal curse. On the other hand for those whose traits are like those of Salman, Buzar, Meqdad, Meitham, Komeyl, and Balal, wealth is a means to mobilize others on the path of prosperity and to practice patience for God and to attain eternal prosperity.

Concerning those who employ their wealth for viscious lusts and corruption and for the transient wishes and whims, the Holy Quran says:

وَلَا يَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ يَبْخَلُونَ بِمَا آتَاهُمْ اللَّهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ هُوَ خَيْرًا لَهُمْ بَلْ هُوَ شَرٌّ لَهُمْ سَيُطَوَّقُونَ مَا بَخِلُوا بِهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَلِلَّهِ مِيرَاثُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَاللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ.

“And let not those deem, who are niggardly in giving away that which Allah has granted them out of His grace, that it is good for them; nay, it is worse for them; they shall have that whereof they were niggardly made to cleave to their necks on the resurrection day; and Allah’s is the heritage of the heavens and the earth; and Allah is aware of what you do. 3:180”

Regarding those who spend their wealth for God, who satisfy the needs of the oppressed and help them out, the Holy Quran says:

فَأَمَّا مَنْ أَعْطَى وَاتَّقَى وَصَدَّقَ بِالْحُسْنَى فَسَنُيَسِّرُهُ لِلْيُسْرَى.

“Then as for him who gives away and guards against evil, and accepts the best, we will facilitate for him the easy end. 92:5-7”

If we Islamically treat the mines, seas and forests, which belong to all, and all are equal in exploiting them, and the wealth which we gain legally due to our personal endeavors, the prosperity of the society will be safeguarded. But if we treat these sources of wealth foolishly, the community will suffer greatly and a few will carry on injustice and will demolish all.

Now let us discuss on one sacred verse and on interesting narration:

وَلَا تُؤْتُوا السُّفَهَاءَ أَمْوَالَكُمْ الَّتِي جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ قِيَامًا.

“And do not give away your property which Allah has made for you a means of support to those of the weak of understanding. 4:5”

اِنَّ مِن بَقاءِ الإسلامِ وَبَقاءِ المُسْلمِينَ أنْ تَصِيرَ الأموالُ عِنْدَ مَنْ يَعرِفُ فيها الحقَّ وَيَصنَعُ فِيها المعروفَ واِنَّ مِن فَناءِ الإسلامِ وَفَناءِ المُسْلِمِينَ اَن تَصِيرَ الأموالُ عِنْدَ مَن لا يَعْرِِفُ فِيها الحَقَّ ولا يَصْنَعُ فِيها المَعْرُوفَ.

One of the factors for the survival of Islamic culture and that of the Moslems is to entrust the financial affairs to somebody to recognize the Moslem’s rights and to invest the finance in good affairs. On the other hand, one of factors for the fall of the Moslems is for them to let their financial issues be guided by the ignorant.[1]

In one of his invocations, Imam Sajjad (s) says to God:

نَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ تَناولِ الإسرافِ، وَمِنْ فِقْدانِ الكفافِ ومِن مَعِيشَةٍ في شِدّةٍ.

“O God, at the time of abundance, I ask you to protect me from falling in the terrible well of extravagance, and when I lack the means of subsistence, I ask you to help me.”[2]

Concerning wealth, or in the words of the Holy Quran and narrations “the lawful means of subsistence”, there are precious narrations in the Islamic sources:

قال رَسُولُ اللهِ 7: الكاسِبُ حَبِيبُ اللهِ

The Prophet (s) has said: One who is busy in a lawful business is God’s friend.

قالَ الصَادقُ D: قالَ الله تعالى: الخَلْقُ كُلّهُمُ عيالي، فاحَبُّهُم اِليَّ الْطَفَهُم بِهِم وَاسعَاهُمْ في حوائِجِهُم.

Ibn Senan, the well-known narrator, says: Imam Sadiq (s) reports God having said: All people are my family members: the most beloved ones for Me are those who show affection towards people and make endeavors to resolve their problems.[3]

قالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ 7: نِعْمَ المالُ الصّالِحُ للعَبْدِ الصّالحِ.

The Prophet (s) has said: How nice it is for a worthy believer to possess lawful wealth.[4]

In other words, a worthy man recognizes the lawful subsistence and then spends it in donations.

A man came to see Imam Sadiq (s), saying: pray God to increase my means of subsistence. Imam Sadiq (s) replied: I will not do so; go and find daily-bread in the way God has prescribed:[5]

لَيْسَ مِنّا مَنْ تَرَكَ آخِرَتَهُ لِدُنياهُ، اَو تَرَكَ دُنياهُ لِآخِرَتِهِ.

One who sells his hereafter to this world or sells his world to his hereafter is not one of us.[6]

In explaining the following excellent narration:

نِعْمَ الَعونَ عَلَى الآخِرَةِ الدُّنيا.

“How excellent is this world to win the other.”[7]

 Jalaleddin says: One whose major objective is this world alone has lost his life in vain, because the circle of our wants and desires is endless and only spiritual desires could lead us on the right path.

One who employes this world to get the other is in the best condition.

It is useless to use all tricks in order to gain this world. It is better to use these tricks to stop worshipping this world.

It is more advisable for a prisoner who wants to escape the prison to cut an underway canal rather than try to close down the prison.

By world-worshipping I mean to forget God; I do not mean having wealth or a position. If an individual has a clear account of money and knows how to spend it wisely, he is a God-believer and in fact is carrying out worshiping.

If our possession of the worldly wealth is in accordance with the rules of the religious laws, then our action is harmonious with what the Prophet (s) has said: “How good it is for a true believer to have lawful wealth.”

If you let the love for money penetrate the depth of your heart, it is as though water had filled the inside of a ship. This concentrated water would make the ship sink. But if the love for money does not rest deep in our hearts, then it will be like the water outside and beneath the ship which will make it move smoothly.

This was the reason for Solomon (s) considering himself as poor and wretched in spite of this great wealth and possessions.

If an empty jug is sealed thoroughly, it will stay on the water surface. In the same way inside a true believer is empty of wishes, so he is above all in life; his jug of spirit is filled with Divine thoughts and reflections; however, he will consider himself as poor.

أَنْتُمْ الْفُقَرَاءُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ هُوَ الْغَنِيُّ الْحَمِيدُ.

“You are they who stand in need of Allah, and Allah is He Who is the Self-sufficient, the Praised One. 35:15”

There are precious narrations concerning the wealth and the lawful income:

قالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ 4: طَلَبُ الحَلالِ فَرِيْضَةٌ على كُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ وَمُسْلِمَةٍ.

The Prophet (s) has said: It is compulsory for every man-Moslem and woman-Moslem to go after a lawful income.[8]

وَعَنْهُ 4: العِبَادَةُ سَبْعُونَ جُزْءاً، أفْضَلُها طَلَبُ الحَلالِ.

The Prophet (s) has said: There are seventy portions to worship; the best part is to go after the lawful income.[9]

وَقالَ 4: مَنْ أكَلَ مِنْ كَدِّ يَدِهِ نَظَرَ اللهُ إلَيهِ بِالرَّحْمَةِ ثُمَّ لا يُعَذِبُهُ أبَداً.

The Prophet (s) has said, as well, “One who eats out of his trials will enjoy God’s benevolence and will never be punished by God.”[10]

وَقالَ 4: مَنْ أكَلَ مِنْ كَدِّ يَدِهِ حلالاً فُتِحَ لَهُ أبوابُ الجَنَّةِ يَدْخُلُ مِنْ أيّها شاءَ.

The Prophet (s) has also stated: All the doors of the paradise will open up to anybody who will eat out of his trial: he may enter hs position from any gate he wishes.[11]

وَعَنْهُ 4: مَنِ اكْتَسَبَ مالاً مِنْ غَيرِ حِلّهِ كَانَ زَادُهُ إلى النّارِ.

The Prophet (s) has said: Anybody who earns money through unlawful means has prepared for himself the fire of the Hell.[12]

قال النبي 4: مَنْ أكَلَ الحَلالَ قامَ على رأسِهِ مَلكٌ يَسْتَغْفِرُ لَهُ حَتّى يَفرُغَ مِنْ أكْلِهِ.

The Prophet (s) has said: there is an angel for anybody who eats lawfully and asks God to forgive him.[13]

وَقالَ 4: الكادُ على عِيالِهِ كَالمُجاهِدِ في سَبِيلِ اللهِ.

The Prophet (s) has stated: One who tries hard to earn lawfully for his family members is like a warrior, fighting for God.[14]

وَعَنْهُ 4: مَنْ أكَلَ الحَلالَ أرْبَعِينَ يَوماً نَوَّرَ اللهُ قَلبَهُ.

The Prophet (s) has also said: God will lighten anybody’s heart who eats legally earned daily-bread for forty days.[15]

From the sacred verses of the Holy Quran, narrations and Islamic news it could be understood that gaining one’s daily bread lawfully is a kind of worship. And any worship under this worship is accepted by God. Any worship or donation which is rooted in illegal and unlawful means is of no value or merit.

From the discussions we have had so far we could conclude that earning one’s income and spending it for God is a heavy duty for him.

4) There are also some Quranic verses which consider the means of subsistence as God’s way to test people. It is upto man to enter this exam and show his talents. If he is wealthy, through spending benevolently he may gain high positions in front of God and people. If he does not have abundance, he may engage in patience in the face of hardships and depressions.

Concerning the fact that wealth in this world is only to test the believers, the content of the verses 17 to 33 from Surah Qalam (The Pen) is very enlightening: The story goes like this:

A man from Yemen, in the territory called Sana’, who was true believer and always carried out God’s commands, started cultivating a piece of barren land. After going through a lot of unsurmountbel obstacles, he prepared a garden full of fruit trees. A good smell was around the garden; the garden was surrounded with tall trees. Sweet water filled the springs flowing in the garden.

The religious man used to walk around the garden, being amazed by this God-given asset. After his walk, he used to go to a corner and spend some time worshipping God.

In his supplications and invocations, he used to implore God to protect him against the temptations which wealth causes man to go astray.

He used to ask God to let him use that wealth modestly and spend the rest on the poor.

And he carried out this planning as he had wanted to. At the harvest time he used to allocate some of the income to his family and the rest to the poor. Whenever he sold some of the produce he then opened the door of the garden to the poor, asking them to take away the fruits proportional to their needs.

The man’s children, however, who were not as religious as he was and who were filled with material considerations and who had not taken lessons of generosity from their father, objected to their father’s behavior, telling him: “the way you are treating the garden, you are doing us injustice and you are making hurdles on the way of our daily-bread. If you continue this way, you will make us poor and miserable.”

The believing man told his children: I think you are mistaken. What is the use of accumulated wealth and how is it going to solve your problem? Let us suppose I had amassed lots of wealth since my youth in the form of bags of gold and silver and at the time of my death I had put it for your use. Then I would have to answer on the Doomsday where I had got that wealth.

My children! This garden is not mine, nor is it yours. It belongs to the Creator. We are obedient servants to Him. He has wanted us to use the amont we need and let the rest go to the needy ones. It is not fair to let a minority possess all the requirements of life and let the majority suffer among whom there are worthy believers who are honorable but who do not have enough to live on.

To thank God for his affluence, we have to feed the needy and to serve them well. I do not want to go any other way than this. My only love is God and I will not carry out any plan against Him. I endure in carrying out His objectives and I am happy that He has bestowed upon me all these assets.

My children: we are holding in trust what He has given us. We should not waste it. The needy, the sick, the wretched, the miserable, the orphans, even the animals all have to share in this wealth. Only in that case will God be content with us.

Only after these creatures were content with what they were after would we have the right to use our wealth. This has been my way of life since my youth and nothing may disturb my plan now.

And try to understand that in this way your wealth will multiply and is protected against disasters and will bring about God’s blessings and is an interlude to future prosperity.

My children! Just give me time. You see that my hair has grown gray, my strength has deteriorated, my body has got a curve, I am suffering from different diseases, and I am going to die pretty soon. After my death you will be heirs to this possession. There are two ways open to you then: either you will follow my approach or you will choose the viscious way. If you give away to the poor freely, God will give you subsequent rewards. And if you go astray, God’s chastisement will be yours.

Some time later, the benevolent man passed away.

Time passed swiftly. The garden was ready to be harvested: the fruits were ripe and ready to be picked up. The poor were very delighted because they wished to get some of the harvest to solve their problems.

The benevolent man’s children started counseling. One of them said: there will not be any share for the poor from now on. We will sell the produce and become affluent. The other brother, who was like his father in manners, showed his dissatisfaction, saying: I will not agree with you. You think it is to your benefit not to give away the poor’s shares. You will, as a result, lose every thing you have. Let us follow our father’s way; then God’s blessings will be yours.

The answer he received was: Do not talk on something which does not belong to you. Your sermon is of no worth to us, anyway.

The brother who was a true believer told them: Let us now pray to God since your prayer will stop you to engage in evils. But they did not pay attention to him.

They decided to enter the garden early the next morning and sell the produce, depriving the poor of their shares.

They ate dinner and went to bed. During their sleep a cloud full of thunder and lightning, sent by Almighty God, destroyed any fruit they had.

Early in the morning they entered their garden. Nothing was left of it. They were perplexed, saying: yesterday we had everything, now, we have none; perhaps we have entered a garden which is not ours. But the believing brother replied: No; this is your own garden.

You wretched guys! You became deprived prior to making the poor deprived. At the end of this story God says:

كَذَلِكَ الْعَذَابُ وَلَعَذَابُ الْآخِرَةِ أَكْبَرُ لَوْ كَانُوا يَعْلَمُونَ.

“Such is the chastisement, and certainly the chastisement of the hereafter is greater, did they but know! 68:33”

His Holiness lets his servants enjoy His full affection in order to grow; now if these servants appreciate His generosity, they will receive their rewards. However, if they became aggressors, they would severely be punished in one way or another.

وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّمَا أَمْوَالُكُمْ وَأَوْلَادُكُمْ فِتْنَةٌ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ عِنْدَهُ أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ.

“And know that your property and your children are a temptation, and that Allah is He with whom there is a mighty reward. 8:28”

إِنَّمَا أَمْوَالُكُمْ وَأَوْلَادُكُمْ فِتْنَةٌ وَاللَّهُ عِنْدَهُ أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ وَاسْمَعُوا وَأَطِيعُوا وَأَنفِقُوا خَيْرًا لِأَنْفُسِكُمْ وَمَنْ يُوقَ شُحَّ نَفْسِهِ فَأُوْلَئِكَ هُمْ الْمُفْلِحُونَ.

“Your possessions and your children are only a trial, and Allah it is with whom is a great reward. Therefore be careful of your duty to Allah as much as you can, and hear and obey and spend, it is better for your souls; and whoever is saved from the greediness of his soul, these it is that are the successful. 64:15-16”

وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُمْ بِشَيْءٍ مِنْ الْخَوْفِ وَالْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِنْ الْأَمْوَالِ وَالْأَنفُسِ وَالثَّمَرَاتِ وَبَشِّرْ الصَّابِرِينَ الَّذِينَ إِذَا أَصَابَتْهُمْ مُصِيبَةٌ قَالُوا إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ أُوْلَئِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ صَلَوَاتٌ مِنْ رَبِّهِمْ وَرَحْمَةٌ وَأُوْلَئِكَ هُمْ الْمُهْتَدُونَ.

“And we will most certainly try you with somewhat of fear and hunger and loss of property and lives and fruits and give good news to the patient. Who, when a misfortune befalls them, say: surely we are Allah’s and to Him we will return. Those are they on whom are blessings and mercy from their Lord, and those are the followers of the right course. 64:15-16”

5) There are some other verses in the Holy Quran which consider wealth, ornaments and treasures as worthless and fatal compared to the spiritual matters and God’s satisfaction which are eternal and everlasting. These sacred verses recommend that we should not be fond of transient goods and not be carried away and tempted by worldly affairs. They recommend that we change what we have here into good deeds and make our future with these worldly substances. This way of treating the world has been the way the Prophets (s) have always taken.

قُلْ مَتَاعُ الدُّنْيَا قَلِيلٌ وَالْآخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ لِمَنْ اتَّقَى...

“Say: the provision of this world is short, and hereafter is better for him who guards against evil…4:77”

Those who guard against evil treat the provision of this world wisely. They use their time, energy, fame, honor, and knowledge to build up their hereafter. They would never sell truth to the untruth; neither will they sell their future prosperity to vices.

أَفَمَنْ وَعَدْنَاهُ وَعْدًا حَسَنًا فَهُوَ لَاقِيهِ كَمَنْ مَتَّعْنَاهُ مَتَاعَ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا ثُمَّ هُوَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ مِنْ الْمُحْضَرِينَ.

“Is he to whom we have promised a goodly promise which he shall meet with like him whom we have provided with the provisions of this world’s life, then on the day of resurrection he shall be of those who are brought up? 28:61”

يَا قَوْمِ إِنَّمَا هَذِهِ الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا مَتَاعٌ وَإِنَّ الْآخِرَةَ هِيَ دَارُ الْقَرَارِ.

“O my people! This life of the world is only a passing enjoyment, and surely the hereafter is the abode to settle. 40:39”

اِنْ كُلُّ ذَلِكَ لَمَّا مَتَاعُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةُ عِنْدَ رَبِّكَ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ.

“(And embellishment of gold); and all this is naught but provision of this world’s, and the hereafter is with your Lord only for those who guard against evil. 43:35”

مَتَاعٌ قَلِيلٌ ثُمَّ مَأْوَاهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ وَبِئْسَ الْمِهَادُ.

“A brief enjoyment! Then their abode is hell, and evil is the resting-place. 3:197”

الْمَالُ وَالْبَنُونَ زِينَةُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَالْبَاقِيَاتُ الصَّالِحَاتُ خَيْرٌ عِنْدَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ أَمَلًا.

“Wealth and children are an adornment of the life of this world; and the ever-abiding, the good works, are better with your Lord in reward and better in expectation. 18:46”

It is narrated from the Prophet (s):

ما الدُنيا في الآخِرَةِ إلاّ مِثْلُ ما يَجْعَلُ أحَدُكُمْ إصْبَعَهُ في الْيَمِّ، فَلْيَنظُرْ بِمَ يَرْجِعُ.

The Present world, compared with the hereafter, is like you enter one finger into the seawater: how much water can you absorb in this way?

It is also narrated from the Great Prophet (s):

مَا الدُّنيا في ما مَضى مِنْها إلاّ كَمِثْلِ ثَوْبٍ شُقَّ باثْنينِ وَبَقيَ خَيْطُهُ، إلا فكانَ ذلِكَ الخَيْطُ قَدِ انْقَطَعَ.

Compared with the past, the present is like a garment torn in two portions. Nothing is left except the thread which is also torn up.

The one who becomes proud of having this little world’s provision and this fatal and transient item is, in fact, deprived of all truth and of God’s blessings; as a result, he will indulge in all sorts of wishes and lusts and will sacrifice everything for his temporary whishes and whims. He will suffer severely, however.

From the above discussions, we will conclude the following:

1) Those verses which deal with the ample or meager means of subsistence will never impede our economic activities. According to the Holy Quran everybody has to carry out a business. It is forbidden to waste one’s time idly and be a parasite over others. However, it is a divine action to take care of one’s wealth in accordance with God’s rules.

2) If affluence or poverty is the result of exploitation, the oppressed ones should rise against the aggressors in order to attain their human and divine rights.

3) The affluence which is the result of committing sins and involvement in crimes is not related to God’s planning whatsoever.

4) The amount of means of subsistence is God’s way to test and try the servants in order for them to grow. That is to say, it is the result of God’s justice and wisdom towards man.

5) Through abundance, some of the believers will attain the paradise due to their helping the poor and spreading their wealth as alms and donations. It this way, they will insure their future. Through lack of abundance and little amount of means of subsistence, a second group of believers will enter the paradise due to their patience and because of their avoidance of getting involved in sins. This very struggle against evils is the best kind of reserves for their future. That is to say, the very lack of wealth is a stoppage against indulging in sins. It is also a factor for cleanliness.

The vigilant and seeing men are living only for the truth; they die for the truth; they do not ask for anything except the truth; they know nothing but the truth. Their business, eating habits, dwelling places, manners, wealth, positions are for the sake of the truth.

This world is for them just a ladder for the hereafter; their assets are for the needy ones and for the helping of the public in general.