WEALTH AND CHILDREN:The Yardstick of Nobility From The Period of Ignorance, is A Test For Muslims.

Wealth & Children:

The Yardstick Of Nobility

From The Period Of

Ignorance (Jaahiliah),

But A Test For Muslims

(M. Javed Naseem)

“O you who believe! Truly, among your wives

and your children are (some that are) enemies to

yourselves; so beware of them! But if you pardon,

forgive and overlook, verily Allah is Oft-Forgiving,

Most Merciful. Your wealth and your children are

only a trial; but in the presence of Allah,

is the highest reward.

(al-Quran 64:14-15)

Centuries ago, man used to claim his status in the society by dint of his wealth and children. The richer and bigger the family, the higher and nobler it would be in status in society. Today, after thousands of years, the yardstick is still the same. The rich and big families have all the influence in the society despite the fact that most of them are corrupt and have no integrity.

God is infinite Truth and He is also the infinite Love – pure and incorruptible! So, He likes His world pure and without corruption. The Almighty sent different Prophets and Messengers during different eras to eradicate the evil of ignorance and spread the enlightenment so that people follow the path of piety and righteousness. With the advent of Islam, Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) appeared with the same mission like his predecessors to guide people to the right path. In the Quran, Allah commanded the man on many occasions with plain and simple words: “And don’t spread corruption (or mischief) in the earth!” Unfortunately, the man proved, on every occasion, that he is disobedient and ungrateful to God; he is ignorant, unjust, corrupt and dishonest. He loves wealth and his own children and does not mind hurting and killing other people for the purpose of his own material gains.

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In Islam, wealth and children are a test for

Muslims. Allah wants to see how we handle

these blessings and how we use them for the

benefit of mankind! Abusing them means

punishment on the Day of Judgment.

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“And know that your possessions and your

progeny are but a trial; and that it is Allah

with Whom lies your highest reward.”

(al-Quran 8:28)

We are wholeheartedly in the race for materialism – accumulation of wealth. Greed is the mother of all evils and it forces us to be dishonest, corrupt, unjust and cruel. People with richer and bigger families use their influence to acquire more wealth and property by all (legal or illegal) means. There are ‘Qabzah Groups’ in Pakistan and India who steal or forcibly buy for peanuts high-value properties from common people who have no means to protect themselves. Those groups don’t hesitate to kill innocent people, if they need to.

That’s blackmailing, terrorism, injustice and transgression. Believers are warned in the Quran about that:

“Of no profit whatever to them, against

Allah, will be their riches nor their sons.

They will be companions of the Fire,

to dwell therein (forever)!

(al-Quran 58:17)

The Western gangster movies and video games are influencing people’s brains and changing their character slowly. They have developed the habit of taking advantage of others’ situations without thinking that they are doing injustice to others. People are becoming more and more selfish. The worst thing is that they don’t really need to do such things to ‘survive’. They are usually better off than their victims. They don’t do it because they are poor and need to survive. No, they are generally rich. It’s their greed.

According to Amr ibn Awf, the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) said:

“By Allah, it is not poverty I fear for you, but rather

I fear you will be given the wealth of the world just as

it was given to those before you. You will compete

for it just as they competed for it and it will destroy

 you just as it destroyed them.”

(Bukhari, No.2988; Muslim, No.2961)

Wealth and children are the blessings of the Almighty and at the same time a test for us. Most people are failing this test despite all the warnings. It is really hard to understand what part of God’s command people don’t understand! How can we say ‘goodbye’ to our compassion and spirit of good deeds; and adopt evil practices without thinking of the long-term consequences? Allah says very clearly in the Quran:

“Wealth and sons are allurements of the life of

this world; but the things that endure, good deeds,

are best in the sight of your Lord, as rewards,

and best as (the foundation for) hopes.”

(al-Quran 18:46)

Allah, the Almighty, warns all believers in the Quran about the hidden evil in wealth and children, and commands us to be vigilant lest we forget the rights of Allah:

“O you who believe! Let not your riches or

your children divert you from the remembrance

of Allah. If any act thus, the loss is their own.”

(al-Quran 63:9)

On the Day of Judgment, all believers would be judged on the scale of righteousness or piety. There is no other criterion in Islam to determine somebody’s status except by ‘Taqwa’ (meaning righteousness or piety). Wealth and children would be of no use.

“It is not your wealth nor your sons, that will

bring you nearer to Us in degree; but only those

who believe and work righteousness - these are

the ones for whom there is a multiplied Reward

for their deeds, while secure they (reside) in

the dwellings on high!”

(al-Quran 34:37)

“Of no profit to you will be your relatives

and your children on the Day of Judgment.

He will judge between you; for Allah sees

well all that you do.”

(al-Quran 60:3)

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