MONEY CHANGES MAN And The Social Norms.

 

Money Changes Man

And Social Norms.

People Forget Allah And Islam;

They Remember Money Only.

(M. Javed Naseem)

Money is the second biggest test for a man; woman being the first. When we are poor, we have different attitude; different behavior and different approach towards social and economic problems. But we are better off (or rich/wealthy), we change our values, our attitude, our behavior and the approach. The entire thinking changes and with that changes the character too. Money is 'Fitnah' but if handled wisely, it can become a blessing as well.

A wise man of Arabia, Qais bin Saad Khazarji, once fell ill. He was a rich man but he was righteous, compassionate and gentle. He helped many poor and less-fortunate people of his town. There were always people at his house or door; some visitors and some needy. So, when he fell ill, he was surprised to observe that nobody came to see him nor did anybody send a slave to wish him well or speedy recovery.

All the time, when he was healthy and active, he used to receive a lot of visitors, friends and well-wishers. He asked his family what could be the reason for this unpleasant change? His wife, who was also a shrewd lady, told him that almost everybody in the town owed him money, one way or the other. Unless they paid back his debt, they were embarrassed to come and visit him. Qais bin Saad started cursing the money because of which he had lost all his friends and well-wishers. He immediately hired a man to make announcements in all parts of the city that whosoever owed him money, was relieved of his debt. He forgave everybody and no one owed him anything. After hearing that announcement, many people came to visit him. It was so crowded at his doorstep that people broke the threshold of it.

That showed that people were more conscious about money they owed than the social norms, behavior, character or traditions.

Here is the key to success: Don't fall in love with this world, nor with money. Money is never enough because the desire of it springs from the base of greed. The more you have, the more you want. There is no end to it till you hit the dust (grave). If we pay attention to the teachings of the Quran, Allah tells us that our stay in this world is but temporary. We are here to work on our Aakhirah (the Hereafter). The greed and accumulation of wealth or material things can bring only the wrath of Allah upon us, unless we spend that wealth in Allah's way. But if with money and wealth we forget Allah, His Commands and the poor or needy of our town, we are inviting Allah's wrath.

“Such are those who buy the life of

the world at the price of the Hereafter.

Their punishment will not be lightened,

neither will they have a support.”

(al-Quran 2 :86)

For a believer, the life of the Hereafter is a lot more beautiful than the life of this world. The wise people consider this world with all its pomp and show, a prison for the righteous; a deception. The real life is in the Hereafter. The Almighty says that the life of this world is just an illusion. We should not become slaves to our desires and temptation.

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