The True Richness (1/2)

Many people mistakenly assume that true wealth and real treasure is that of money. It is indeed true that wealth is a great blessing from Allah which He bestows upon His servants. And the one who earns it purely, and spends it properly, and gives it to those that deserve it, without a doubt earns a great reward from Allah.

But at the same time, wealth is not the greatest blessing that can be given to mankind. Furthermore, no matter how much wealth a person has, eventually it will leave him, and pass on into the hands of others. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) reminded us of this when he asked the Companions, "Who amongst you loves the money of his inheritors more than his own money?"[1]

They replied, "O Messenger of Allah! There is no one of us except that he loves his own money more than he loves the money of his inheritors." So the Prophet (Peace be upon him) replied, "But his money is only that which he sent forth, and the money of his inheritors is what he left behind."[2] So in reality most of the money that a person owns will eventually end up in the hands of his or her inheritors, and only that part which was spent for the sake of Allah will actually benefit one in the Hereafter.

Allah emphasizes this point in the Qur'an with the teaching that, "Wealth and children are the adornments of the life of this world. But the permanent righteous deeds are better in your Lord's Sight (to attain) rewards, and better in respect of hope." [Surah al-Kahf, 46]    

So money and children can be a comfort and a pleasure of this life, but righteous deeds are what will remain permanently — not one's family or wealth. It is these righteous deeds which will bring a person Allah's Pleasure, and through which a person can hope for an ever-lasting reward in the Hereafter. The Qur'an clearly states,

"And it is not your wealth, nor your children that bring you nearer to Us, but only he (will please Us) who believes, and does righteous deeds; for such (people), there will be a double reward for what they did, and they will reside in the high dwellings (of Paradise), in peace and security." [Surah Saba', 37] 

The great student of Ibn Abbas, Qatadah al-Sadusi, said commenting on this verse, "So do not judge people based on the amount of money and children they have! Even a disbeliever might be given money, whereas the Muslim has been withheld from it.[3]”

In a well-known and oft-repeated parable, the Qur'an compares the life of this world to a crop that flourishes after rainfall, only to wither up and shrivel in a short period of time. The Qur'an states,

"Realize that the life of this world is only play and amusement, pomp and mutual boasting among you, and rivalry in respect of wealth and children. It is like the vegetation (that sprouts forth) after rain, whose growth is pleasing to the disbeliever. Soon it dries up, and you see it turning yellow, then it becomes straw. But in the Hereafter (there is) a severe torment (for the disbelievers), and (there is) Forgiveness from Allah and (His) Good Pleasure (for the believers). And indeed, the life of this world is only a deceiving enjoyment." [Surah Hadid, 20]     

Imam al-Sa'adi summarised the commentary of this verse when he wrote, in a very beautiful passage: In this verse, Allah informs us of the true nature of this world, and what it is really based on, and He explains its end, and the end of the people in it. He informs us that it is a mere play and amusement, so our bodies play in it, and our hearts are amused at it. And we see that this is exactly what the people that are following this world are upon, so you find that they have wasted their entire lives so that they can amuse their hearts. They are in total ignorance about remembering Allah, and what they are about to face of rewards and punishments (in the Hereafter). You see them taking their religion as an amusement and pastime.

And this is in contrast to the people of awareness, and the ones that strive for the Hereafter. Their hearts are alive with the remembrance of Allah, and His knowledge, and His love. And they have busied themselves with actions that will bring them closer to Allah, whether those actions will benefit themselves only, or also others. And the phrase,'...zinah...,' or 'pompness,' means that they will try to beautify themselves in their clothes, food, drinks, the means of transportation, their houses and palaces, their prestige, and other matters. The phrase,'...mutual boasting amongst you...,' implies that everyone is attached (to this world), trying to outdo others, so that he will be the victor in all its matters. He wishes that he can satisfy all of his desires through it. And (this occurs in money and children), so each one wants to be the one that has more than the other, in money and children. And this is what is occurring amongst those that love this world and are content with it.

But this is in contrast to the one who realizes this world and its reality, so he made it a passage, and not the goal. So he competed in coming closer to Allah, and he took the necessary means to ensure that he would arrive at the promised destination. So when he sees someone who tries to compete with him in money and children, he instead competes against him with good deeds!

Then, Allah drew for us a parable of this world. It is like a rain that falls to the earth, and then mixes with the vegetation that is eaten by men and animals, until, when the earth spreads forth is beauty and the disbelievers — those who cannot see beyond this life — are amazed at its fruits, the command of Allah comes upon it. So it is destroyed, and it withers up, and dries, and it returns to its previous state, as if the land never gave any greenery, and as if no beauty were ever seen on it!

And this is how this world is! While it is at its prime for its companion, sprouting forth with beauty, whatever he wants of its treasures he can take, and whenever he wants to obtain anything of it, he finds the doors to achieve it are open, when, all of a sudden, Allah's decree falls upon it. So all of it is removed from his hands, and his control over it is gone, or he himself is removed from it, so he leaves it with absolutely nothing of it in his hands, having gained nothing from all of it except a shroud (that is placed on the dead body). So woe to him who makes it his goal, and sacrifices everything for it, and strives and devotes his entire life to it!

And as for the actions of the Hereafter, then that is what will truly benefit. It will store for its owner (the fruits of his work), and will accompany him forever. This is why Allah stated, 'But in the Hereafter (there is) a severe torment (for the disbelievers), and (there is) Forgiveness from Allah and (His) Good Pleasure (for the believers).' So, the Hereafter will be one of these two matters only. As for the punishment, then it will be in the Fire of Hell, and its pits and chains, and all of its horrors. And this will be for one who has made this world his goal, and the end of his journey, so he freely disobeyed Allah, and rejected His signs, and did not thank His blessings.

And as for the forgiveness from Allah for one's sins, and the absolvement of all punishment, and the pleasure of Allah, then this will be for one who strived for the Abode of Enjoyment (Paradise) — the one who realised the true nature of this world, and therefore strived a real striving for the Hereafter.

So all of this should make us lessen our desire for this world, and increase our desire for the Hereafter, and this is why Allah said, 'And indeed, the life of this world is only a deceiving enjoyment.' So, this (life) is an enjoyment that a person can benefit from, and take his needs from. No one except a person of weak mind will be deceived by it, and become content with it, and these are the ones that Allah will allow to be deceived by the Deceiver (Shaytan)[4].