Surah Kahf Day: Trial of Wealth

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

The story of the owner of two gardens in Surah Kahf reminds us of the perishing world and to live a life of piety and uprightness. The man who Allah blessed him with two beautiful lush gardens of grapevines forgot the One who blessed him with everything. Instead, he entered his garden with an attitude, "I do not think that this will perish - ever." [Al-Kahf 18:35] Some major calamity hit his gardens, wealth and things of luxury reducing everything to ruins.

Allah Almighty says,

ٱلْمَالُ وَٱلْبَنُونَ زِينَةُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَٱلْبَـٰقِيَـٰتُ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتُ خَيْرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ أَمَلًا ﴿٤٦

Wealth and children are [but] adornment of the worldly life. But the enduring good deeds are better to your Lord for reward and better for [one's] hope. (46)

[Qur'an Al-Kahf 18:46]

In times when the Muslims were in hardship--when they were living in poverty and being attacked, the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, predicted to the Companions that in the future Allah will sprout forth blessings of the land, that they would gain great wealth, and this was what he feared for them the most--WEALTH.

Narrated Abu Sa`id Al−Khudri, Allah be pleased with him: Once the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, sat on a pulpit and we sat around him. Then he said,

"The things I am afraid of most for your sake (concerning what will befall you after me) is the pleasures and splendors of the world and its beauties which will be disclosed to you." Somebody said, "O Allah's Apostle! Can the good bring forth evil?" The Prophet remained silent for a while. It was said to that person, "What is wrong with you? You are talking to the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, while he is not talking to you." Then we noticed that he was being inspired divinely. Then the Prophet wiped off his sweat and said, "Where is the questioner?" It seemed as if the Prophet liked his question. Then he said, "Good never brings forth evil. Indeed it is like what grows on the banks of a water−stream which either kill or make the animals sick, except if an animal eats its fill the Khadira (a kind of vegetable) and then faces the sun, and then defecates and urinates and grazes again. No doubt this wealth is sweet and green. Blessed is the wealth of a Muslim from which he gives to the poor, the orphans and to needy travelers. (Or the Prophet said something similar to it) No doubt, whoever takes it illegally will be like the one who eats but is never satisfied, and his wealth will be a witness against him on the Day of Resurrection."

[Bukhari]

The concerns of the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, came true in Andalus, Muslim Spain. The great Muslim empire began here. Muslims came in Andalus, prospered and became lazy and fat. So they lose everything. When there is no sense of self sacrifice and well wishing for others everybody fight to take their piece and self destruct.

We have become a nation of buying and hoarding stuff.

The companions used to eat the 2 black thing -- dates and water. In rare occasions when they have bread, salt and oil, this was a great feast to them and they thank Allah profusely. Look at us...we eat 3+ course meals everyday, buffets, wedding or festive feasts, fast foods, all in abundance, but we forget the One Who blessed us with this and everything that we have.

Don't wait for a calamity to strike before turning to Allah for it might be too late.

وَلَمْ تَكُن لَّهُۥ فِئَةٌ يَنصُرُونَهُۥ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّـهِ وَمَا كَانَ مُنتَصِرًا ﴿٤٣

And there was for him no company to aid him other than Allah, nor could he defend himself. (43)

[Qur'an Al-Kahf 18:43]

May Allah save us from the trials and tribulations of this life and the next. Ameen.

Please do not forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

Wassalaam