Towards the Real Financial Stability

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Parents tell their children, 'Go to college, get married, buy a house, buy a car.' But when it comes to the younger generation who are either just entering the job market or watching the economic downfall and unemployment rate rise while in college, gaining financial stability is their top concern, says a survey. Overall, the top three greatest aspirations for the group surveyed was financial stability first, dream job second and getting married came third.

Current financial crisis has taken its toll in our societies, and no one is secure from its impact. The credit card and the interest based banking systems have made people's lives miserable. People are constantly investigating various ways to increase their income and pay off debts. People had to work 2 or 3 jobs to achieve this dream of financial stability. One parent income is almost a thing of the past and children are put in day cares for long hours so parents can achieve their financial dreams. Yet, when these children grow up and off to college, they find themselves in their parents' footsteps, facing huge debts, some in the 6-figure amount (student loans, credit card debts, etc) before even having a job.

Aren't we missing something? Can we put a stop to this vicious cycle? Of course. Surah Al-Waqi'ah, a chapter of the Qur'an, which we should make part of our life, a Surah that the beloved Messenger of Allah promised as a "source of wealth and protection against poverty." How?

Perhaps we can glean from the life of a great companion, 'Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him). He lived to the time of Khalifah 'Uthman ibn 'Affan (may Allah be pleased with him). When he was lying on his deathbed, 'Uthman paid him a visit and the following conversation ensued.

'Uthman: What are you suffering from?

Ibn Mas'ud: From my sins.

'Uthman: Do you desire anything?

Ibn Mas'ud: The mercy of my Lord.

'Uthman : Shall I call a doctor for you?

Ibn Mas'ud: It is the doctor who has given me the ailment.

'Uthman: Shall I not give you your stipend which you have refused to take for years now?

Ibn Mas'ud: I have no need for it.

'Uthman: Accept it, [please]. You are leaving daughters behind you. It will help them.

Ibn Mas'ud: Do you fear poverty for my children? I have commanded them to read Surah Al-Waqi'ah every night for I have heard the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) saying, 'Whoever reads Al-Waqi'ah every night will never suffer from poverty.'

That night, ibn Mas'ud passed away to the company of his Lord. His tongue moist with the remembrance of Allah and with the recitation of the verses of His Book.

Let's take a few minutes before going to sleep tonight and read Surah Al-Waqi'ah. Instruct your children to do the same. This should be a simple enough task to accomplish every night because it takes hardly a few minutes to read the Surah. If it feels too long, just compare it to the amount of time we spend on texting and reading text messages all day and sometimes until right before closing our eyes in bed.

May Allah increase us in Imaan (faith) and enable us to follow the footsteps of the His beloved Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace) and his righteous companions. Ameen.

Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazak Allahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Related Archive:

Heroes of Islam: Abdullah ibn Mas'ud