Dear brothers and sisters, August 3, 2009;
Assalaamu Alaikum Wa Rahmathullahi Wa Bharakhathuhu.
On August 1, 2009, a brother from the Indian subcontinent suggested that I give a talk on 'Love of money' in the Masjid under his care at Columbia, SC, USA. That request triggered this analysis. May Allah Subhana Wa Taala reward him.
It is well known that we love wealth. Often one does not care the means of getting the wealth. A Muslim cannot ignore the way in which he/ she acquires wealth. Only Halal ways are valid for Muslims.
We hope to illustrate the concept using a Tradition and expanding it in the light of the Holy Quran and other Traditions, Inshah Allah.
http://www.searchtruth.com/searchHadith.php?keyword=three+cave+twenty&translator=1&search=1&book=&start=0&records_display=10&search_word=all
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The words "three cave twenty" appear in 1 hadith(s) in Bukhari translation.
(1) Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Umar: I heard Allah's Apostle saying, "three men from among those who were before you, set out together till they reached a cave at night and entered it. A big rock rolled down the mountain and closed the mouth of the cave. They said (to each other), Nothing could save you from this rock but to invoke Allah by giving reference to the righteous deed which you have done (for Allah's sake only).' So, one of them said, 'O Allah! I had old parents and I never provided my family (wife, children etc.) with milk before them. One day, by chance I was delayed, and I came late (at night) while they had slept. I milked the sheep for them and took the milk to them, but I found them sleeping. I disliked to provide my family with the milk before them. I waited for them and the bowl of milk was in my hand and I kept on waiting for them to get up till the day dawned. Then they got up and drank the milk. O Allah! If I did that for Your Sake only, please relieve us from our critical situation caused by this rock.' So, the rock shifted a little but they could not get out." The Prophet added, "The second man said, 'O Allah! I had a cousin who was the dearest of all people to me and I wanted to have sexual relations with her but she refused. Later she had a hard time in a famine year and she came to me and I gave her one-hundred-and-twenty Dinars on the condition that she would not resist my desire, and she agreed. When I was about to fulfill my desire, she said: It is illegal for you to outrage my chastity except by legitimate marriage. So, I thought it a sin to have sexual intercourse with her and left her though she was the dearest of all the people to me, and also I left the gold I had given her. O Allah! If I did that for Your Sake only, please relieve us from the present calamity.' So, the rock shifted a little more but still they could not get out from there." The Prophet added, "Then the third man said, 'O Allah! I employed few laborers and I paid them their wages with the exception of one man who did not take his wages and went away. I invested his wages and I got much property thereby. (Then after some time) he came and said to me: O Allah's slave! Pay me my wages. I said to him: All the camels, cows, sheep and slaves you see, are yours. He said: O Allah's slave! Don't mock at me. I said: I am not mocking at you. So, he took all the herd and drove them away and left nothing. O Allah! If I did that for Your Sake only, please relieve us from the present suffering.' So, that rock shifted completely and they got out walking. (Book #36, Hadith #472)
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The three men related the best of their deeds. The first one waited for his parents to get up from their sleep and starved his children. What would we say in connection with his act in the light of the following Verse?
http://www.searchtruth.com/chapter_display_all.php?chapter=39&from_verse=42&to_verse=42&mac=&translation_setting=1&show_transliteration=1&show_yusufali=1&show_shakir=1&show_pickthal=1&show_mkhan=1
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Yusuf Ali 39:42
It is Allah that takes the souls (of men) at death; and those that die not (He takes) during their sleep: those on whom He has passed the decree of death, He keeps back (from returning to life), but the rest He sends (to their bodies) for a term appointed verily in this are Signs for those who reflect.
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The person who waited on his parents thought that his parents are sure to get up after their sleep. In such a thought he has decided on behalf of Allah Subhana Wa Taala. Is that not shirk? Still Allah Subhana Wa Taala rewarded him by moving the rock a little granting them access to open air so that they do not die of suffocation. This is a demonstration of the following Tradition in this life itself.
http://www.searchtruth.com/searchHadith.php?keyword=deeds+intentions&translator=1&search=1&book=&start=0&records_display=10&search_word=all
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The words "deeds intentions" appear in 7 hadith(s) in Bukhari translation.
(1) Narrated 'Umar bin Al-Khattab: I heard Allah's Apostle saying, "The reward of deeds depends upon the intentions and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended. So whoever emigrated for worldly benefits or for a woman to marry, his emigration was for what he emigrated for." (Book #1, Hadith #1)
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In the light of the discussion above, what are we to do if we wait on a sleeping person? Any action that needs to be completed before the sleeping person normally gets up can be done.
The second person was about to commit a major sin egged on by the devil for a long time. Alhamdhulillah when they were on the brink the girl warned him and he respected the warning. Allah Subhana Wa Taala rewarded the act of 'not committing a sin even though he had thought of that sin.' This confirms the following Tradition.
http://www.searchtruth.com/searchHadith.php?keyword=commits+desisted&translator=2&search=1&book=&start=0&records_display=10&search_word=all
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The words "commits desisted" appear in 1 hadith(s) in Muslim translation.
(1) Abu Huraira reported that Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him), said: When it occurs to my bondsman that he should do a good deed but he actually does not do it, record one good to him, but if he puts it into practice, I make an entry of ten good acts in his favour. When it occurs to him to do evil, but he does not commit it, I forgive that. But if he commits it, I record one evil against his name. The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) observed. The angels said: That bondsman of Yours intends to commit evil. though His Lord is more Vigilant than he. Upon this He (the Lord) said: Watch him; if he commits (evil), write it against his name but if he refrains from doing it, write one good deed for him, for he desisted from doing it for My sake. The Messenger of Allah said: He who amongst you is good of faith, all his good acts are multiplied from ten to seven hundred times (and are recorded in his name) and all the evils that he commits are recorded as such (i, e. without increase) till he meets Allah. (Book #001, Hadith #0235)
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In contrast to the first person who committed a sin but with good intentions, the second person desisted from committing a sin for the sake of Allah Subhana Wa Taala. This was rewarded by moving the rock some more. Even though it is not mentioned, we believe the opening was large enough for food to be delivered to them so that they could live inside the cave.
What about the third person? He had the good intention of paying the wages in full; even though the investment grew manifold as he loved Halal wealth he just safeguarded the property of the laborer and gave it to him at the first opportunity.
Inshah Allah all of us should be like the third person. One more reason for such behavior is the following Tradition.
http://www.searchtruth.com/searchHadith.php?keyword=forty+clot+livelihood&translator=1&search=1&book=&start=0&records_display=10&search_word=all
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The words "forty clot livelihood" appear in 3 hadith(s) in Bukhari translation.
(1) Narrated 'Abdullah bin Mus'ud: Allah's Apostle, the true and truly inspired said, "(The matter of the Creation of) a human being is put together in the womb of the mother in forty days, and then he becomes a clot of thick blood for a similar period, and then a piece of flesh for a similar period. Then Allah sends an angel who is ordered to write four things. He is ordered to write down his (i.e. the new creature's) deeds, his livelihood, his (date of) death, and whether he will be blessed or wretched (in religion). Then the soul is breathed into him. So, a man amongst you may do (good deeds till there is only a cubit between him and Paradise and then what has been written for him decides his behavior and he starts doing (evil) deeds characteristic of the people of the (Hell) Fire. And similarly a man amongst you may do (evil) deeds till there is only a cubit between him and the (Hell) Fire, and then what has been written for him decides his behavior, and he starts doing deeds characteristic of the people of Paradise." (Book #54, Hadith #430)
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Our livelihood -- that is the total wealth each of us would acquire in our life -- is already recorded even before we are born. We are also given free will. It is to be understood that our free will would help us decide the kind of wealth we acquire, whether good wealth or wealth of sin. Just because we indulge in sin we are not going to get any more than the amount recorded on the 120th day of conception. So it would be of benefit to us to insist on earning Halal wealth only.
In case any one feels that a soul deserving of Paradise would land in Hell Fire because of the recording done on the 120th day of conception, the Justice of Allah Subhana Wa Taala would bring them to Paradise from Hell Fire. Some details on this aspect could be found at
http://deentech.com/MI_IC_Is_Allah_unjust.aspx
Ya Allah! Tune our hearts so that we love Halal wealth and not just wealth that might include wealth of sin also. Aameen, Aameen, Ya Rabbil Aalameen.
Allah Subhana Wa Taala knows best.
Your brother,
Mohideen Ibramsha
Was Salaam