Topics
One of our
acquaintances, Haji Sahib, was walking briskly on the road, his heart heavy and
his eyes moist with sorrow. I condoled and said كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَآئقَةُ
الْمَوْتِؕ,
with a sense of concern and unease, inquired about the cause of his hurried
pace. He responded, "My friend, Haji Ramadan, has passed away." I
offered my condolences and remarked, "Every soul must taste death; this is
an inevitable stage for all. Both you and I are at an age where the flow of
life inevitably begins to turn toward death. Today, Haji Ramadan has departed
from his loved ones; tomorrow, the same will befall us. This is a continuous
and inexorable process that has persisted since the Day of Creation and will
continue until the Day of Judgment. In the midst of this chaotic and
distressing situation, the circumstances have become such that the body of Haji
Ramadan is gradually disintegrating, dissolving into water. The room is
inundated with blocks of ice. On one side, the ice is melting and turning into
liquid, while on the other, the fats within Haji Ramadan’s body are
decomposing, exuding a foul odor and turning into water. Haji Ramadan was my
friend, and naturally, no friend can endure such profound dishonor towards
another. I am deeply troubled, profoundly sorrowful. I am in such a state of
despair that it seems as though reason and consciousness have abandoned me
entirely.
As for what became
of Haji Sahib, and when his body was finally taken from the house, I found
myself lacking the strength to inquire.
“And those who hoard
silver and gold and do not spend it in the cause of Allah warn them of a
grievous torment.”( At-Tawbah 34)
When the meaning of
this verse from the Holy Qur'an arose in my mind, a profound realization took
root, and I became resolutely convinced that the accumulation of wealth
inevitably results in dire consequences. Such individuals frequently sacrifice
their health in pursuit of material gain. Their hearts weaken, their livers
deteriorate, and they fall prey to conditions such as diabetes, hypertension,
sexual disorders, kidney stones, pulmonary afflictions, gallstones, and
gastrointestinal infections, among other maladies. These individuals lose the
peace of mind necessary for restful sleep, and tranquility evades them. They
become estranged from the affection of others, finding no respect either among
friends, relatives, or the general public. When others express fondness, it is
rarely a reflection of admiration for their character, but rather a form of
respect for their transient wealth. It is often observed that their demise is
marked by disgrace and regret. Among the survivors, the younger generation, intoxicated
by the illusions of youth, abandons principles and education, discarding
wisdom, and embarks on a path of unrestrained indulgence, disregarding the
value of intellectual and moral growth. It is not uncommon for parents to
remain alive, yet their old age becomes entirely reliant upon the two primary
avenues of support provided by their offspring—avenues from which flow
innumerable streams of wrongdoing. The parents admonish, entreat, and shed
tears of blood, enduring sleepless nights pacing in wait for their child, yet
their pleas remain unheeded. Can anyone, in truth, assert that such offspring,
and such wealth, bring true joy and contentment to life? No, certainly not!
Such wealth and such offspring undeniably constitute a form of
affliction. Wealth manifests in two distinct forms. The first form is that
wealth becomes a source of torment, transforming into a fiery inferno that
reduces the individual to ashes. The second form of wealth, however, is one
that fills the heart and mind with vibrancy, beauty, contentment, joy, and
peace. In this manifestation, the affluent individual constructs sanctuaries
for widows and orphans, becoming a source of deliverance for countless suffering
and afflicted souls. This individual does not merely exist in a state of base
animalism, but rather adorns the inner realm with luminous lights, thereby
nurturing their spiritual world. Such an individual is neither intellectually
foolish nor spiritually blind. They transcend animalistic tendencies, adopting
the qualities of the Divine, reflecting the characteristics of Allah, the
Sustainer of all worlds.
Huzoor Qalandar Baba Aulia (R.A.)
expresses his astonishment at the Muslims, noting that while every individual
desires wealth, no one seeks to emulate the example of Hazrat Uthman (P.B.U.H). For him, the warning in Surah At-Tawbah is
unmistakable:
“Let not their riches and their progeny make you
wonder. Allah wants only to torment them in this world (too) by means of these
things, and that their souls may depart whilst they are (still) disbelievers.” (At-Tobah
55).
The noble life of the Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) serves as a profound
testament to the fact that he never accumulated wealth for himself. Despite the
immense wealth of empires such as Iran and Rome being at his disposal, both the
Prophet (P.B.U.H) and his companions (رضی اللہ عنہ) led lives of simplicity, sustaining
themselves through honest labor. Even while governing over an expansive
territory of twenty-five million square miles, they earned their livelihood
through work and gave whatever they saved in charity.
In the world, there is nothing more treacherous than wealth. Wealth has
never shown lasting loyalty to anyone. It is an ever-changing, unreliable
force. Wealth itself is a cowardly entity; those who revere it ultimately find
it leading them to ruin, while those who regard it with disdain, treating it as
inconsequential, find it following them. In the Qur'an, Allah (SWT) asserts
that He has created all things with a defined measure. These precise measures
are what establish the identity and individuality of all creation. Despite the
interconnection that may exist between two individuals through choice or
intention, they remain distinct, even in the absence of any measurable space
between them. This principle enshrines the concept that individuality and identity
are maintained through defined boundaries, which no individual can transcend.
Just as humans possess perception and understanding, wealth too has its
own inherent "perception." When an individual withdraws from the
pursuit of wealth, according to the law of measures, wealth follows them in
pursuit of balance. However, when an individual chases after wealth, it betrays
them, becoming a burden that afflicts them, rather than providing fulfillment.
Tajalliyat-The Divine Manifestation
KHWAJA SHAMS-UD-DEEN AZEEMI
IN THE NAME OF ALLAH, THE MERCIFUL, THE BENEVOLENT
Dedicated to those scientists, who are inching towards the cognizance of the facts, spotlighted by Allah Almighty, in the wake of their intelligent observation for the top vertex of scientific achievement, which is not other than the "Disastrous end of the Universe". And this is probably during 15th century of Lunar calendar.
