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When a Muslim loses direction and purpose
in life, then all he lives for is the short-lived enjoyment of
this short life. When a Muslim lives just to own and drive an
expensive car like a friend of his does, when he lives just to
have a fabulous house like the neighbours have, when he lives
just to jetset around the world like fellow businessmen, when
he lives just to have fun, entertainment, enjoyment, leisure
and pleasure like others do, then he is walking on a dangerous
road.
He begins to makes
'Tawaaf' of material wealth …
The day he begins to think in this way, the
day these become important objects in his life, when he begins
to makes 'Tawaaf' of these things, that come what may, he
feels he must have these things no matter how, he MUST have
it. From that day onwards, the lines separating Halaal and
Haraam become blurred for him! Trying to differentiate between
right and wrong, honesty and corruption becomes meaningless
for him because these desired and coveted things HAVE to be
achieved no matter how! This is greed in its raw and ugly form
– the desire to have at any cost. Greed drives this greedy
man. He sets out with a dirty intention, waiting for any
opportunity to grab what he can. Sadly, this is the way many
Muslims have become these days.
His "eyes become
bigger than his stomach!"
Allah has blessed this greedy man with a
good business which provided for all his basic needs and ten
times more. But he feels this is NOT enough. He wants bigger
and more. Nasty greed consumes his intelligence, taking hold
of him. He feels he MUST expand, have a bigger business. He
wants to knock out the 'small guys' in town, he wants to be
'king'! He wants it all for himself. His "eyes become bigger
than his stomach!" He can only eat a plate of food, but he
wants the whole pot of food for himself! His mentality becomes
one of "Live and let die!"
He is drowning and
he knows it. But he is not cared!
To expand his business operations, he
incurs big time debt. The cash-flushed banking institutions
are hunting for his 'type' to advance an exorbitant riba loan.
Merchants are ever-willing to fill him up with stocks. All
looks like it is going well for him. He does well for a while.
Then suddenly the economy takes a down turn (very common these
days). Business is down. Things take a turn for the worst.
Interest rates shoot up. Banks hurriedly call their monies in.
Creditors clamour for payment. The man can't make it. He
starts to go down and under. He is drowning and he knows it.
But he is not cared! He seems to have no worry in the world.
His
equally-crooked lawyers have worked it all out for him - some
of them actually 'specialize' in this field!
He makes a wicked and calculated move –
planned in advance. He has done his 'homework'. His
equally-crooked lawyers have worked it all out for him - some
of them actually 'specialize' in this field! Stocks are moved
out quickly and stealthily from his premises to unknown
locations. Other valuables and assets find their way into
'safe' places. Nothing is on his 'name'! Now he simply gets
liquidated, gets sequestrated and walks away scot free! The
people he has done in know it all. He has 'taken them' for
millions! They wring their hands in despair, they grit their
teeth in anger, but there is little they can do. They are
helpless against the law to do anything much. Yet in the law
of Allah, he is obligated to pay back everything, to the last
cent! He can never walk away from this fact!
How can he enjoy
that what is tainted with the blood, sweat and tears of
others?
In the meanwhile, he simply walks away
without a care - to enjoy his ill-gotten fortune! While he is
enjoying his break, his crooked mind and greedy heart is
already at work thinking to start up another scam ... But all
the time, his inner voice of Imaan, the conscience, screams at
him from deep inside "How can you do this!" In his silent
thoughts he manages a weak reply "But everyone else is doing
it!" But within himself, he knows this is no justification. In
the midst of enjoying his little "successes" and pleasures,
deep inside he feels guilty, unhappy and miserable. He knows
this is not HIS! He hasn't earned it. He cannot enjoy it
because it is tainted with the blood, sweat and tears of
others. How can he enjoy it then!
He knows fully
well "Easy come, easy go!"
He is also gripped by an unknown fear. He
knows fully well "Easy come, easy go!" He worries and worries.
"Will I lose it all after making it?" Perhaps a robbery, a
hold-up, the law, the taxman, maybe his own wife or children …
He is demented by his fears. These thoughts begin to haunt his
mind! He can't shake them off no matter how much he tries. His
front of happiness is a deceptive façade. Deep inside, only he
knows how he feels…
Already here, the
'hot flushes' of guilt torture his mind, heart and soul!
And this is the torment of this life. What
awaits him in the other life - at the time of death, in the
grave and on the day of Judgment - is altogether another
matter. That is still to come. Already here, the 'hot flushes'
of guilt torture his mind, heart and soul! How is he going to
face the severe 'hot flushes' of the actual Fire! If only he
could think about these things! Maybe there is still hope for
him if he does …
He will perhaps
receive lenient treatment for trying or even attempting to
try!
What is the way out for this "poor" man if
he really is looking for a way out? The road to repentance and
repair starts with a good guide. Let him go to a pious,
experienced and learned man – an Aalim. Let his place before
him his entire case from end to end in full honesty and ask
him to show the way out. Let him then follow the advice to the
letter. One day, he will find his way out. It may take a long
time, even the rest of his life to pay back every cent,
cutting back his standard of living, but it will be worth it
at the end. Even if life did not allow him enough time to make
full amends, at least he was on the road! He will perhaps
receive lenient treatment for trying or even attempting to
try! Better try and fail than fail to try, as the saying goes.
But if he didn't do even this much, then tears of blood too
will not avail him …
Article taken (with Thanks) from Darul-Ihsan Research &
Eduation Centre |
