Earning more money does not make one into a better person

Earning more money does not make one into a better person

1987 3 March 24 Earning more money does not make one into a better person (78) Anas told of two brothers who lived in the Prophet’s time. One of them used to come and sit in the Prophet’s company, while the other used to earn a living for his household. The latter came to the Prophet and complained about his brother not doing any work, and leaving it to him to do all the earning. “Perhaps it is because of him that you are provided with sustenance.” the Prophet told him.

(Riadh al Saliheen)

Humility raises one to great heights

1987 3 March 24 Humility raises one to great heights (34) Abu Huraira reported this saying of the Prophet: “No article is below being given as charity. God makes one who forgives more respected, and He exalts one who humbles himself before the Lord.”

(Muslim)

Knowledge that Helps

1987 3 March 24 Knowledge that Helps (239) The Prophet Mohammad said: “The learned are the heirs of the prophets.” On another occasion, the Prophet prayed “Lord, have mercy on my successors.” The Prophet was asked who his Successors were, and he answered: “Those who preserve my teachings and pass them on to mankind.” As Abu al-Aswad said: “Knowledge is the greatest of powers. Kings rule over people, but the learned rule over kings.” Abu ibn Abd Allah said to Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz, the 8th Umayyad Caliph: “People say: ‘Become learned if you can; if you cannot, at least seek learning; and if you cannot even seek learning, love those who do; and if you cannot love them, at least do not hate them.” “Glory be to God,” said Umar. “For him too God has made a means of salvation.”

Jurists have divided the areas covered by the commandments of Islam into several categories: obligatory, supererogatory, unlawful, reprehensible, and so on. Allama Shatibi writes that, as far as self-purification and becoming close to God are concerned, these categories have no importance; and the real aim of religion is self-purification. Whatever helps one achieve that end is desirable whether it is counted as obligatory, or supererogatory, and whatever pulls one in the direction of evil is undesirable, whether it is called reprehensible or unlawful.

As Hasan Basri, a noted 8th century religious scholar, put it: “The greatest knowledge is that which comes from abstinence and meditation” (110:26).