Affluence is the greatest trial
Al-Risala (English), September 1993, p. 32
By Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
Maulana Wahiduddin Khan is named as the default author of the periodical; a piece that carries another writer’s byline is credited to that writer.
Affluence is the greatest trial
1993 9 September 32 Affluence is the greatest trial (58) Saad ibn Abu Waqqas tells of the Prophet saying; “I fear for you in the trial of worldly deprivation. But I fear for you even more in the trial of affluence. You have remained patient in the face of worldly oppression, but will you not be carried away by the sweetness and luxuriance of this world?”
(Abu Ya’ala)
How saint-worship gradually turns into idol-worship
1993 9 September 32 How saint-worship gradually turns into idol-worship (157) Several idols which were worshipped by Noah’s people–Wud, Suwa, Yaghuth, Yauq and Nasr–are mentioned in the Quran. Ibn Jareer al Tabari has related a tradition on the authority of Mohammad Ibn Qays to the effect that these idols were named after certain saints of ancient times. These were pious men who had lived in the period between Adam and Noah. They had many followers in their lifetime, and when they died these followers said if they were to construct images of their heroes, it would inspire them in their worship of God. They then proceeded to do so. When the next generation made its appearance, Satan introduced another idea: that their forefathers had not just been using these statues as a focus of worship – they had actually been worshipping them as idols. It was these idols who made the rain fall and, in fact, accomplished everything. That was how idol worship started.
(Ibn Kathir, Tafsir)
