Our riches and resources come from God Who bestows on us all earthly blessings for a period of time. It is our duty to be grateful and thankful for the Divine grace of mercy; be generous and charitable with the less fortunate in society. Sharing provisions with the needy is recognition of this social mutuality: producers paying a part of the crops on the day of harvest with the poor are only fulfilling the dictates of public conscience, or the Divine command on social responsibility. In his Friday Sermon of 13 November 2009, Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International Hazrat Muhyiuddin Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius provides an illuminating exposition on the parable of the owners of the garden in the Holy Qur’an. (68: 18-34)
Whereas equity and charity attracts the Divine grace of mercy and the flourishing of possessions; greed and miserliness remove the protective shield from riches, and expose it to decline, loss and destruction- inviting feelings of ultimate regret on those who displayed arrogance and open ingratitude to the Supreme Lord.
'It is He who produces both trellised and untrellised gardens, date palms, crops of diverse flavours, the olive, the pomegranate, alike yet different. So when they bear fruit, eat some of it, paying what is due on the day of harvest…' (6:142)
‘Consider the seeds you sow in the ground– is it you who make them grow or We? If We wished, We could turn your harvest into chaff and leave you to wail, ‘We are burdened with debt; we are bereft.’ (56: 64-68)
Read the Friday Sermon Below:
'Surely We will try them as We tried the owners of the garden, when they swore that they would certainly cut off the produce in the morning, And were not willing to set aside a portion (for the poor). Then there encompassed it a visitation from your Lord while they were sleeping.' (68:18-20)
Through this Sermon we will come to know how greed destroys gratefulness towards Allah and leads also to arrogance.
Amidst
a beautiful garden was an old man who came to and fro and who pondered always
on the power of Allah Who is the One who have provided him with this garden and
riches, the One who has given him paradise in this world itself and who has
reserved goodness for him and others like him in the next world also.
He used to thank Allah each time that a cool breeze came and brought with it the good smell of fruits. He never neglected to be grateful towards Allah and he showed his love to his Creator by being kind and loving to the poor. He used to give a share from the harvest of his garden to the poor.
The
old man used to give advices to his sons and told them about the secret of their riches
getting blessings. Very often he used to reunite them under the shade of a tree
and sat down and told them: "O my sons! You must know what is the secret
which will enable you to safeguard the riches which Allah has given us; it is
that we must be thankful to Allah and address Him as thus: "Allah is
Great, all power is within Him."
After
he went away, his three sons remained puzzled with the behaviour of their
father. They thought that what their father had told them was stupid; they
thought that it was not right of their father to distribute a part of their
riches (the products of their gardens) to the poor. They believed that by doing
so, their father will ruin himself and all their riches will be depleted. They
never understood the poor and their connection with getting a part from the
harvest of their family's gardens.
After
some time the old man died. He had done his duty as a grateful servant of Allah
and that which Allah has created him for. He gave in heritage his gardens to
his children. These gardens were the most beautiful and productive ones in
their area. They were known as the gardens of the man who loved the poor.
His
inheritors, after the death of their father did not respect his wishes — the
secret which he had told them about how to keep their gardens fruitful. They
became greedy and tend to the gardens (in their own way).
They
consulted each other and collectively decided to forbid the poor from getting a
percentage of their garden's harvest, and they even forbid these poor people
from assisting to the harvest of the gardens. With the death of their father,
they felt that they were free to do what they wished, and thus were free from
the engagement their father had towards these poor people.
They
made a plan at home that they will go very early in the morning to harvest.
They promised that they will give nothing from it to the poor. As they
approached their gardens, their hearts were beating fast for they feared that
the poor people will see them.
When they reached their gardens, they could not believe what they saw. They found their gardens completely destroyed. They were shock and said: "No, these cannot be our gardens. We must have taken a wrong road. That must be it." They said these words within themselves. They were absolutely speechless. "What! How can these burnt gardens which a fire has completely destroyed be ours, These gardens cannot be ours!" But after sometimes they realised that these gardens were indeed theirs. "Perhaps (it is ours)! But no, it is really ours! A calamity has struck us! A calamity has struck us!"
When they came to their sense, they said: "We
fell into the trap of greed and hatred. These made us forget the testament of
our father who was so generous. We feared losing a part of our harvest, but we
forgot that what we usually obtained were thanks to him (and his good deeds
and gratefulness towards Allah)! Through these gardens Allah favoured our
father with lots of blessings. These gardens were the best. Today we have
neglected that which our father had advised us. We forgot his testament which
words will never end."
One of
their brothers- the more reasonable among them- said: "I advised
you since long not to let greed grip your heart and to turn towards the One (Allah) who has
given you riches. But each time, you did not listened to me and were against
the wishes of our father — May Allah receive his soul in peace — This is thus
the result of what you have done. We wanted to deprive these poor people from
their rights, while we enjoyed a great heritage. Thus, Allah has deprived us
from His riches for we deserve it (this treatment). We have become
transgressors, and have gone beyond all limits. We have been rewarded according
to our deeds. We are to be blamed. If Allah wills, He will accept our
repentance, for He is Ever Merciful." Through this, the three brothers
learnt a hard lesson, and recognised their "crime".
Allah
has said in the Qur'an about this event:
"Surely
We will try them as We tried the owners of the garden, when they swore that they
would certainly cut off the produce in the morning, And were not willing to set
aside a portion (for the poor). Then there encompassed it a visitation from
your Lord while they were sleeping. So it became as black barren land. And they
called out to each other in the morning, saying: Go early to your tilth if you
would cut (the produce). So they went, while they consulted together secretly,
saying: No poor man shall enter it today upon you. And in the morning they
went, having the power to prevent. But when they saw it, they said: Most surely
we have gone astray; nay) We are made to suffer privation. The best of them
said: Did I not say to you, why do you not glorify (Allah)? They said: Glory be
to our Lord, surely we were unjust."
"Then
some of them advanced against others, blaming each other. They said: 'O woe to us! Surely we were inordinate: Maybe, our Lord will give us instead one
better than it; surely to our Lord do we make our humble petition.' Such
is the chastisement, and certainly the chastisement of the hereafter is greater,
did they but know!" (68:18-34)
In
this story there are signs and lessons:
First,
charity contributes to protect one's properties and to make them fructify.
Secondly,
gratefulness towards Allah contributes to increase one's riches. (If you thank
Me (Allah), I will give you more). The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) has
said: "If you say: "Thank You God of all universe" you are
thanking Allah. He will give you more than that."
Allah
is Great, all power are within Him; Allaho Akbar La Hawla Wala Kuwata Illaa Billaah.
The
Muslim who pronounces this praise of Allah will find his riches protected, his
health restored and his children safeguarded. He will if Allah wills be guided
on the right path.
Greediness
leads to loss of riches, while charity and spending in the path of Allah
increases one's riches.
The
Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) has said: "On the day when there
will be no humans, two angels will come; one of them will say: "O Allah
reward the one who has spend (in Your path)." The other one will say:
"O Allah, deprive the one who was avaricious."
Man
must behave himself well towards the poor. Like Allah says: "Become
helpful like Allah has been with you." Allah punishes more quickly those
who have bad intentions, but He has also the power to forgive.
Disobedience
conducts towards loss of riches. The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) has said:
"Do not disobey. The one who commits a sin will be deprived of a good
which was reserved for him: A calamity has struck them while they were
sleeping."
Allah
says: "There is therein a right for the poor and Muslims... Spend from
that which Allah has given you in heritage."
May Allah help us not to fall in the category of misers, greedy of the goods of this world and those who are arrogant in their approach to Allah and the poor. We Muslims must follow the perfect example of our beloved prophet and guide "A Mercy for this World" and spend in charity that which Allah has given us for then Allah will be pleased with us and put blessings in our riches and bless you in this world and in the next. Insha-Allah. Ameen.