Truly Amazing! Our Holy Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) gave up wealthy positions to live a very simple life so as to attain the love of his “Ummah” (followers). He loved them so much, that even in the pangs of death he prayed for them…and they loved him in return.
They gave up their wealth, their homes, their addiction to alcohol, the religion of their ancestors – everything and anything, just for him. Even their lives and the lives of their family members were at his disposal. They went to battle on his command.
What’s more, his followers in turn also made sacrifices for each other as well. When the Meccans migrated to Medina, the ‘Ansaars’ gave up half their wealth to them.
To truly appreciate the greatness of all of this with regards to love, we need to be honest with ouselves and ask this: how many people truly love us, and how many people do we love?
Stop! Ponder over it.
We are talking about LOVE and not infatuation. Infatuation is the couple that’s madly attracted to each other, but end up divorced a short while later. True love, on the other hand, is beyond physical attraction. It’s about making any sacrifice, no matter how big, for the well being of our beloved. If need be, without expecting anything in return and sometimes even without their knowledge of it.
Today, in contrast to our Holy Prophet (ﷺ) and his companions, everyone is chasing worldly possessions, while at the same time, we are losing the ability to build relationships of love.
Fifty years ago, our community was poorer than us today and everyone lived in extended families. There were no walls between neighbours but there was “mohabath” (love).
Today, many eldely people end up living alone in big houses with more toilets in them than people. Their only companion is the local radio station.
The amount of elderly people abandoned in old age homes and the increased divorce rates are all testament to us losing our ability to sacrifice for others, so as to foster love.
In the opening verses of the Mathnawi, Rumi RA contrasts worldly achievements to love and the important message in this is that these two are at odds with each other.
What’s more: in these few verses, he talks about how wealth enslaves us as compared to how love liberates our spirits from our physical bodies (love grows our spirituality).
“O son, burst your chains and be free! How long wilt you be a slave to silver and gold?…
The pitcher, the eye of the covetous, never becomes full: the oyster-shell is not filled with pearls until it is contented.
He (alone) whose garment is rent by a (mighty) love is purged of covetousness and all defect.
Hail, O Love that bringest us good gain—thou art the physician of all our ills,
The remedy of our pride and vainglory, our Plato and our Galen!
Through Love the earthly body soared to the skies: the mountain began to dance and became nimble.
Love inspired Mount Sinai, O lover, (so that) Sinai (was made) drunken—and Moses fell in a swoon.” Matnawi
Beware! Its plain to see that today’s materialistic times are having a negative impact on our relationships. This is our challenge.
Not only is it increasingly difficult to form close relationships built on love but our selfish behavior is resulting in people despising us. We have become obsessive, ruthless and cunning in our aquisition of worldly possessions.
What’s more, no matter how much wealth people have they will still strive for more. Is this not being a slave to worldly chattles?
Allah SWT is going to question everyone about how they spent their wealth and He will punish people for being extravagant even if they prayed.
As for those who love for the sake of Allah, who love even those who are not related to them for His sake, Allah will grant them the highest rank without questioning.
“But only he (will prosper) who brings to Allah a sound heart” Al Quran 26:89
End.
Peace and Salutations be upon our Holy Prophet Muhammad Salallahu Alayhe Wasallam
Published by Anjuman e Waris e Mohammedi.
Anjuman e Waris e Mohammedi was founded by Dr/Hakim Hazrath Khwaja Sayed Shareef Ahmed Ali Shah RA, (lovingly known as Hazrath Poona Wale Shah Saib RA).
Author: Mahomed Hassan Gaffoor
His WhatsApp: +27 84 910 1486
The Anjuman-e-Waris-e-Mohammedi has produced a nasheed called “Robotic” which addresses materialism. Our target audience is the youth of today. Please support this iniative by viewing, liking and subscribing.
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