Avarus and His Gold

"It's time to say goodbye," said Chihuahua. "My session as for today is ended, I have to go home, to where I belonged," he proceeded. "O my brothers and sisters! I'd like to to remind all of you as well as myself, if you intended to do something, begin it with something good. Know that our action is the manifestation of our intention.

From the manners that Islam has taught us, is to begin our actions, by reciting Basmalah—mentioning the Name of Allah. For instance, Basmalah is recommended before starting a Khutbah. The Basmalah, is also recommended before one enters the place where he wants to relieve himself. Further, Basmalah is recommended at the beginning of ablution. The Basmalah is recommended before eating. Some of the scholars stated that Basmalah before eating, is obligatory. Basmalah before having sexual intercourse, is also recommended.

The purpose behind all of this, is far reaching and manifold. It brings Allah to mind, before one does the action; it prevents one from doing evil actions; it aids one in attaining Allah’s support and succour in that action; and ultimately, it reminds one of the purpose, the source of fulfilment, the source of blessings for that action and its final destination. About this final point, Allah says,

وَ اِنۡ مِّنۡ شَیۡءٍ اِلَّا عِنۡدَنَا خَزَآئِنُہٗ

"And there is not a thing but that with Us are its depositories ..." [QS. Al-Hijr (15):21]

Nothing is sought except from the One who possesses its depositories and treasures, the One in Whose hands, lie the keys to these treasures. Seeking things from anyone else is seeking something from one who does not possess them or possess any authority over them.

The Basmalah, is a manifestation of isti'anah, seeking help and support, meaning that the servant is seeking the aid of Allah in the action he is about to perform, thereby expressing his servitude to Him. In Basmalah, the Name of Allah is mentioned, hence, no matter what the servant intends to do, the Basmalah is applicable to it. When the servant wishes to do an action and says this statement, that action he is about to do, is implied in the sentence, and that, the action is to come in the sentence, for two vital reasons, to seek blessings by beginning with the name of Allah; and, to express the fact that the action is only for Allah. Therefore, it is as if the servant is saying, ‘I seek the help of Allah, with every Name of His, the All-Merciful, the Most Merciful, in the particular action I am about to do.

Every desired objective, that is not desired for His sake and is not connected in any form or fashion to Him, is temporary, and soon to disappear, for its final goal, is not with Him. The final goal, Lies only with the One to Whom all matters find their conclusion, terminating at His creation, will, wisdom, and knowledge. Therefore, He is the source of every desired matter.

But on the other hand, if you start with something bad, then the whole journey you take, you will live, full of evil. The final result that you will get, is evil as well. If you start with silliness, then you will live with silliness, and will also end up with silliness.

Listen to this story,

"Once upon a time, there lived Avarus, a very rich and wealthy man. He owned fields, farms and meadows. However, he appeared to live a simple life, hiding his abundant wealth. A part of wanting to be praised, he lived in a simple life. avoiding his relatives and neighbours, who lived in poverty, would come and ask for his money. When everything in his life, turned to gold, he became greedy. He continued to accumulate wealth, counting them without giving alms and help others in need. Until one day, the relatives and neighbours came, gave him advise, "O Avarus! Give sadaqah, then you will be happy!

A person will not benefit at all from one’s wealth, except for that which he spent in a good cause, for he will find it later on, and it will be included, amongst the deeds that will accompany him in his grave. As for the wealth that a person leaves for his heirs, then in reality it does not stay with him, and he was only temporarily holding that wealth for his heirs.

A person does not benefit from his wealth, except from what he puts forward for himself, and spends in the path of Allah. As for what he eats and wears, it is neither for him nor against him, unless he had a righteous intention.

As for a person that spends money for sins, then this is against him and does not benefit him. Likewise for what he stingily kept, and did not give the right of Allah regarding it. For this person, it will come in the form of a terrifying poisonous snake. It will follow him while he flees from it until it bites him. It will say, "I am your wealth, I am your treasure! He will put his hand out and it will bite it as a horse bites. If the treasure is gold or silver, the owner of gold or silver who does not pays its dues, except that on the Day of Judgement, metal plates will be heated up in the Hellfire, and will be branded on his side, forehead, and back. Every time the plates cool down, they will be reheated, on a day which is the length of fifty thousand years.

A man could be stingy in spending his wealth in the path of Allah, so he will see that wealth on the Day of Judgement, in the scale of another person who spent it as sadaqah. At that time, he will have great sorrow and regret, for this same wealth that entered his heir into Paradise was a cause for him to enter the Hellfire!

The intelligent person, is the one who give sadaqah of the wealth that he loves, so that he will find it in the next life. For the person who loves something, keeps it close to himself, and does not leave it to others so that he will regret when the regret will be of no benefit to him. Thus, whoever spends something today will benefit from it tomorrow, and whoever does not spend will come to find nothing, and he will have a great loss in the house of dwelling in the Hereafter."

Avarus reacted, harshly, he shouted, "Hey all of you! Save your salt, don't sprinkle it into the ocean, just put it in your pot. Because of what you have said, I know it all. If you want to give a Khutbah, do it in the Masjid!" while throwing them all away. The poor people, walked away and said, "Richness is not having many belongings, but richness is the richness of the soul!"

Disturbed, he hid himself, alone. And after forty days of contemplation, interspersed with watching soap operas, Avarus had an idea, which he thought, brilliant!  "Eureka!" he cried, imitating Archimedes. 

Avarus then sold all that he had, and bought lots of gold bullion. He buried the gold in a hole, in the ground by the side of an old wall.  Then he announced to his neighbors and relatives, he had no more money. But something's crap over there, said the neighbors, even though Avarus admitted he had no money, he just had his house painted, matched with the National Flag's color. It seemed that the painting cost, was sufficient for feeding his relatives. 

Everyday, Avarus went to the spot, dug up the treasure and counted it piece by piece, to make sure it was all there. He made so many trips that one of his workmen, observed his frequent visits to the spot, and decided to watch his movements. He soon discovered the secret of the hidden treasure, and one night, quietly digging down, came to all of the gold, and stole it.

As I said, if you began something with a silly thing, you will come with silly things, and end up with silliness . When Avarus discovered his loss, he was overcome with grief and despair. He groaned and cried and tore his hair.

Not far from where Avarus was, two Gujarati merchants, were having a little talk. One was talking to the other, "Of all the appetites to which human nature is subject, none is so lasting, so strong, and at the same time so unaccountable as that of avarice. Our other desires generally cool and slacken at the approach of old age; but this flourishes under grey hairs, and triumphs amidst impotence and infirmhy. All our other longings, have something to be said in excuse for them, let them be at what time of life soever. But it is above reason, and therefore truly incomprehensible, why a man should be passionately fond of money, only for the sake of gazing upon it. His treasure is as useless to him as a heap of oyster-shells; for though he knows how many substantial pleasures it is able to procure, yet he dares not touch it; and is as destitute of money, to all intents and purposes, as the man who is not worth a groat. This is the true state of a covetous person; to which one of the fraternity may possibly make this reply, that when we have said all, since pleasure is the grand aim of life, if there arises a delight to some particular persons from the bare possession of riches, though they do not, nor ever intend to make use of them, we may be puzzled how to account for it, and think it very strange, but ought not absolutely to condemn the men who thus closely, but innocently, pursue what they esteem the greatest happiness. True; people would be in the wrong to paint Covetousness in such odious colours, were it but compatible with innocence. But here arises the mischief, a truly covetous man will stick at nothing to attain his ends; and, when once avarice takes the field, honesty, charity, humanity, and to be brief, every virtue which opposes it, is sure to be put to the rout."

The two merchants heard Avarus' crying and asked what had happened. “My gold! O my gold!” cried Avarus, wildly, “Someone has robbed me!”

“Your gold! There in that hole? Why did you put it there? Why did you not keep it in the house where you could easily get it when you had to buy things?”

“Buy!” screamed Avarus angrily. “Why, I never touched the gold. I couldn’t think of spending any of it.” One of the merchants, picked up a large stone and threw it into the hole. “If that is the case,” he said, “Cover up that stone. It is worth just as much to you as the treasure you lost! Wealth not used is wealth that does not exist. A possession is worth no more than the use you make of it.” And the other merchant, gave him a pouch. Avarus asked, "What's this?" The merchant said, "Salt, put it in your pot!" Hearing that, Avarus burst into tears. The two Gujarati merchants, then abandoned Avarus, who was, like a child swaying in shrieks, "If only I had listened to my neighbors and relatives!"

Everything that is loved—if it is not loved for His sake, then this love is nothing but distress and punishment. Every action that is not performed for His sake, then it is wasted and severed. Every heart that does not reach Him, is wretched and veiled from achieving its success and happiness. Therefore, Allah has gathered everything that could be desired and He has gathered everything that is done for His sake. Ibn Mas'ud, radhiyallaahu 'anhu, said, "Whosoever wishes to the saved from the nineteen Angels over Hellfire then let him recite, ‘bi-smi llāhi r-raḥmāni r-raḥīmi."

O my brothers and sisters! After saying Basmalah, then close your affair, reciting "Hamdallah." By saying "Al-Hamdulillah," the servant is praising and thanking Allah Alone due to His greatness, unity, perfection, His Beautiful Names and Attributes, and His innumerable favours and blessings, that none can encompass save He. It is indeed an amazing statement that encompasses something that volumes would be unable to express and created intellects unable to enumerate!

O my brothers and sisters! When starting an affair which begin with Basmalah, equip yourself with knowledge in doing your affair, take-care of common-sense as a way to nourish a sound heart, empower the mind to achieve wisdom, to give birth to various policies in all your affairs. Then, when your affair is finished, close it with Hamdallah. And when your business with your life has come to an end, then close it by saying, "La ilaha-illa Allah" - None has the right to be worshiped but Allah," as our beloved (ﷺ) says,

مَنْ كَانَ آخِرُ كَلاَمِهِ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ

"If anyone's last words are " لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ" he will enter Paradise.” [Sunan Abi Dawud; Sahih by Al-Albani].

All praise belongs to Allah!

And Allah knows best!"

Chihuahua then standing tall on the podium, bowed his head to show a respect, then stepped down, followed by "standing-up" of the birds, chirping,

Time to say, "Goodbye!"

Horizons are never far

Would I have to find them alone?

Without true light of my own?

With you, I will go

On ships over seas

that I now know

No, they don't exist anymore

It's time to say, "Goodbye!" *)

References :
- Dar Us-Sunnah Qur'anic Colletion, The Spiritual Cures, translated by Abu Ramaysah, Dar Us-Sunnah
- Shaykh Safiur-Rahman Al-Mubarakpuri, Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Abridged) Volume I, Darussalam
- Abdullah Ibn Rajab Al-Hanbali, The Three That Follow To The Grave, Dar Us-Sunnah
- Ibn Muhammad Al-Muthlaq, The Good End, IIPH

- Rev. Geo. Fyler Townsend, M.A., Aesop Fables, George Routledge and Sons
*) "It's Time To Say Goodbye" by Hope Winter

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