Subtlety 43 - Dealing with Misery, Graciousness, Livelihood and Hoarding of Wealth
Subtlety – 43
Dealing with
Misery, Graciousness, Livelihood and Hoarding of Wealth
Sayyid Makhdum Ashraf said: “Misery is to abstain from doing one’s duty and Graciousness {‘Sakhawat’} is to exterminate {‘Fana’} one’s Self {‘Nafs’} in the path of Allah Almighty apart from doing that which is compulsory {‘Wajib’}.
A person upon whom something is compulsory to do, but if he abstains from doing it, then he is a Miser!
If someone desires not to do anything exceeding the compulsory acts, then he has left the merits,….either he gives or does not gives. But, if he gives then it is justice {‘Adl’}. The abandoning of compulsory acts is Prohibited {‘Haram’} and is Misery.
Another report states that: A Gracious person {‘Sakhi’} is one who does the compulsory act and a Miser is one opposite to him . However, difference has been kept between a Gracious person {‘Sakhi’} and a ‘Jawwad’.
A gracious person is one who gives that is compulsory to the rightful person and ‘Jawwad’ is one who gives extra than what is due and to the rightful person.
According to some Scholars, as regards to the attributes of the Creatures {‘Sifat ul Khalq’}, ‘Jood wa Sakha’ has the same meaning. But, we call the Lord – ‘Jawwad’ but not ‘Sakhi’, because we know that Allah Almighty did not address himself as ‘Sakhi’ nor there is any mention of this attributive name in the Hadiths or any other narrations.
It is the Consensus {‘Ijma’} of the Scholars that it is prohibited to keep the name of Allah Almighty based upon one’s intellect and language.
For example; Allah Almighty is ‘Knowledgeable’ {‘Alim’} and upon this is the consensus that everyone calls Him ‘Alim’, but none calls Him ‘Intellectual’ {‘Aqil’} and ‘Jurist’ {‘Faqih’}, though ‘Aqil’ and ‘Faqih’ have the same meaning.
It is said that the first stage is that of Graciousness {‘Sakhawat’}, then that of ‘Jood’ and then that of Sacrifice {‘Isaar’}. Its example has been given in this way that:
A person who spends some money from his wealth in the path of Allah Almighty and saves some for himself, then he is Gracious {‘Sakhi’}. The one who spends more and saves little for himself is ‘Jawwad’ and the person who himself experiences difficulties but eliminates the difficulties of others is ‘Sahib e Isaar’! All these specialties are from the attributes of creatures.
He used to say: “’Jawwad’ is one who gives something/anything as soon as it occurs to him in his heart! If he investigates for any dangers, then he will be considered as a Gracious person {‘Sakhi’} only.
Apart from these, a Gracious person {‘Sakhi’} takes precautions regarding some points while giving from his money/wealth but a ‘Jawwad’ does not take any precautions of any kind.
According to some elders, ‘Isaar’, ‘Infaaq’, ‘Futuwat’ and ‘Sadaqa’ are from the same family. One group says that ‘Isaar’ is to give preference to other people needs over one’s own needs by spending wealth and ‘Infaaq’ is to spend one’s beloved thing upon others. Allah Almighty says:
لَن تَنَالُوا الْبِرَّ حَتَّىٰ تُنفِقُوا مِمَّا تُحِبُّونَ ۚ وَمَا تُنفِقُوا مِن شَيْءٍ فَإِنَّ اللَّـهَ بِهِ عَلِيمٌ ﴿٩٢
"You can never attain virtue until you spend in Allah's cause the things you love; and Allah is Aware of whatever you spend."
{Surah Aal Imran; 3:92}
‘Futuwat’ is to strive for the work of others, and not to give preference to one’s own self over the other person. The person practicing ‘Futuwat’ does justice but is not himself in need of justice to his self. He hides the defects of others and whatever he has today, he does not hoard it for tomorrow and does not return the seeker (needy) empty handed.
The Beloved Rasul Allah said: “‘Sadaqa’ {Charity} at first goes to the hands of Allah Almighty, then it goes to the hands of the needy!”
A ‘Faqir’ should also give whatever he has, little or more and should not be shy. Ponder on this reality that every giver is also a receiver!
There are Five conditions for the acceptance of ‘Sadaqa’
Two (2) are before giving ‘Sadaqa’:
i. Sadaqa should be given from Lawful earnings.
ii. Sadaqa should be given to righteous persons so that it should not be spent on unwarranted/unworthy things.
Two (2) are while giving ‘Sadaqa’:
iii. Sadaqa should be given with happiness and humbleness.
iv. Sadaqa should be given hidden from other people.
The Fifth (5th) condition is after giving ‘Sadaqa’:
v. The giving of Sadaqa should not be mentioned or spoken off nor should be reminded off.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تُبْطِلُوا صَدَقَاتِكُم بِالْمَنِّ وَالْأَذَىٰ كَالَّذِي يُنفِقُ مَالَهُ رِئَاءَ النَّاسِ وَلَا يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّـهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ ۖ فَمَثَلُهُ كَمَثَلِ صَفْوَانٍ عَلَيْهِ تُرَابٌ فَأَصَابَهُ وَابِلٌ فَتَرَكَهُ صَلْدًا ۖ لَّا يَقْدِرُونَ عَلَىٰ شَيْءٍ مِّمَّا كَسَبُوا ۗ وَاللَّـهُ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الْكَافِرِينَ ﴿٢٦٤
"O People who Believe! Do not invalidate your charity by expressing favor and causing injury – like one who spends his wealth for people to see, and does not believe in Allah and the Last Day; his example is similar to that of a rock covered with dust and hard rain fell on it, leaving it as a bare rock; they shall get no control over (or benefit from) anything they have earned; and Allah does not guide the disbelievers."
{Surah Baqarah; 2:264}
Hazrat used to say: “The one who gives or bestows should always keep in mind his Creator!”
During the course of this gathering, the mention of Hatim and his graciousness became the point of discussion. He said:
“Shaykh Sa’adi Shirazi has mentioned some points regarding his graciousness from which the height of his courage can be judged. But, the thing that is said about him that he is from the ‘Araaf’ is against the Book of Allah Almighty, because the entering of infidels {‘Kuffar’} in Hell is established from the Holy Quran and Sunnah. Though from some textual proofs, we come to know that there may be a decrease in the punishment of an infidel but research shows that it is not so because a decrease in the punishment can lead to a total disappearance of punishment. That is, a doubt persists that continuous good deeds of an infidel may free him from the punishment altogether. Such happening will be contrary to explicit proofs.
Whatever it may be, it is from the secrets of the Lord and the unveiling of which cannot be written down. As the reins of the pen had got out of control from the hands, therefore at this junction, a couplet on this matter is being presented:
When Calamities (Punishment) and Misery both descend in this World,
Then Why Deny their Occurrence in the Hereafter!
When the Absolute Powerful Lord Promised Us,
Then You Should Accept it from Heart and Soul!
Paradise for Believers and Hell for Infidels!
But, there is one reason in the act of ‘Arifin’ {Gnostics/the Knowers of Reality} that they do not unveil the Secrets of the Lord!
If Allah Almighty accepts the deeds of someone, then this hard-work turns into easiness and a treasure that rains pearls!
Hazrat Qudwat al Kubra used to say: “If the leaves of all the trees become a voluminous book and the water of the oceans become the ink, then also it cannot pen the detail meanings of ‘Isaar’ {Sacrifice} more than a single letter!”
Allah Forbid {Ma’az Allah}! May no Bondsmen be known with the attribute of Misery because Misery in its peculiarities holds an attribute of Infidelity {‘Kufr’}! The extent of Misery of an infidel is such that, if an infidel wants to dig a mountain with is fingernail; it is easier for him than accepting the ‘Kalima’ {the declaration of Oneness of Allah Almighty and the Prophet-hood of Muhammad}, which is hard for him!
Hazrat Qudwat al Kubra used to say: “May Allah Protect Us! May Allah Protect Us! If I come to hear regarding any of my companions {‘Ashab’} and admirers that even an ounce of it is among their attributes, then, I shall free them from the bonds of my pledge {‘Baiyah’} and successor-ship {‘Khilafah’}!”
He used to say: “Some seekers {‘Durvesh’} used to practice the savings of few things for their families just as the Beloved Rasul Allah used to provide for some of his noble pure wives with the ration of one month, six months ration to some wives and for some wives ration for a whole year.
But, wisdom in this act of the Beloved Rasul Allah was to provide some less courageous people who are weak in doctrine and belief with some kind of evidence. This is not for those who are complete in their states {‘Kamil ul Hal’}! Nauzu Billahi Minha!”
Translation completed by Basharath Ali Siddiqui Ashrafi
on
13th April 2011, Wednesday, Jeddah, KSA; and Composing completed 1st June 2011, Wednesday, Makkah, KSA.