To say “This wealth is the result of my labor and knowledge” is against Tauhid
To say “This wealth is the result of my labor
and knowledge” is against Tauhid
Allah the Almighty said:
“And truly, if We give him a taste of mercy from us, after some adversity (severe poverty or disease, etc.) has touched him, he is sure to say: ‘This is for me (due to my merit), I think not that the Hour will be established. But if I am brought back to my Lord, surely, there will be for me the best (wealth, etc.) with Him’. Then, We verily, will show to the disbelievers what they have done and We shall make them taste a severe torment.” (41: 50)
Mujahid said, “(The Arabic words Hadha li mean ) this is the result of my labor and I do deserve it.”
Ibn Abbas (R.A.) said, “(that it means) what is with me”.
And the Statement of Allah:
“He (Korah) said: This has been given to me only because of knowledge I possess”. (28: 78)
Qatadah (R.A.) said (in explanation of this verse): “This wealth was given to me because of my merit and experience in earning”.
Others (scholars) said: “Because of knowledge from Allah that I particularly deserved from Him”.
And this is the meaning of Mujahid’s statement: “This was bestowed on me because of my high rank”
.
Abu Hurairah (R.A.) narrated that he heard Allah’s Messenger (SAW) saying:
“Allah willed to test three Israelis who were a leper, a blindman and a bald-headed man. So, He sent them an angel who came to the leper and said, ‘What thing do you like most?’ He replied, ‘Good color and good skin, for the people have a strong aversion to me’. The angel touched him and his illness was cured, and he was given a good color and beautiful skin. The angel asked him, ‘What kind of property do you like best?’ He replied, ‘Camels or cows’---Ishaq, the narrator is confused. So he (i.e. the leper) was given a pregnant she-camel, and the angel said (to him), ‘May Allah bless you in it.’ The angel then went to the bald-headed man and said, ‘What thing do you like most?’ He said, ‘I like good hair and wish to be cured of this disease, for the people feel repulsion for me.’ The angel touched him and his illness was cured, and he was given good hair. The angel asked (him), ‘What kind of property do you like best?’ He replied, ‘ Cows or camels.’ The angel gave him a pregnant cow and said, ‘May Allah bless you in it.’ The angel went to the blind man and asked, ‘What thing do you like best?’ He said, ‘(I like) that Allah may restore my eyesight to me so that I may see the people.’ The angel touched his eyes and Allah gave him back his eyesight. The angel asked him, ‘What kind of property do you loke best?’ He replied, “Sheep.’ So he gave him a pregnant sheep. Afterwards, all the three pregnant animals gave birth to young ones and multiplied and brought forth so much that one of the (three) men had a herd of camels filling a valley, and one had a herd of cows filling a valley, and one had a flock of sheep filling a valley. Then the angel, disguised in the shape and appearance of a leper, went to the leper, and said, ‘I am a poor man, who has lost all means of livelihood while on a journey. So none will satisfy my need except Allah and then you. In the Name of Him Who has given you such nice color and beautiful skin, and so much property, I ask you to give me a camel so that I may reach my destination’. The man replied, ‘I have many obligations (so I cannot give you)’. The angel said, ‘I think I know you. Were you not a leper to whom the people had a strong aversion? Weren’t you a poor man, and then Allah gave you (all this property).’He replied, ‘(This is all wrong). I got this property through inheritance from my forefathers.’ The angel said, ‘If you are telling a lie, then let Allah make you as you were before.’ Then the angel, disguised in the shape and appearance of a bald-man, went to the bald-man, and said to him the same as he told the first one, and he too answered the same as the first one did. The angel said, ‘If you are telling a lie, then let Allah make you as you were before’. The angel, disguised in the shape of a blind man, went to the blind man and said, ‘I am a poor man and traveler, whose means of livelihood have been exhausted while on a journey. I have nobody to help me except Allah, and after Him, you yourself. I ask you in the Name of Him Who has given you back your eyesight to give me a sheep, so that with its help, I may complete my journey’. The man said, ‘No doubt, I was blind and Allah gave me back my eyesight. (I was poor and Allah made me rich); so take anything you wish from my property. By Allah, I will not stop you for taking anything (you need) of my property which you may take for Allah’s sake.’ The angel replied, “keep your property with you. You (i.e. three men) have been tested and Allah is pleased with you and is angry with your two companions.” (Al-Bukhari)
Important issues of the Chapter:
1) Explanation of the verse in Al-Fussilat (41: 50).
2) The meaning of: “He is sure to say: ‘This is for me (due to my merit)”
3) The meaning of : “This has been given to me only because of knowledge I possess.” (28: 78)
4) The great lessons hidden in the wonderful story quoted.