Sharh · explanationclick to expand
Allah has willed and predestined with His divine wisdom that this life be a place of tests and trials. Some people fall into its temptation and compete to attain its pleasures, while others realize its reality; thus, they endeavor to attain that which Allah has made for His believing servants in the Hereafter and never be misguided by worldly temptation. In this hadeeth, Aboo Sa’eed al-Khudree (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Prophet ﷺ sat on the pulpit of his Mosque one day and his Companions gathered around him. He ﷺ then expressed his concern about his nation after this worldly life presents its pleasures and flower to them. The intended meaning of pleasures and beauty here is money and wealth, and he ﷺlikened wealth to flowers because flowers wilt and wither quickly to say that worldly pleasures change and wither quickly too. One man asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ how could that which is good brings forth or causes evil! The Prophet ﷺ remained silent for a while and his Companions realised that his silence was because of receiving revelation. After receiving the divine revelation, he ﷺ wiped the sweat of his face because whenever he received revelation, sweat would drop from his forehead. Then, he ﷺ asked about the questioner. It was as if he ﷺ approved the question and commended him for asking such a question. The Prophet ﷺ explained that the good do not bring forth evil – that is to say, when wealth is acquired from lawful sources and is managed and used as Allah orders, it will be considered from the kind of good that only bring forth nothing but goodness. The example of this is Islam; it is all good and brings forth nothing but good. However, there are other kinds of goodness that are not entirely good which could bring forth evil such as money. It is considered good, but it may bring forth evil if earned from unlawful sources or spent unwisely, etc. The same applies to all lawful work that is considered good but becomes evil when it is sought through forbidden means, or the money earned from it is unlawful. Then, the Prophet ﷺ gave two examples to explain his statement and help his Companions understand how wealth is good, but it can bring forth evil as much as it can bring forth good. The first example was about the plants that grow in spring to explain how the good can turn into evil, and it has been said that spring here refers to the banks of a water-stream. He ﷺ said that what grows in spring or on the banks of a water-stream is good, but some of it still can cause great harm to the livestock that graze it, such as when a sheep consumes a large quantity of grains such that it causes its sickness. The meaning of this example is that it is harmful for a person to focus on acquiring as much wealth as possible to the extent it becomes all he cares about and then spends it in his own pleasure. It is the same as food and drinks; when one eats and drinks more than his need, it will make him feel unwell and comfortless. This example is addressing those who are keen on acquiring wealth and collecting money who withhold the rights of others his wealth (i.e., he does not pay zakat on it or use it to in lawful means). The reason of mentioning spring is that good plants and grass grow in it, which the livestock enjoy so much that they overeat and thus fall sick or causes their death. The exception made in the example is about the livestock that only eat green plants moderately without exaggeration thus do not become sick because of it. This example is given to demonstrate the case of that which is good and only brings forth that which is good when dealt with appropriately. In this example, the Prophet ﷺ describes the case where livestock consume only good and fresh vegetations and that after they are full, they would roam around under the sunlight to benefit from the warmth. As a result, they would defecate easily, keeping the beneficial elements of the food and defecating that which is harmful. This example is given to describe the person who is moderate in his endeavours to collect and earn lawful money and use it for lawful causes. Then, the Prophet ﷺ explains that money is desired and loved so much such that people are naturally keen on collecting it just like how we desire and like fruits and fresh vegetables that look nice and taste delicious. If a person pays zakat on his wealth, which he earns from lawful sources, and spends [some of] it on those who are poor and needy, orphans and wayfarers who do not have enough money during his journey, then his wealth will testify in his favour on the Day of Judgment. As for those who earned their wealth unlawfully, Allah will take away the barakah from it and deprive its owner from contentment so that he never feels he has enough even if he is given all the treasures of this world. He will be like a person who eats without ever being satiated, no matter how much food he consumes. On the Day of Judgment, the wealth of this kind of person will testify against him and expose his extravagance, unlawful spending, and strong keen on collecting it. From the benefits of this hadeeth is learning that the Imaam sits on the pulpit while people sit around him listening to his preaching. This hadeeth teaches us that we should give examples to clarify meanings so people can easily understand the intended message. It shows that earning money from unlawful sources are devoid of Allah’s blessings and barakah, and the scholar should warn who listen to him about the temptation of money and similar temptations and explain to them how people may fall into such temptation. It encourages us to be moderate in spending and collecting money, give away in charity, and avoid withholding our money from good causes. It highlights that the Sunnah is a divinely inspired, and that one can object or blame someone for asking a question when feared that the question is inappropriate,.