fear. A thing which cannot nourish, cannot become the cause for the
survival of a living being, cannot serve as apparel to ward off heat and
cold, and cannot save it from the onslaught of evil, therefore cannot be
intrinsically regarded as good. The good which we attribute to them is
contrived and metaphorical as through their agency man can fulfil his
wants. This is why they are universally considered to be good, as they
can be used in settling all kinds of affairs. God Himself says:
It is prescribed for you, when death approaches any of you
that he bequeath (his wealth). . . in kindness13
Also:
Hinderer of the good, transgressor, malefactor...14
And at another place. He has said:
And lo! in the love of wealth he is violent.15
People generally say that he who gives away money does all kinds of
good things since money can purchase things, although intrinsically
money is devoid of all these properties.
A sea traveller has narrated a rather interesting incident. The boat in
which he was travelling was diverted by a sea squall to an unknown island. He and his fellow-travellers anchored on the shore and went to the
island. He gave a dinar to a fellow-traveller so that he might buy something which he needed. The latter turned the coin upside down, smelled
it, and bit into it. When his five senses did not relish or benefit from the
coin, he returned it, as he could not exchange a good thing for something
that did not give anything valuable in return. It was actually this notion
of exchange that prevailed among the civilised people, and the barter system was the modus operandi upon which the economic system reposed.
But conventionally and customarily sales and purchases began to be effected through the agency of metals. God Almighty has filled the hearts,
of people with love for metals so that they are used for the betterment
and well-being of man. It is not as if the metals themselves are noble.
God has said:
Know that the life of this world is only play and idle talk,
and pageantry, and boasting among you, and rivalry in respect of wealth and children. . . 16
And further:
Beautified for mankind is love of joys (that come) from
women and offspring, and stored-up heaps of gold and silver,
and horses run branded (with their mark), and cattle and
land. That is comfort of the life of the world. Allah! With
Him is a more excellent abode. 17
God has thus told us that the rectitude of a culture lies in its women, the
comfort of the eyes in the children, and the strength of the heart derives
from wealth, but wealth accumulates from beggary, kingdom, mortgages,
