Let me illustrate by relating a sequence of events that Hadhratwálá Rahmatullahi Alaihi narrated to us:
There resided in Thánah Bhawan the son of a wealthy noble. His father had passed away, leaving him much wealth in the form of income producing property, farmlands and cash. A number of hangers-on surrounded him very quickly and it was not long before all his cash was spent. He then sold all his properties. When the money from the sale of these properties got finished he put up the farmlands for sale. Some well-wishers, true friends of his late father, saw the deterioration in his affairs and tried to advise him. “Arè miyán!” They tried to make him understand: “Just think how hard your father struggled to achieve some security for you, his only son. Don’t throw everything away.” The son responded by saying: “My father was a fool! He gave away silver and accumulated sand. I am not so stupid. I am more intelligent: I give away sand and acquire silver.”
In those days the rúpí coin was made of silver. There was no paper money. In buying property and farmlands (sand) the father had to pay in silver coins. The son considered himself wiser in getting silver (rúpís) for the properties and farmlands (sand) that he was selling.
Yet, the Hadith Shareef says that whosoever has property, land or farms should not sell them. The reason is obvious. These are solid and permanent investments. Cash, on the contrary, is liquid and changeable. Property will give an income. Farms will produce crops. On the other hand, cash will be spent – cash in itself is non-productive. Yes, if one wishes to buy a better property or farm, then you may sell what you have.
In this instance it is more of an exchange than a selling off. This is the extent to which Rasúlulláh Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam had concern for us, that he even advised us on worldly affairs for our material wellbeing and comfort.
The son acted contrary to the Hadíth Sharíf. Moreover, he considered himself to be clever and his father to be stupid. Can anyone make such a thick skull understand?
As an example of how his friends made use of him the following incident is related:
A friend came to visit him, looking sad and dejected. “Why so sad today?” the son asked. The friend said: “Nothing serious really. There is a fair in Mírath and I had a desire to go. Not being able to go is making me feel rotten.” The son: “Why? What is the problem?” The friend said: “To go there and also have money for the various exhibitions…” The son said: “That is no problem. Feeling better?”
The friend said: “Yes, but… To go alone without congenial company, one cannot really enjoy oneself.” The son responded: “Sure. Sure.” The son asked how much he required. The friend indicated the sum. The son very generously handed the money over. This was the manner in which he spent on his friends. The net result was that soon he had no property, no farmlands and no cash. He was reduced to begging and existed on kindly hand-outs from relatives in Hyderabad and elsewhere.
His friends? They had quietly disappeared. This is the friendship of these times.
