What Rasheed's Brother Taught Him by harun yahya

What Rasheed's Brother Taught Him
by harun yahya
Rasheed was walking to the bus stop one day to go home after
school. While he was waiting at there, he began listening to a
conversation a group of other children were having. One of them
was speaking with a loud voice, pointing to his shirt and an electric
car he was holding in his hand. Rasheed began to pay more attention,
and was able to make out what they were saying.
The name of the boy speaking so loudly was Asim. He was telling
his friends about his expensive clothes and latest toys. When he arrived
home, Rasheed could not get what the boy said out of his
mind. When his brother, Zubair, saw that Rasheed was deep in
thought, he sat down beside him.
"What's going on, Rasheed?
What are you thinking about?"
he asked. Rasheed answered:
"I saw a boy on my way home. He was talking to his friends
about his fine clothes and nicetoys. He was being
really thoughtless; he didn't care that some of his friends could not
afford to buy such things. I thought his behavior was very wrong."
Zubair agreed: "You're right, Rasheed, what he did was not right at
all. Allah has given us all different blessings. The fact that a person
has more fine things, is more good-looking or successful, is not due
to his own ability at all. Allah has given us these things to test us and
to see how we will act if He gives us such blessings.
The behavior most pleasing to Allah is when a person doesn't forget
that Allah has given him everything he has. We must not boast
about or be spoiled by the blessings Allah has given us; we must always
behave modestly. Anyway, it's Satan who gets puffed up with
pride. If you remember, the verse we read yesterday was about this
matter. Allah tells us that: 'That is so that you will not be grieved
about the things that pass you by or exult about the things that come
to you. Allah does not love any vain or boastful man.' (Surat al-
Hadid: 23)"
Rasheed nodded: "So, we shouldn't become spoiled by what
Allah has given us, and we shouldn't get sad or frustrated when we
lose something. Is that right,
Zubair?"Zubair smiled: "Right!
Allah owns everything. Hegives us as many blessings as
He wills to give us. Be theymany or few, they are all part of the trials of this world."Rasheed had a question
for his brother: "Inone verse, Allah says: 'Do not direct your eyes longingly to whatWe have given certain of them to enjoy, the flower of the life of
this world, so that We can test them by it. Your Lord's provision
is better and longer lasting.' (Surah Ta Ha: 131) What Asim did
was wrong, but wasn't it also wrong for his friends to be impressed
and act in a way that wouldn't be pleasing to Allah?
Although it is Allah Who has given us our clothes, food, home
and car, being spoiled really humiliates us, doesn't it?"
Zubair thought for a moment: "Sure.
That's a good way to explain it. Let me
tell you a story from the Qur'an as an example. In the Qur'an, Allah
gives an example of two men.
One of them had two gardens.
Allah filled each garden with
dates and various crops. When
the time came, both gardens yielded
their crops. There was a river between
the two gardens and so the man had fruit in
abundance. When the owner of the garden
Allah brought you out of your
mothers' wombs knowing
nothing at all, and gave you
hearing, sight and hearts so that
perhaps you would show thanks.
(Surat an-Nahl: 78)
spoke to his friend, he would humiliate him by saying: 'I have
more wealth than you and more people under me.' (Surat
al-Kahf: 34) Flaunting all the property he owned, he
would go to his garden, and showing it to his friend he
would say:
… I do not think that this will ever end. I do not think
the Hour will ever come. But if I should be sent back to my
Lord, I will definitely get something better in return. (Suratal-Kahf: 35-36)
His friend warned him:
Why, when you entered your garden, did you not say, 'It is
as Allah wills, there is no strength but in Allah?' Though you
see me with less wealth and children than you possess, it
may well be that my Lord will give me something better than
your garden... (Surat al-Kahf: 39-40)
The owner of the garden did not take these warnings seriously,
and finally Allah punished him. One night He sent a storm to destroy all his crops.
When the owner of the garden got up in the morning and saw
that he had lost his prized crops, he understood that Allah has infinite
power and that everything is under His control. We must
never forget this story, Rasheed, and must always behave in the
way it tells us to."