Is money the root of all evil? No. But boy does it tempt people into it! The Prophet Muhammed (Peace be upon him) said that he feared the trial of wealth for his people and I understand why.
I was raised in a pretty poor household. Poverty teaches you humility, creativeness and appreciating the small things in life. If it was my birthday and my mum brought us cake it was a pretty awesome moment! I'm not saying wealth does not teach these things but it depends on how your raised in it.
Having wealth is a vicious cycle, you learn to live with objects you dont really need but become use to therefore you want more. However, if you've never had them, you'd like them but can also live without and thats where the difference lies. All we as humans need is warmth, shelter and food to survive but the people have become so materialistic that they no longer see it like that. People want houses with too many rooms, or cars that do speeds they can't legally do on the average street. I'm not saying they shouldn't want these things, by all means get them, but don't lose sight of the bigger picture. I read of a man who had a billion dollar business due to the recession he lost half of it and was left with half a billion dollars, he killed himself because of the losses he occurred. He was so blinded by his huge losses he couldn't see that he still had half a billion dollars!!
Money brings out the competitiveness and it gets ugly. Why do you think our leaders can be so ruthless? The war in Iraq was a money making opportunity, therefore it was quick and merciless. The rich got richer and the poor got poorer. Look at Blair, making millions working in the middle east after f***ing it all up! Leaders cling onto power because of the abundance of wealth at their finger tips! Let me tell you about an amazing man - Umar ibn al Khattab. Umar was the leader of the most powerful nation of that era. His army was spreading far and wide. His army had captured many spoils of war therefore the nation was experiencing wealth like never before!
Once Umar (RA) was going on his usual round towards Harrah (a suburb of Madinah) with his slave Aslam, when he saw a distant fire in the desert. He said:
"There seems to be a camp. Perhaps, it is a caravan that could not enter the town due to night fall. Let's go and look after them and arrange for their protection during the night."
When he reached there, he found a woman and some children. The children were crying. The woman had a pan of water over the fire. Hadhrat 'Umar (RA) greeted her with salaam and, with her permission, went near her.
Umar: "Why are these children crying?" The Woman: "Because they are hungry." Umar: "What is in the pan?"
The Woman: "Only water to soothe the children, so that they may go to sleep in the belief that food is being prepared for them. Ah! Allah will judge between Umar (RA) and me, on the Day of Judgement, for neglecting me in my distress."
'Umar (weeping): "May Allah have mercy on you! How can Umar know of your distress?"
The Woman: "When he is our Amir, he must keep himself informed about us."
Hadhrat 'Umar (RA) returned to the town and straight away went to treasury to fill a sack with flour, dates, fat and clothes, and also drew some money. When the sack was ready, he said to Aslam:
"Now put this sack on my back, Aslam."
Aslam: "No please, Amir-ul-Mo'mineen (leader of the people)! I shall carry this sack."
'Umar refused to listen to Aslam, even on his persistent requests to allow him to carry the sack, and remarked:
"What! Will you carry my load on the Day of Judgement? I must carry this bag, for it is I who would be questioned (in the Hereafter) about this woman."
Aslam most reluctantly placed the bag on Umar's (RA) back, who carried it with a swift pace right to the woman's tent. Aslam followed at his heels. He put a little flour and some dates and fat in the pan and began to stir. He blew (with his mouth) into the fire to kindle it. Aslam says:
"I saw the smoke passing through his thick beard."
After some time, the pottage was ready. He himself served it to the family. When they had eaten to their fill, he made over to them the little that was left for their next meal. The children were very happy after their meal and began to play about merrily. The woman felt very grateful and remarked:
"May Allah reward you for your kindness ! In fact you deserve to take the place of Khalifah instead of 'Umar."
'Umar consoled her and said: "When you come to see the Khalifah, you will find me there."
He sat for a while at a place close by and kept on watching the children. He then returned to Madinah. On his way back, he said to Aslam:
"Do you know why I sat there, Aslam? I had seen them weeping in distress; I liked to see them laughing and happy for some time."
Whether your muslim or not - Umar is recorded in the history books as a great leader and his achievements speak for themselves. I look forward to the day we have more leaders like him, who when their people don't have food to eat they also refrain from food. Did you know, that he would not eat fat because it was not a dish all the people had access to. His people pleaded with him to eat it a his health was declining but he refused saying that who was he to have the porviledge of enjoying such a dish when his people couldn't.
On that note I end with "He who went to the kings to seek favors went away from God." Wealth weakens the heart when used for the wrong purposes...be wise with it. Give in charity and give openly!
"In the eyes of God he is the best ruler who has secured prosperity and comfort for the people." - Umar Ibn al Khattab.
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