QUESTION
I am a Hindu and want you to please foretell my future. Will I become rich in the future? I am not well off and am very desirous and ambitious of becoming a rich man. I will also like your suggestions on how to become rich.
REPLY
Bismihi Ta’ala
Respected Brother in Islam,
Wa-alaykumus Salaam wa-Rahmatullahi wa-Barakaatuh
1.) Sustenance, health, life – in fact, everything – is predestined. It is only Allah Ta’ala (God) who has total knowledge of all and everything, as well as what is going to happen. No human being can read your palm or tell your fortune in any other way, and thereby predict your future.
2.) However, we live in a world of means and thus we make use of the means, and then leave the decision to Allah Ta’ala. So we make an effort in acquiring our sustenance, in earning a livelihood. After this effort, whatever reaches us, should be appreciated, whether it is little or more. …This is based on Divine Distribution, not on how much harder we work and strive. …Many are professionals, but are without any kind of job or income. Despite their degrees, they are unable to earn a living.
3.) Amongst many things, there are 5 things which are mentioned in particular, which are exclusive to the knowledge of Allah Ta’ala. No one else knows about these 5 besides Allah. So no person can tell you about these 5 things.
Allah Ta’ala states in the Qur`aan Shareef (Divine Book) :
“Verily Allah; With Him (alone) is the Knowledge of the Hour (Qiyaamah), He sends down the rain, and knows that which is in the wombs. No person knows what he will earn tomorrow (the next day), and no person knows in what land he will die. Verily, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware (He is acquainted with all things).”
[Surah Luqmaan 31 : 34]
Thus, tomorrow is a secret known to Allah Ta’ala alone. Included in this is:
– The detailed knowledge of exactly what a person will be able to do.
– All we can do is plan. However, we should not trust in those plans. Anything can happen – an accident, death, war, revolution etc. which will then change those plans.
– All plans are subject to Allah Ta’ala’s confirmation.
– This part of the ayat (verse) also refers to wealth, i.e. exactly how much money a person will earn for that day.
4.) Look towards those who have less than you to appreciate what you have.
5.) For a Muslim, the true contentment lies not in material wealth and riches, rather in the contentment of the heart. This contentment is achieved with firm belief in Allah Ta’ala, His Final Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) and belief in the Hereafter, and complete submission to Allah Ta’ala in this worldly life. It is the religion of Islam which offers true fulfilment to the heart and soul.
6.) Ambition is in its place. Who isn’t ambitious? But this ambition must not be at the expense of rejecting the One who has created us, nourished us and sent us to this world with a higher and loftier objective than amassing wealth – and this objective is recognizing and submitting to the One who Controls our lives and all our affairs, and to whom is our inevitable return. So we work towards achieving His Pleasure. In this manner, we secure our salvation in the Hereafter, whereby we enter Paradise, God Willing – and it is here that every desire will be fulfilled … without any effort. So do not close your heart and mind towards the truth, rather work to achieve the truth and you will find yourself very rich within your heart and soul – and these riches cannot be stolen like material possessions.
7.) May God guide you to this richness which is truly enviable and which you too will consider the ultimate bounty, because you will experience in your life, the treasures of both worlds.
“The clouds, the winds, the moon, the sun and
the sky are constantly at work,
So that you earn your living and do not eat in forgetfulness.
The whole creation is involved in working for you in obedience,
The law of justice will not be fulfilled if you fail to obey Allah.”
Was-Salaamu alaykum wa-Rahmatullahi wa-Barakaatuhu
Yunus Patel (Maulana)