Man appreciates any animal which is loyal to him.

Then, how is it possible that he does not comprehend that in the eyes of God only that individual is worthy of appreciation who is loyal to Him?

It is the love of wealth which blinds him.

He is unable to learn the truth even from his own experiences.

The horse is a very loyal animal.

Man wants to earn more and more so that he may accumulate more and more material assets.

He remains immersed in that thought till the day he dies.

After his death, man realises that what was worth accumulating was something else.

But the realization after death will be of no avail.

Islam favours moderation in all matters.

This is the picture of those proud individuals who are so engrossed in self-aggrandisement that they are unable to see any reality beyond themselves.

People often engage themselves in worldly activities in the name of religion.

The call of pure religion among such people amounts to exposing them for what they really are.

The call of truth is, in fact, a subtle test paper for its addressees.

The call of Truth thus serves as a discriminator between sincere and insincere people.

In this world one receives less and another receives more.

The one who receives more develops a superiority complex, while the one who receives less suffers from an inferiority complex.

But, in the eyes of God, neither attitude is correct.

In the present world such circumstances confront man again and again.

One who does not become envious on such occasions has, in effect, followed the example of the angels and one who becomes a victim of envy has, in effect, followed Satan.

It is this type of pride and envy which are collectively at the root of all evils.

Man indulges in arrogance in a world where all the things surrounding him are teaching him lessons in obedience.

For example, the shadows of material things.

The shadow of a thing standing erect falls on the ground.

Whatever share of wealth and position a man receives in this world is, in fact, a test from God.

The charms of the world attract a man, but they are all quite ephemeral.

Doomsday (the Day of Judgement) will soon destroy them in such a manner that it will appear as if they never existed.

The attraction of the world will not last, but here there is one thing that is going to endure forever and that is the good and pious deeds of a man.

Things in this present world make the world hereafter understandable to us.

It is thought that those who are better off from the worldly point of view are God’s favoured ones and those who do not enjoy this position in this world are low in God’s esteem.

When a man acquires a certain amount of wealth and power, he develops a misplaced self-confidence, says things he should not and behaves in a manner that ill befits his true position.

An incident, which occurred in Makkah, illustrates behaviour of this kind.

‘As ibn Wa’il, a pagan chief of Makkah, owed some money to one Khabbab ibn al-Arat.

In sharp contrast are those who, free from such responsibilities, spend their days in ease and comfort.

A man’s way of walking symbolises his whole personality.

Those in whose hearts belief in God has taken firm root, become the embodiment of humility and modesty.

The fear of God takes away any sense of superiority they may have.

At the time of death, a man, however great, finally parts with his possessions.

After death, the things which go along with him are his righteous deeds and not his worldly honours or his material possessions.

In these circumstances, wise counsel demands that a man give preference to eternal success over temporary worldly success—he should take care to build up his Hereafter rather than build up his worldly position.

Having acquired wealth, he should have been duly grateful, but, instead he allowed his wealth to give him a sense of false pride.

All the glamour of the world gathers around a person who possesses wealth.

Seeing this, many foolish persons envy his lot.

But those who possess real knowledge are quick to realize that this glamour is ephemeral, and that something so unenduring has no value.

Every act committed by man is like a seed planted in the ground.

If one does something in order to be admired by others, it is as though one is planting a seed in the earth of this world.

If, on the other hand, one acts in order to please God, then one has sown a seed in the everlasting fields of the Hereafter, where it will blossom and bear fruit.

There are two ways of spending one’s earnings in this world.

One is to spend in ways shown by Satan.

Another is to spend in ways shown by God.

One who spends his money for the sake of God in the way that He has commanded him to do, proves that he has been blessed with wisdom.

One has unilaterally to surrender one’s ego instead of protecting it.

Those who acquire wealth and power, rise to places of prominence in this world.

This creates a sort of false confidence in them.

Such people do not give due importance to the Hereafter, even when they are warned of it.

A believer, therefore, has the ability to observe the glory of God in everything, while a non-believer remains entrapped in the false notions of self-glory.

Engaging in usury is the ultimate in money worship.

A usurer thinks day in and day out as to how to double and quadruple his money.

But what he ought to pursue relentlessly is not the acquisition of material things but his entry into Paradise in the Hereafter.

This world is a place of trial.

Nations of the world progress and rise until they reach their zenith.

To give one’s possessions to others and to spend on the requirements of religion are very great deeds.

Whatever a man earns in this world is apparently from farming or industry or other such pursuits.