Friday Nasiha

Living The Quran

Saba (Sheba)
Chapter 34: Verse 36

Wealth & Property
"Say: My Lord gives in abundance, or gives in scant measure, to whomever He wills; but most people do not understand."

The question of wealth and property, and how much someone has of the means of luxury and pleasure, is one that many people wonder. They are troubled when they see that the wicked, the corrupt and the perpetrators of evil have whatever they wish for of wealth and power, while those who are virtuous, good and honest are deprived of it all.

Some tend to think that God only gives in abundance to someone who enjoys a privileged position with Him. Others may even doubt whether goodness, honesty and virtue have any real value, since they often go hand in hand with poverty and deprivation. Therefore, the Quran separates the riches and luxuries of this world from the values which God approves of. It states that God grants sustenance in abundance or scant measure to whomever He wills, and this has nothing to do with Him being pleased or displeased with anyone.

A person's wealth, position or offspring in this life bear no indication of that person's standing with God. Such standing is determined on the basis of how people behave.

Compiled From:
"In The Shade of The Quran" - Sayyid Qutb, Vol. 14, p. 169-171

From Issue: 508 [Read original issue]

Understanding The Prophet's Life

Confused Dreams

One day, the Prophet (peace be upon him) was speaking to his companions when the sun, almost setting, touched the crests of the hill and he said, 'Relative to what has passed, there is as little time left in the world as there is in this day.' [Tirmidhi]

Let the person of intelligence seeking counsel for himself reflect upon this hadith. Let him know what can befall him in the time that remains for the world. Let him know that he is living with illusions and 'confused dreams', and that he may be selling everlasting happiness and everlasting grace for a paltry price. But if he seeks God and the abode of the next world, he will be given his full measure and much more. As the saying goes, 'Child of Adam, sell this world for the next and you will profit from them both. But do not sell the next world for this one, or you will lose them both.'

Compiled From:
"The Invocation of God" - Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya, p. 19

From Issue: 813 [Read original issue]

Cool Tips!

Motivation

Charles Schwab, president of U.S. Steel and the highest-paid executive of his time, understood how to motivate men. When one of his mills wasn't producing its quota, he went to the mill manager and addressed him personally:

"How is it," Schwab asked, "that a man as capable as you can't make this mill turn out what it should?"

"I don't know," the man replied, "I've coaxed the men; I've pushed them; I've sworn and cussed; I've threatened them with damnation and being fired. But nothing works. They just won't produce."

"Give me a piece of chalk," Schwab said. Then, turning to the nearest man: "How many heats did your shift make today?"

"Six."

"Without another word, Schwab chalked a big figure six on the floor, and walked away. When the night shift came in, they saw the '6' and asked what it meant. 'The big boss was in here today,' the day men said. 'He asked us how many heats we made, and we told him six. He chalked it on the floor.'

"The next morning Schwab walked through the mill again. The night shift had rubbed out '6,' and replaced it with a big '7.'

"When the day shift reported for work the next morning, they saw a big '7' chalked on the floor. So the night shift thought they were better than the day shift, did they? Well, they would show the nightshift a thing or two. They pitched in with enthusiasm and when they quit that night, they left behind them an enormous, swaggering '10.' Things were stepping up..."

If you're looking to motivate those around you, throw down a challenge.

Compiled From:
"How to Win Friends and Influence People" - Dale Carnegie, pp. 238-240

From Issue: 868 [Read original issue]