An Example of Honesty

AN EXAMPLE OF HONESTY

[English]

مثال الأمانة

]اللغة الإنجليزية[

(In the light of the Glorious Qurân and the Sunnah)

في الضوء القرآن الكريم و السنة النبوية

Tariq Sohrab Ghazipuri

(Multi Lingual Interpreter cum Administrative Coordinator)

طارق سهراب غازيفوري

Islamic Propagation Office in Rabwah, Riyadh

المكتب التعاوني للدعوة وتوعية الجاليات بالربوة بمدينة الرياض

Islam at Your Fingertips

2008-1429

IN THE NAME OF ALLAH THE MOST GRACIOUS AND THE MOST MERCIFUL

AN EXAMPLE OF HONESTY

By: Tariq Sohrab Ghazipuri

The authentic book of Hadith (Bukhari) presents an ideal story of a man who came to someone and asked for the amount, equal to probably one thousand rupees in Indian currency. He asked why he was asking for money; he was ready to give money for one year but who would be guarantor for that. And in this way he handed over one thousand amount to him after which the man who took the money promised that the boat would reach the harbor (there was harbor) on so and so date and he would send back the money to him through some one.

Finally he went to his city and collected money before the scheduled period. Now please have your eyes on one of the example of honesty. Certainly you will be astonished where such Muslims are left now, and why we do not take lesson from such events, and why we become dishonest after looking at money. This destitute fellow collected all the money on the day when it was to be reached there but then he thought he would be a liar if the money did not reach accordingly on fixed time.

Consequently, he picked a strong bamboo (wood) and made a hole from inside. Having put the money inside, he closed the wood from upper side very carefully, and prayed to Allah: {{O Allah! I borrowed the money in your name, please make it reach}}. He, after such benedictory words, politely threw the wood into the river with a thought that he had thrown the wood into the river but he was thoughtful whether the person (money-lender) would receive money or not. Will it be a better idea to pay the loan; and with such ideas, he collected the required money again and went there thinking: perhaps his friend might have not received the money.

Now come to the other side. The money lender counted the days for receiving the amount, and when the time came up that it was the appointed day (today), he went to the shore but he did not find anyone and at last he became disappointed and nervously thought: {{was I deceived or cheated, O Allah! I gave the money after your name}}.

After a while, a wood was coming to him by floating in water. He thought the wood looked better, it would be helpful in cooking, and finally he picked up the wood from water and took it to his destination. After reaching home, when he saw the wood carefully, he found marks on its surface. He opened then and inside the hole, he found money with a letter that expressed:-

{{I could not reach, I have surrendered the loan to Allah, Insha Allah, you will receive it}}. He (money lender) then took the money happily and thanked Allah.

Now think of the other person, he preceded his journey with the money he collected again, while he had already sent back the amount to the money lender. But he did so, thinking how he would pay his debt if it was not received by him (the money lender). In actual facts, he was afraid of the facts that he would have to be responsible for the same on the day of judgement if he failed to pay his debt.

--- The real essence of duty is to pay the debts taken ---

is of course an ideal factor that attracts our attentions. We take loan but forget to pay it in time, and after all claim to be a Muslim or a follower of Islam The thoughts drifting into the mind of the man who took the money from money lender were nothing but only to pay the loan in time. Do we hold such mentality; we should have such contemplations in our turn. The above mentioned story reveals about rights of people that leads to honesty towards mankind.

--- Right of people by people for people ---

to be paid is of course very essential for humanity and known as an etiquette of the people fearing from the factors of Peoples Rights.

O Mankind! Think with careful attentions, study authentic Hadith (Tradition of Prophet Muhammad Pbuh), give up reading novels and fictions in which there remain the stories related to fraud cases and robbery, and the events mentioned in Hadith will give you lessons of ideality, faith, sincerity and piousness.

The man reached there with money; undoubtedly it was an ordeal time (trial) of the both. Now ponder over the issue of their honesty. The man reached the money lender and said to him: {{Take your money I borrowed from you}}. Please consider, what was the proof with him for that, he could have taken the money if he liked; no any courts could arrest him because he had no proof, nor it was any witness. Please consider when he presented the money to him, he (the money lender) replied: {{O my brother! The Most Merciful Allah whom you made the guarantor for you had got the money sent to me}}.

Now think of the honesty of both the persons. The man borrowing money had already sent the money to money lender but was not satisfied. He came back with the money again, and also think of the honesty of money lender who did not hide the money he received before. Please consider we are eating others rights. Now look at the man what he did. There was no witness, no proof, but there remained a grave contemplation towards peoples-rights and the fear of Allah that enlightened him for maintaining honesty.

{{He who fears from Allah gets all easiness in his all matters}}. (Qur'an, 65: 4)

He gets so much wealth but leaves all keeping in view the presence of Allah. He considers such amounts as illegal and the rights of others. Why did Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) tell this story? This event is not narrated by Salaf Al-Saleheen (ancestors). It is not fiction but the event expressed by Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) is advice, admonition, direction, law and instruction.

Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) explained to us to disburse rights of people in such a way as mentioned. Bukhari, the authentic book of Hadith, also expresses the events of such honest people who were afraid of others rights in spite of doubts. As regards to our own issues, we are not ashamed of hoarding more by hook or crook, and in addition we bribe, eat bribed money and are not ashamed. On the other hand, the people like the men (as indicated in the story) were ashamed in gobbling others wealth. We should take lessons from the ideal story mentioned above.