From the street sweeper to the industrialist, every person is alarmed by the increasing costs of basic commodities. In the world of cause and effect, many reasons for the rising costs are explained by all and sundry. Political instability, faction fighting, etc. are cited as reasons for the value of the rand falling sharply. This in turn resulted in the price of petrol rocketing. The high petrol price impacts negatively on the price of every commodity… and the story goes on and on.
While these apparent means are not denied, the fact of the matter however, is that they are only the APPARENT means. In reality, all conditions are created by Allah Ta‘ala alone. These conditions are also not brought about haphazardly. Allah Ta‘ala and His beloved Rasul (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) have informed us as to when favourable conditions will prevail, and also what will invite the wrath of Allah Ta‘ala due to which He will send down adverse conditions.
In one narration, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) is reported to have said: “When Allah Ta‘ala is ANGRY upon a nation, and He does not send down upon them the punishments of the earth swallowing them or the punishment of transfiguration of people into animals, He causes the prices of commodities to rise high, the rains are withheld from them and the worst of the people are caused to rule over them”. (Faidhul Qadeer vol. 2, pg. 289)
Thus the reality of rising costs is now clear to us. Our sins have angered our Creator. His punishment has taken the form of rising costs. The solution is to make an effort to rid our society of the sins that are inviting this punishment.