{"id":21709,"date":"2025-07-09T14:03:14","date_gmt":"2025-07-09T12:03:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alhaadi.org.za\/?p=21709"},"modified":"2025-07-09T14:03:57","modified_gmt":"2025-07-09T12:03:57","slug":"the-mindful-millionaire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alhaadi.org.za\/?p=21709","title":{"rendered":"The Mindful Millionaire"},"content":{"rendered":"

A person from Baghdad named Abu \u2018Abdillah Al-Haashimi was once entrusted with 10\u00a0000 dinaars (gold coins) belonging to an orphan child. It so happened that sometime thereafter this person went through a period of financial difficulty which led him to use the money of the orphan that was entrusted to him.<\/p>\n

When the child became of age and was capable of administering his own wealth, the governor instructed that his wealth be returned to him. Thus, a message was sent to Abu \u2018Abdillah to bring the money and hand it over to the orphan child. When this message reached him, he fell into a condition of utter despair and worry, not knowing how he could possibly cough up the money owed and pay it back to the orphan child.<\/p>\n

The next morning Abu \u2018Abdillah set out early on his conveyance, heading towards \u201cKarkh\u201d (the western region of Baghdad). His conveyance stopped outside the door of a masjid, the imaam of which was the great muhaddith (scholar of hadeeth), Da\u2019laj bin Ahmad (rahimahullah). Since it was the time of Fajr Salaah, he entered the masjid and offered the salaah behind Da\u2019laj (rahimahullah). After completing the salaah, Da\u2019laj (rahimahullah) turned towards Abu \u2018Abdillah, welcoming him warmly. Thereafter, he took him to his home.<\/p>\n

Upon entering the house and sitting down, the slave girl of Da\u2019laj (rahimahullah) laid a fine table cloth and placed a sweet dish down. Da\u2019laj bin Ahmad (rahimahullah) then invited him to eat saying, \u201cThe honoured (guest) should eat.\u201d Abu \u2018Abdillah began eating but could barely eat due to the worry that had overcome him. When the host noticed this, he enquired, \u201cI see you in (a condition of) distress. What happened?\u201d Abu \u2018Abdillah took the opportunity to let this weight off his chest and began relating what he was going through.<\/p>\n

After Abu \u2018Abdillah explained his situation, Da\u2019laj bin Ahmad (rahimahullah) comforted him saying, \u201cEat, for indeed your need will be fulfilled.\u201d Thereafter, another type of sweet dish was brought of which they partook. When they had completed the meal, Da\u2019laj (rahimahullah) turned to his slave girl and asked her to open a certain door in the house. The door opened into a vault which was filled with leather bags. He then called for a slave together with a scale. He then weighed 10\u00a0000 dinaars (gold coins) and presented them to Abu \u2018Abdillah saying, \u201cThe honoured (guest) should take this.\u201d<\/p>\n

Abu \u2018Abdillah was overjoyed by this sudden turn of events. He asked Da\u2019laj bin Ahmad (rahimahullah) to record it as a loan, and he then mounted his conveyance and placed the bag of money on the saddlebow, covering it with a shawl. He then set out for his hometown and rushed to the governor, now in a condition of surety and confidence. He presented the wealth to the governor and the head qaadhi (judge) was called along with the witnesses and the necessary parties so that the wealth could officially be handed over to the orphan child. The orphan child was called and the wealth was handed over to him. Abu \u2018Abdillah was met with praise and gratitude for keeping the wealth of an orphan safe.<\/p>\n

When he returned home, a government official called for him and offered him to take care of his investments, in exchange of a portion of the profits. Abu \u2018Abdillah accepted this proposal and thus began their partnership. In just three years, Abu \u2018Abdillah accumulated a substantial profit amounting to 30\u00a0000 dinaars (gold coins).<\/p>\n

He set aside 10\u00a0000 dinaars (gold coins) and set out to meet Da\u2019laj bin Ahmad (rahimahullah) in order to return his money to him. He reached the masjid at the time of Fajr Salaah and offered salaah behind him. When Da\u2019laj bin Ahmad (rahimahullah) got up from his place and saw Abu \u2018Abdillah, he again invited him to his home and presented a sweet dish. Contrary to the previous visit, Abu \u2018Abdillah was now composed and in high spirits. After the meal, Da\u2019laj (rahimahullah) enquired from Abu \u2018Abdillah regarding his current condition and state of affairs. Abu \u2018Abdillah replied, \u201cDue to the grace and kindness of Allah, as well as your favour (upon me), I have obtained 30\u00a0000 dinaars (gold coins).\u201d Thereafter he presented 10\u00a0000 dinaars to Da\u2019laj (rahimahullah) as a repayment for the money that he had given him.<\/p>\n

Upon seeing the money, Da\u2019laj bin Ahmad (rahimahullah) exclaimed, \u201cSubhaanallah, By Allah, I did not give (this money) with the intention of taking it back.\u201d (Surprised by this reaction,) Abu \u2018Abdillah inquired, \u201cWhat is the source of this wealth, that you could gift 10\u00a0000 dinaars to me, (without expecting it back?)\u201d<\/p>\n

Da\u2019laj bin Ahmad (rahimahullah) explained that he grew up memorizing the Quraan Majeed and studying the science of hadeeth. On one occasion, a businessman approached him and asked, \u201cAre you Da\u2019laj bin Ahmad?\u201d Da\u2019laj (rahimahullah) replied in the affirmative. The man then said, \u201cI desire to hand over my wealth to you so that you can (use it as capital and) engage in business.\u201d Da\u2019laj bin Ahmad (rahimahullah) accepted this offer. The businessman then gave him one million dirham (silver coin) cheques and told him to spend this wealth freely. Thereafter the trader continued returning year after year, bringing along the same amount of capital and handing it over to Da\u2019laj bin Ahmad (rahimahullah).<\/p>\n

On one occasion, during their annual meeting, the trader said to Da\u2019laj bin Ahmad (rahimahullah), \u201c(As you know) I travel very often by sea. If Allah brings to pass what He has predestined for all His creation (i.e. death), then (all) this wealth is for you on condition that you spend this wealth by giving charity, building masaajid and in doing good works.\u201d<\/p>\n

Accordingly, Da\u2019laj bin Ahmad (rahimahullah) continued spending the wealth in good avenues and Allah Ta\u2018ala continued increasing his wealth. After narrating this incident, Da\u2019laj (rahimahullah) requested Abu \u2018Abdillah to keep this a secret as long as he was alive.<\/p>\n

(Tareekhu Baghdaad vol. 9, pg. 369)<\/em><\/p>\n

Lessons:<\/strong><\/p>\n

1. A salient feature of the pious servants of Allah Ta\u2018ala was the amazing quality of honouring their guests. Hospitality and entertaining guests was a common quality of the average Muslim, even until the recent past. This greatly contributed to the blessings and happiness which people enjoyed in their lives. One of the outcomes of materialism is that although the houses have become much bigger, the hearts have become very small. Hence, hosting guests is regarded as a huge burden, although they maybe one\u2019s own blood-relatives.<\/p>\n

2. Works of generosity and gestures of kindness must be carried out solely for the pleasure of Allah Ta\u2018ala \u2013 not for name and fame, or for any monetary gain. In fact, we should not even desire a \u201cthank you\u201d, or any other form of appreciation. When Abu \u2018Abdillah was in desperate need, Da\u2019laj (rahimahullah) gave him the entire amount without expecting anything in return. His intention was purely to assist for the sake of Allah Ta\u2018ala. Even years later, when Abu \u2018Abdillah returned with the money to repay him, Da\u2019laj\u2019s (rahimahullah) intention had not changed, showing that his initial generosity was never linked to personal benefit, but solely to earn the pleasure of Allah Ta\u2018ala.<\/p>\n

3. Although it was totally wrong for Abu \u2018Abdillah to use the orphan\u2019s wealth, he most probably had a sincere intention to repay it and fulfil the trust. Hence, despite his mistake, he carried worry and regret in his heart, and thus Allah Ta\u2018ala, through His mercy, made arrangements for him to pay the wealth timeously. When a person\u2019s intention is sincere, Allah Ta\u2018ala creates ease and relief for him, even after a moment of weakness.<\/p>\n

>>>Download Musjid Poster\u00a0Page 1<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Page 2<\/a><<<<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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