20. WEALTH MAINTAINS THE RELIGION AND WORLDLY AFFAIRS OF PEOPLE
There is nothing better for a scholar than having enough wealth {mat) to not be in need (istighna) of people. Once wealth is added to knowledge (‘ilm), then perfection (kamdt) is attained.
Most scholars were too occupied with seeking knowledge to the point of not earning (a living). Therefore, when they became in need of what their life could not be sustained without, and as their patience (sabr) ran out; they unwillingly had to be involved in matters that degraded their rank, even if their involvement was due to a valid interpretation they followed at that time— because avoiding that would have been better for them!
Take the examples of Al-Zuhrl who had to visit the Caliph ‘Abdu’lMalik Ibn Marwan; Abu ‘Ubaydah who had to approach Tahir Ibn Al-Husayn, the army leader; the story of Ibn Abi Al-Dunya who agreed to discipline the children of the Caliph Al Mu’tadid; and Ibn Qutavbah who commenced one of his book with praising the minister of the state.
Many scholars (‘ulama) and ascetics (zuhhad) were living in the shade of well-known oppressors who did so out of interpreting justifying their acts, but they lost parts of their hearts and of their perfect religiousness more than what they gained from this worldly life.
I have also seen some Sufis and some scholars visiting rulers in the hope of receiving some of what they possess. You find some of them fawning to [oppressive and unjust] rulers while you find others praise them in words that are unlawful to be said. Yet others you find not forbidding the unlawful acts when these rulers commit them and so lorth. All of this is caused by poverty faqr) and need, so to this effect I came to conclude that the perfection of self-respect and being far from the state of fawning and pretension can only be attained by being far from oppressors.
Those who managed to reach this level of safety [aside from the Prophet and his Companions (radiy Allahu ‘anhum) are one of two ty pes:
Those who had wealth such as Sa’id Ibn Al-Musayyab who was a merchant buying and selling oil and other types of merchandise. Sufyan Al-ThawrI who was also merchant, and [‘Abdullah] Ibn Al-Mubarak who was a merchant too.
Those who had great level of patience (sabr) and were content even if the money they had were insufficient such as Bishr Al-Hafi and Ahmad Ibn Hanbal.
If a person can neither have the patience nor attain the perfection of those, then he will probably flip into trials and perhaps compromise his religiosity.
O student of knowledge! You need to work hard to collect money so you become in no need of people as this will help you in focusing on your religion.
It is the love of this worldly life that drives most people to pretend being religious, ascetic or humble, and it is a vice that often afflicts scholars. In most cases, the love of this worldly life happens because of poverty’, but if they have enough wealth yet still accompany rulers and oppressive people to receive more wealth, they will be deemed greedy and outside the fold of circle of scholars.
We seek refuge with Allah from such situations.
(Source: al-Hafiz Abu’l-Faraj ibn al-jawzl [d. 597AH] “CAPTURED THOUGHTS being” a translation of his masterpiece ‘Sayd al-K hatir)
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