A Bad Intention –
A man named Thalabah, who claimed to be a Muslim, once asked the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, to supplicate for Allah, the Exalted, to bless him with wealth so that he could give charity in abundance. The Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, warned Thalabah that it was better for him to have less and be grateful than have too much and be unable to show his gratitude to Allah, the Exalted. The Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, also stated that it would be better for him to follow his guidance and adopt a simple lifestyle. After Thalabah persistently insisted, the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, prayed for him. Shortly after, Thalabah’s business began to grow so much that he had to move outside the city of Medina. During this period Thalabah was only seen at the Mosque at the Friday prayer. During this period giving a certain amount of charity became obligatory for those who could afford it. The Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, sent the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, to the different Islamic areas to collect this charity including to where Thalabah resided. When the Companion, may Allah be pleased with him, requested the obligatory charity from Thalabah, it was at this moment that Thalabah revealed his hypocrisy. Greed consumed him and he uttered some disrespectful words by saying that Allah, the Exalted, had now put tax on him. After saying this, Thalabah told the Companion, may Allah be pleased with him, to move on and collect the obligatory charity from the others and he would use this time to ponder whether to give it or not. When this Companion, may Allah be pleased with him, eventually returned to the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, he stated that Thalabah had been destroyed. Allah, the Exalted, then revealed chapter 9 At Tawbah, verses 75-77:
“And among them [hypocrites] are those who made a covenant with Allah, [saying], “If He should give us from His bounty, we will surely spend in charity, and we will surely be among the righteous.” But when He gave them from His bounty, they were stingy with it and turned away while they refused. So He penalized them with hypocrisy in their hearts until the Day they will meet Him – because they failed Allah in what they promised Him and because they [habitually] used to lie.”
When Thalabah was informed of this, he immediately visited the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, to offer his obligatory charity. But the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, informed Thalabah that Allah, the Exalted, had now forbidden him to take his charity. The Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, then reminded Thalabah of his initial intentions. Thalabah tried over many years but each time the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, stated that it was too late and he could never go against the command of Allah, the Exalted. After the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, departed from this world, Abu Bakr Siddique, may Allah be pleased with him, became the Caliph of the Islamic nation. Thalabah once again tried to restore his status by donating his obligatory charity. But the leader simply replied that if the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, did not take the charity then how could he. Thalabah attempted this with the following two Caliphs of the Islamic nation but again they too rejected Thalabah’s attempts. This has been discussed in Imam Al Wahidi’s, Asbab Al Nuzul, 9:75, Pages 90-91.
As his only desire was to restore his worldly status within the community, his offerings were rejected. This has been indicated under the verses quoted earlier. If he sincerely repented from his hypocrisy in order to please Allah, the Exalted, he would have been forgiven. Sincere repentance involves feeling guilty, seeking the forgiveness of Allah, the Exalted, and anyone who has been wronged, as long as this will not lead to further trouble. One must sincerely promise to avoid committing the same or similar sin again and make up for any rights which have been violated in respect to Allah, the Exalted, and people.
In addition, the main event under discussion also indicates the importance of avoiding asking for specific worldly things, such as wealth, as one does not know what is best for them due to a lack of knowledge and foresight. People often desire things which become a source of stress for them and sometimes they dislike things which become a source of goodness for them in both worlds. Chapter 2 Al Baqarah, verse 216:
“…But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allah knows, while you know not.”
This is why Islam encourages muslims to ask for general goodness in worldly matters as they do not possess the knowledge to know what is good for them or what is harmful for them. Chapter 2 Al Baqarah, verses 200-201:
“…And among the people is he who says, “Our Lord, give us in this world,” and he will have in the Hereafter no share. But among them is he who says, “Our Lord, give us in this world [that which is] good and in the Hereafter [that which is] good and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.””
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