Malfuzat – Volume II — Page 269
269 is written in books on the science of the interpretation of dreams that if someone sees that they have taken out their liver and given it to someone, this implies wealth. This is why in order to attain true righteousness and faith, Allah the Exalted states: 1 َ تُحِبُّوْن مِمَّا تُنْفِقُوْا ي ّٰ الْبِرَّ حَت لَنْ تَنَالُوا Meaning, never shall you attain to true righteousness unless you spend what you most love, because sympathy and good treatment towards the creation of God depends to a large extent on the spending of wealth. Sympathy towards humanity and God’s creation at large is the second aspect of faith, without which one’s faith cannot be complete and firm. Until a person sacrifices for others, how can they give them benefit? Sacrifice is necessary in benefiting others and showing them sympathy. It is this very teaching of sacrifice which has been given in the following: 2 َ تُحِبُّوْن مِمَّا تُنْفِقُوْا ي ّٰ الْبِرَّ حَت لَنْ تَنَالُوا Never shall you attain to true righteousness unless you spend what you most love. Therefore, spending wealth in the cause of Allah Almighty is also a criterion and touchstone by which to judge the good nature and righteousness of an individ- ual. In the case of Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, the extent and level to which his life was devoted to God was that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, expressed a need and he came with everything that he owned. Why the Prophets Are Faced with Needs Here, I would like to explain an important point about the reason that Proph- ets, peace be upon them, are faced with various needs. Allah the Exalted has the power to ensure that they are never put in a situation where they lack what is required, but they are confronted with such needs so that examples may be set of dedication to God—so that the dedicated life of Abu Bakr ra could be brought to light for example; so that belief in the existence of a Powerful God would de- velop on earth; so that such people who dedicate their lives for God could serve 1 Aal-e-Imran, 3:93 2 Aal-e-Imran, 3:93