Malfuzat - Volume VII — Page 475
27 September 1905 475 since he did not step up according to his status and strength, but has shown miserliness. The point is that whatever kind of person one is, he should step forward according to his strength and capacity. Each per- son will be judged according to his level of cognisance. The more knowledgeable one is, the more accountable he will be. That is why Dhun-N u n observed that point about the Zak a t. It was not against the Shariah; it was the demand of the Shariah. He knew that wealth is not for hoarding but should be spent in the service of religion and showing compassion for mankind. The Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, in his last moments, had a gold coin. He had it given away. The truth is that everything has degrees of rank. Some people will question why Hadrat ‘Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, was called ‘Ghan i ’ [the Rich]; why did he amass wealth? This is an absurd suspicion for the reason that he was not a money lender. God knows best what this Ghan i means. All I know is that whatever wealth is devoted to the ser- vice of religion, it does not belong to its owner. The person who accumulates wealth with this intention and purpose does not accumulate it for himself, it belongs to God. But one who accu- mulates it with his personal and worldly ambitions in mind, that wealth is for branding him. And he will eventually be branded with it. Do what Sets the Best Example and Lesson for Your Children Some people also think that they should leave wealth for their children. I am surprised that they worry about leaving some wealth for them but it does not occur to them to worry about