Chapter X: Evils of Self-Deception
One class of the rich have got greed to construct mosques, madrashas, bridges and other works of public utility so that they may fall to the eyes of men and their names are remembered even after their death. This belief is pardonable. Another class of rich men spend their lawful earnings in the construction of a mosque but fall into error for two reasons. The first reason is that they do it for show and getting praise from the people. The second reason is that they embellish the mosque with paintings and pictures which are prohibited as the attention of those who pray may be diverted from their prayer and deviation to God to the colours and paintings. The punishment for this reverts to the .. uilder, although he lives in such an error that he is doing pious duties.
The sages of your hesi ta ted to en ter such a mosque.
Once the disciples of Jesus Christ said: Look, how is this Church ? He said : 1 tell you with truth that my followers will construct lofty buildings and churches, God will destroy all for the sins of the builders. There is no value to God of gold and silver and of bricks of the mosque which you consider good.
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Rather the dearest thing to Him is the mind of the pious men which remains immerged in the love of God. The Prophet said :
When you will embellish you mosques with variegated workmanship and the Quran with gold and silver, your condition then will be ceplorable. Hazrat Hasan basri said that when the Prophet wished to construct the Mosque of Meidna.
Gebriel came to him and said : Make its roof one cubit higher than the head and don't embellish it with different kinds of workmanship.
Another class of rich men give charity to the porr and and baggars but in such a place where people gather. They choose such poor men who express gratitude for charity and broadcast their charities. They make one pilgrimage after another but do not give in charity to the hungry neighbors. Hazrat Ibn Msud said : There will be such people in latter times who will make pilgrimage without cause. Once a rich man sought the advice of the sage Bashar Hafi for going to pilgrimage. He asked : Why do you wish to make additional pilgrimage ? He said. To seek the pleasure of God. The sage said : you can get His greater pleasure by paying the debts of ten debtors, removing the wants of those who are in want, giving, charity to the poor Muslims having large families or distributing the sum to ten orphan boys.