Chapter IV: Poverty and Renunciation
(19) When this verse was revaled "Those who hoard up gold and silver and don't spend them in the way of God etc." the Prophet said : May gold and silver be destroyed. We said : O Messenger of God. God prohibited us from hoarding gold and silver. Then what thing shall we hoard? The Prophet said :
Anyone of you shall take to remembering tongue, grateful heart and a chaste wife, so that they can help you in the affairs of your next world.
(20) The Prophet said: God throws three disasters on a person who loves the world more than the next world. (1) He meets with such anxieties in mind as never go out of it, (2) He meets with such want as never go. (3) He has got such greed which is never satisfied.
(21) The Prophet said : The faith of a man dpes not become perfect who does not love to remain unrecognized more than his greed to become known, and whose wish to get less does not become dearer than his greed to get more.
(22) The Prophet Jesus Christ said : The world is like a bridge. Pass over it and don't make habitation on it. He was asked : O Prophet of God, if you had ordered us to construct houses of worship it would have been better. He said : Go and construct houses on that water. They said : how will the houses stand over water. He said : Then how will your worship remain in order having love of this world in mind.
(23) Our Prophed said : My Lord presented before me the places of Mecca filled up with gold. I said : O my Lord, I don't want it. What I want is that I should remain hungry one day and take food next day. I would pray to you on the day when I shall remain hungry and I would praise you and give you thanks on the day I would take food.
(24) The Prophet said : One day the Prophet began to walk on foot with Gabriel with him. He ascended on a lofty place and said to Gabriel : O Gabriel, by one who sent you with truth, the family
Vol-IV POVERTY AND RENUNCIATION 175
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members of Muhammad could not have this evening one »■ handful of wheat or maize. Hardly had he uttered it, he heard • such a loud voice from heaven that caused his heart tremble. The Prophet said : Has God ordered for resurrection ? Gabriel said :
That is not so. When he heard your voice. Israfil came to you and said : God sent me down with all the treausres of the world on bearing your complaint and to present them before you. If you wish, I would come to you with mountains of jewels, emeralds, gold and silver. Inform me whether you want to be Prophet with the kingdom of this vast world with all its seas or to be a Prophet and a servant. Gabriel hinted at the Prophet to be humble before God. The Prophet saidthrice : I wish to become a Prophet and a servant.
(25) The Prophet said : When God wishes good of a servant.
He gives him renunciation of the world, desire for the next world and insight into his defects and sins.