Financial Story #2: A Man Who Asked for Help
Reviewing his own painful past full of afflictions, he recalled how the bitter days slipped away, the days he was not even in a position to provide the daily meals for his wife and innocent children. He laid musingly on how a few words, which had pricked up his ears for three times and animated his spirit, deviated the course of his life, and rescued his whole family from poverty and calamity overwhelming them.
He was one of the Holy Prophet’s Companions; poverty and indigence had upper hand on him.
One day amicably reaching the dead end, after consulting with his family, he decided to go to the Holy Prophet (s), what his wife had suggested, to expose his situation and ask him for financial assistance. With this intention he came out of his house, yet did he not offer his request, the following words fell upon his ears:
“We help whoever demands us for assistance, but Allah preserves the needs of those who feel enriched and refrained from stretching out their hands before someone else.”
He returned back home without uttering a single word. He found himself again to face the awful silhouette of the poverty overshadowing his dwelling place. The next day, he rejoined compulsively the assembly of the Holy Prophet (s) with the same intention. He heard the same words from the Holy Prophet (s):
“We help whoever demands us for assistance, but Allah preserves the needs of those who feel enriched and refrained from stretching out their hands before someone else.”
He returned home once again without putting forward his request. For the third time, he saw himself indulging in the jungle of poverty, debility, misery, and helplessness; he decided to go to the assembly of the Holy Prophet (s) in order to put forward his intention. Once again the lips of the Prophet (s) moved and the same words were repeated, invigorating the heart and giving the certainty to the spirit.
This time, by hearing those words, the man felt more confidence and perceived that he had found the key of his problem. He went out with more assured steps, thinking: “I will never ask for someone’s help. I will rely on Allah and take advantage of the energy and the capacity which exists in my own self, and I will pray to Him to make me succeed in what I will undertake to do and enrich me.”
He thought what kind of job would be suitable for him to look for. In such circumstances, he decided to go to the desert, gather some firewood and sell them. He went and borrowed an ax, then he left for desert. By gathering the firewood and selling it, he relished the result of his own toil. He continued working hard for the following days until he managed to buy an ax, a beast of burden, and the other means of work with the gained money. He continued working till he gained a capital and owned the servants. One day the Holy Prophet (s) met him. While having the smile on his lips, he (s) said:
“We will help whoever demands us, but Allah preserves the needs of those who feel free from want.” (Usul al-Kafi, vol. 2, p. 139 (Al-Qina’a); Safinat al-Bihar (Qana’a).)
Source: Murtada Mutahhari, THE NARRATIVES OF THE VERACIOUS, Story 2.
Financial Lessons of the Story:
1. Trust in God (tawakkal ‘alallah);
2. Preservation of one’s self-esteem and personal integrity;
3. Utilization of one’s energy and talent to earn for a living;
4. Identification of one’s niche – what one can do best and passionate of;
5. Investing in things that would further earn income – “an ax, a beast of burden and the other means of work.”
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