The First Parable: The Arrogance of Wealth

That was the second story. The third, the third prominent story, is of Dhū al-Qarnayn; and those are the three main stories. The three examples given do not take so long.

One of the prominent examples here is the story of the two brothers, or two friends — there are differing opinions. One of them was very wealthy. The story goes that they both inherited a great deal of wealth, and the one invested it in the dunyā and came in time to have orchards, great gardens, fruits and servants working for him — among the best assets of the day. The other spent his in the path of Allah and came at last to have nothing, and had to go and ask the first for work. This may be read from verse 32.

Give them the example of the two men. One of them was given this orchard garden full of grapes, surrounded by palm trees, and crops between them. He had everything: the fruits, the vegetation, the water; and they were very productive; and a fine irrigation stream running between besides. Everything together — what more could a man want? And he grew very arrogant.

This is a true example of materialism: according to most of the ʿulamāʾ, this man was a believer, a nominal believer — he believed, but he was committing the shirk of materialism, depending too much upon material position and possession.

The other then came and began to censure him: why had he not invested his money, why had he given it away in the path of Allah — look what he himself had. And he said that he did not even think the Day of Judgement would come; and that even were he sent back, he would find something better still there.

His companion, or whoever it was, told him to take care; that this was doing kufr with God, the very One who gives all of it. And the discussion turns upon what would happen were all of this overtaken by a storm, or by fire, or whatever it might be. He was too arrogant; he would not listen. And at last that is exactly what happened: it was burned down entirely, its roof and all of it upon the ground, and he was left wringing his hands over what he had spent upon it and what he had done in it. He said: if only he had not committed shirk and associated any partner with his Lord.

Since he was supposed to be a believer, many have said that the shirk meant here is the shirk of partnering material means with an efficacy of their own, and not necessarily the making of other gods as such. Looking about the world, this example calls for self-reflection, for many may be guilty of it. A man's reliance is placed upon the paracetamol and not upon Allah — which is not to say the paracetamol may not be taken. Reliance is placed upon the paycheck coming in, upon one's work, upon a bank balance, upon food, upon certain people. And again, if all of that is done as a worldly means, it is entirely well; it is only not to be done at the same level as Allah. Allah should always be the guidance, the trust, the mainstay; trust should always be in Allah. This is exactly what befell this man.