FOOD FOR THOUGHT

"O you who believe! Save yourselves and your families from the Fire, the fuel of which is people and stones..." (66:6)

"Seek 'Ilm (knowledge of Deen Islâm) even if you have to go to China, for the acquisition of 'Ilm is obligatory upon every Muslim." (Baihaqi)

Hadhrat Hakim-ul-Ummat Maulana Ashraf 'Ali Thanvi Sahib (Rahimahullah) relates the following thought-provoking episode, which contains a great lesson.

A man who lived in the city of Gawaaliya in India spared no effort in the English education of his son. (In those days of political serfdom, it was considered an honour to be educated in the same way as the British rulers.) He spent a considerable sum of money on his son's worldly education. After reaching the limits of English education that the institutions of India could offer, the father sent his son to London to obtain the highest qualifications in English education. The son passed his examinations in London with flying colours, but on his return to India, he fell seriously ill.

His condition deteriorated until he (the son) was on the verge of death. The father, overcome with grief and suffering, sat by the bedside of his dying son and lamented:

"O my son! I have spent 25,000 rupees on your education, but I have not seen the fruits of my efforts."

The son, in the last moments of his life, suddenly opened his eyes and exclaimed:

"O my beloved father! Why do you lament, and why do you weep now? When you observe me in the Aakhirah burning in the fire of Jahannam, then you will indeed be able to weep. You, by spending these 25,000 rupees, have made preparations for my fall into hell. You have bought me hell with this money because you have deprived me of the education of the religion. At this very moment, I am witnessing the futility of all my education. The Angels of Death are near. You, by spending such a large sum of money, have not shown yourself to be my friend but have demonstrated that you are manifestly my enemy." (Wa'zul Huda)

[English version of "Matière à réflexion" – Al Haadi – Vol. 3 No. 2]