Ambition and the Quran
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Peace everyone,
I'm wondering what, if any, verses deal with ambition in respect to modesty. Specifically, I'm talking about where wealth/status/material things are sought past the point of sustenance.
I know Isa referred to the difficulty of the wealthy in reaching heaven in
Matthew 1923-2623 Then Jesus said to his disciples, ?Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.? 25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astounded and said, ?Then who can be saved?? 26 But Jesus looked at them and said, ?For mortals it is impossible, but for God all things are possible.?
And Matthew 201-16.
?For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 When he went out about nine o?clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace; 4 and he said to them, ?You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.? So they went. 5 When he went out again about noon and about three o?clock, he did the same. 6 And about five o?clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, ?Why are you standing here idle all day?? 7 They said to him, ?Because no one has hired us.? He said to them, ?You also go into the vineyard.? 8 When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, ?Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.? 9 When those hired about five o?clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage. 10 Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage.11 And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, 12 saying, ?These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.? 13 But he replied to one of them, ?Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? 14 Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. 15 Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?? 16 So the last will be first, and the first will be last.?I remember in the Quran a similar verse regarding wealth and its affect on reaching Paradise, but I don't remember specifically which.
Anyways, I know that some lessons aren't repeated in the Quran and fall under the "affirming that which came before" clause...but I'd like some wisdom specifically on ambition.
peace
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Peace to all
It's a very interesting question.. But I would rather look for verses in Quran rather than New Testament, as for me, the attitude towards wealth in NT is to me, a bit too ascetic and excessively critical. The verse about camel apparently entered into hadithic tradition in Islam, but there is no verse in Quran like that, as far as I know. Also, to me the second verse from NT, about workers is in clear contradition with Quran because it is in contradiction to the general idea of justice towards others and seems like a dirty manipulative trick. Also, never in Quran you will find anything along lines the last will be first and the first will be last. The criterion is not who is last or first, but who is rigteous, truthful and believing, and values as such cannot be simply attache to poor only and considered as nonexistent amongst rich.
Based on my understanding of Quran, again the crux of the matter is not whether you have money but rather, what you DO with them. If weath was so wrong, and we were supposed to just live on minimal, who would get blessings for paying charity and helping others financially?
The problem is that, the more wealth a person has, usually the more they desire (in economy it is called a law of diminuishing returns, when, at some point you don't get as much happiness from increasing your wealth by the same rate, which gave you happiness before, and therefore, you will to accelerate wealth accumulation). This is why the idea of zakkat, by giving away part of wealth, a person forces to detach themselves from the wealth.
So as, always, the truth lies in the middle.
Here are few verses that underline such idea"But when the righteous are asked, 'What has your Lord sent down?' They say, 'all that is good'. There is good in the world for those who do good, and the abode of the Hereafter is even better. How excellent is the home of the righteous!" (Qur'an 1630)
This verse reinforces the fact, that whatever is good in this world, is permittable to us, on the only condition, THAT WE DO GOOD (means we attain it in a rigtful way and also use it rightfully)
1614 (Y. Ali) It is He Who has made the sea subject, that ye may eat thereof flesh that is fresh and tender, and that ye may extract therefrom ornaments to wear; and thou seest the ships therein that plough the waves, that ye may seek (thus) of the bounty of Allah and that ye may be grateful.
Here we are told that there is nothing wrong in enjoying tender and good fresh food, having ornaments and appreciating the beautiful things in this world, there is nothing wrong with enjoying the benefits of technology (ships) to seek for more, but again, here is the condition GRATITUDE TO ALLAH.
6210 (Y. Ali) And when the Prayer is finished, then may ye disperse through the land, and seek of the Bounty of Allah. and celebrate the Praises of Allah often (and without stint) that ye may prosper.
There are more verses of seeking bouties of Allah and everytime this condition is reinforced that we should be GRATEFUL, DO GOOD, BE HUMBLE, SPEND WISELY etc,
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Poor people cannot give sadaqah, they live and burden other people
Middle income people can benefit few people, hopefully. . .
Only rich people can benefit the "society" and "humanity" . . and bring balance through their influence
God commands justice
creating balance in the society <- think about the scale of success Allah is addressing to
benefiting humanity
kindness to His creation
and giving to relatives
(16.90)Therefore, I believe the True Believers should be very ambitious, rich and influential person
Not only that they must be rich, I believe the True Believers should be very smart and well educated
This is the condition of a True Believer. . .
Indeed, within the heavens and earth are signs for the believers <- scientific knowledge etc
And in the creation of yourselves
and what He disperses of moving creatures
are signs for people who are certain
And the alternation of night and day
and what Allah sends down from the sky of provision
and gives life thereby to the earth after its lifelessness and directing of the winds
are signs for a people who reason
These are the verses of Allah which We recite to you in truth
Then in what statement after Allah and His verses will they believe?
453-6Those who are stupid, lazy, lack of reasoning skills or not well educated cannot understand the above signs
It is futile because they do not know how to benefit from the signs, and thus do not know how to be grateful to Allah ( َ
They did not use their brain and believe in magic and that Allah will send them food from the sky . . .
They are not the True Believers because they have wasted their sense of perception and living in illusion
And We have certainly created for Hell many of the jinn and mankind
They have hearts with which they do not understand <- they have wasted their sense perception
they have eyes with which they do not see
and they have ears with which they do not hearThose are like livestock; rather, they are more astray <- useless people
It is they who are the heedless
7.179Therefore, I believe True Believers are not useless, lazy or weak people (ie. worst than livestock)
True Believers are those who are excel in major aspect of life and according to the injunction of Allah, only they are the True Believers. . .
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Poor people cannot give sadaqah, they live and burden other people
Middle income people can benefit few people, hopefully. . .
Only rich people can benefit the "society" and "humanity" . . and bring balance through their influence
Therefore, I believe the True Believers should be very ambitious, rich and influential person
Not only that they must be rich, I believe the True Believers should be very smart and well educated
Therefore, I believe True Believers are not useless, lazy or weak people (ie. worst than livestock)
True Believers are those who are excel in major aspect of life and according to the injunction of Allah, only they are the True Believers. . .
sun bravo
I agree totally muslims, lets be rich and create better world) -
I agree totally muslims, lets be rich and create better world)
Yes, we should start use our sense of perception, to understand (heart), see (eyes), and hear (ears) all the "signs" in ourselves and around us , break the code and then figure out how to make money. . . and then we should spend on what can bring us happiness and make us appreciate and feel grateful to our life/deen (Allah), whatever that best for us. . .
Our mission is to feel "grateful" to our life/deen (Allah) . . .
The more we feel grateful to our life/deen (Allah), the more successful we will be, now and hereafter . . .
And when your Lord proclaimed,
'If you are grateful, I will surely increase you
but if you deny, indeed, My punishment is severe.' "
14.7 -
Our mission is to feel "grateful" to our life/deen (Allah) . . .
The more we feel grateful to our life/deen (Allah), the more successful we will be, now and hereafter . . .
And when your Lord proclaimed,
'If you are grateful, I will surely increase you
but if you deny, indeed, My punishment is severe.' "
14.7I feel like these things are mutually reinforcing. Being grateful increases effort in the struggle from positivity.
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I feel like these things are mutually reinforcing. Being grateful increases effort in the struggle from positivity.
This is knowledge
This is our mission
This is our state of mind
This is control
This is the formula
This is the mechanism
This is success
This is our end
Avoid this, at all costs!
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Poor people cannot give sadaqah, they live and burden other people
Red It's not always like that.
I think there are still poor people who also give charity.
Even they're poor, they're still willing to share what they have to other. MashaAllah.
Blue No! They're not burden. They're people who need our help. We can improve ourselves by doing goodness for them.
Beside, I think there are poor people who can live independent even though they're poor. They live accepting what they earn and can be grateful without much complaining.
I believe that poverty is not always caused by stupidity and/or laziness.
And hasten to forgiveness from your Lord and Jannat - its width (is like) the heavens and the Earth; it has been prepared for the righteous. Those who spend in prosperity and adversity, and who restrain anger, and who pardon the people; and God loves the good doers.
Those who criticize the ones who give willingly among the believers concerning the charities, and they ridicule those who not find except (within limit according to) their effort. God will ridicule them, and they will have a painful retribution.
Peace.
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No! They're not burden. They're people who need our help. We can improve ourselves by doing goodness for them.
I believe that poverty is not always caused by stupidity and/or laziness.
Seconded. I serve people in poverty in my current job and there are so many different ways people wind up there. How you treat the least among you is the test of an individual and society.
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Seconded. I serve people in poverty in my current job and there are so many different ways people wind up there. How you treat the least among you is the test of an individual and society.
Thank you.
You have an amazing job. May Allah always help you in doing goodness.
Peace.
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Red It's not always like that.
I think there are still poor people who also give charity.
Even they're poor, they're still willing to share what they have to other. MashaAllah.
Please compare to the "scale of discussion" I'm talking about , and context of this thread "Ambition and the Quran" . .
Only rich people can benefit the "society" and "humanity" . . and bring balance through their influence
God commands justice
creating balance in the society <- think about the scale of success Allah is addressing to
benefiting humanity
kindness to His creation
and giving to relatives
(16.90)Therefore, I believe the True Believers should be very ambitious, rich and influential person
and
Indeed, within the heavens and earth are signs for the believers <- scientific knowledge etc
And in the creation of yourselves
and what He disperses of moving creatures
are signs for people who are certain
And the alternation of night and day
and what Allah sends down from the sky of provision
and gives life thereby to the earth after its lifelessness and directing of the winds
are signs for a people who reason
These are the verses of Allah which We recite to you in truth
Then in what statement after Allah and His verses will they believe?
453-6Those who are stupid, lazy, lack of reasoning skills or not well educated cannot understand the above signs
It is futile because they do not know how to benefit from the signs, and thus do not know how to be grateful to Allah ( َ
Go ask many of those who have wasted their sense perception, what do they understand about the above sign ?
Can they benefit from that signs and use it to solve their life problem , use to to comply with other commands in the Quran ?
Or they just live on the benefit from the Government (their parents), without any contribution to the society ?
How they want to bring balance in the society ?
Do you expect to bring "balance" through riots and wars , like today Muslim Ummah ?
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Only righteous people who can benefit the society and humanity, regardless whether they are poor, middle income, or rich.
Peace.
Righteous people is right, but not accurate in today's world. . . the poor and and middle income righteous people cannot benefit humanity, unless through oppression, riots, wars etc, or at least, their action will jeopardize the life of many people and bankrupted their country. . . therefore, it is your dream and illusion, please bring back the discussion to reality. . taken into account the complex social and financial system in today's world etc.
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Righteous people is right, but not accurate in today's world. . . the poor and and middle income righteous man cannot benefit humanity, unless through oppression, riots, wars etc, or at least, their action will jeopardize the life of many people. . .
I perceive the above post as your understanding,
and I try to respect your view in this regard, inshaAllah.
Peace.
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I perceive the above post as your understanding,
Please tell me, how do you change the monetary system ?
The fractional reserve banking , and solve the poverty problem in this world ?
Can righteousness alone achieve this , and without jeopardizing life of many people etc ?
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Please tell me, how do you change the monetary system ?
The factional reserve banking , and solve the poverty problem in this world ?
Can righteousness alone achieve this , and without jeopardizing life of many people etc ?
Please tell me how the unrighteous of rich people can benefit the society and humanity?
Peace.
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Please tell me how the unrighteous of rich people can benefit the society and humanity?
Who are saying about "unrighteous of rich people " ?
True Believers are those who are excel in major aspect of life and according to the injunction of Allah, only they are the True Believers. . .
and . . you have answered none of the issues I have raised in here, but instead are playing with words and remain dogmatic in your "dreams/nightmares way of living" (your deen). . . have you used your sense of perception ?
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Peace,
So one who is poor cannot be a "true" person with faith?
And I thought iman was not bound to earthly possessions. How about someone who has just a small share to give, had much wisdom to share and who died on the battlefield against people who oppose God after contributing much and did an unselfish strategic move which saved several people, but died doing that. Does this person not have any true iman?
Or the poor man that gives up his possessions completely and goes out to help people instead. Is he without iman?
Is not iman to have iman in The Master and do everything he can in the cause of God?
Does it all come down to wealth in the end. So superficial.
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Peace,
So one who is poor cannot be a "true" person with faith?
And I thought iman was not bound to earthly possessions. How about someone who has just a small share to give, had much wisdom to share and who died on the battlefield against people who oppose God after contributing much and did an unselfish strategic move which saved several people, but died doing that. Does this person not have any true iman?
Or the poor man that gives up his possessions completely and goes out to help people instead. Is he without iman?
Is not iman to have iman in The Master and do everything he can in the cause of God?
Does it all come down to wealth in the end. So superficial.
We are discussing about "Ambition and the Quran", the scale of success and True Believers in the Quran . . .
Ambition + Quran + True Believers (sense perception)
and . . according to the context of today's life
where there are law and order, and complex system of life . . . .
not from the context of life during the stone age. . . .
or the context of those who have abused their sense perception and the reality
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Who are saying about "unrighteous of rich people " ?
Only rich people can benefit the "society" and "humanity" . . and bring balance through their influence
Rich people They may be righteous or unrighteous.
Perhaps you should not put that word "only" to avoid misunderstanding. Just a friendly suggestion.
My personal understanding is every righteous people can benefit the society and humanity, regardless whether they are poor, middle income, or rich.
InshaAllah, each of them can do good, bring positive influences for society and humanity, whether little or much, according to their respective capabilities.
That's what I want to say here.
and . . you have answered none of the issues I have raised in here,
Yes, forgive me... I have limitation in knowledge.
I'm not that smart to answer such questions...
I suggest to ask such questions to the righteous and rich people who are smarter than me, more qualified than me, perhaps you can find some useful answers from them.
Or... if you're also rich, smart and righteous, perhaps you already know the answer for your questions...
and perhaps you can share it to me?
Thank you.
Peace.