Constructing big and palatial bungalows has become a sign of status, while the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) asked us not to spend more money on constructing and decorating houses. This is an era of buildings in which huge complexes and skyscrapers are coming up all over the world. Even individuals are constructing large houses and palatial bungalows when there are not more than five or six persons to live therein.
We find not only rich Muslims but the Muslim religious and political leaders and the patrons of Muslim educational societies compete with each other in constructing big houses and huge bungalows. The same people, while delivering sermons in mosques and speaking to large gatherings and audiences, speak about the simplicity of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him), his Caliphs and Companions (may Allah be pleased with them all). They narrate that the Blessed Prophet did not even have mattress and marks of mat were formed on his back whenever he slept on it. They talk of the second Caliph Umar that when tired, due to caliphate work, he used to lie down on sand with his arm as pillow. This was when not only Saudi Arabia but Iran, Iraq and Middle Eastern countries were part of his empire. They also narrate instances of the simplicity of Caliph Ali and Umar bin Abdul Aziz, too.
On the other hand, the same people sleep and rest on soft mattress and in air conditioned rooms. Their bungalows are of eight to ten rooms and their servants get tired while cleaning the floors and walls.
When we hear their sermons and speeches we remember an Urdu couplet: shobada-gar bhi pahente hain khateebaon ka libas / bolta jehl hai, badnam khirad hoti hai (magicians too put on the grab of orators / ignorance speaks, intellect gets defamed).
We humbly submit to these leaders, scholars and educationists to spend their surplus money on propagation of Islam, on the establishment of Islamic Information Centres, to remove the grave misunderstandings of non-Muslims about Islam, to counter the nefarious anti-Islamic propaganda of the Orientalists, Jewhish media, hypocrites (Munafiqs) and of the communal elements of the country, on the marriages of poor and destitute girls, on rehabilitation of riots-affected people, on Madrasas and on educational institutions where Deeni Taleem is also imparted. In the Qur’ān Allah also enjoins the believers to spend whatever is left after their needs in the way of Allah.
It is quite possible that a few of the above persons may be pious persons and are performing these noble duties, still spending on big bungalows and huge houses and a good amount on their decoration comes under extravagance which is a major sin. On one side, we are spending huge amount of our hard-earned money and on the other side we are committing a major sin. Can sane people indulge in such insane actions? Haven’t we seen, in the recent past, the fate of the big kothis of yester year Nawabs and Jagirdars? We like to present a verse of the Holy Qur’ān to these people to ponder over it:
“The foundation of those who so build (this building) is never free from suspicion and shakiness in their hearts, until their hearts are cut to pieces and Allah is all-knowing, Wise.” [Part 11 Chapter 9 verse 110 (11-9-110)]
We also like to quote Verse 109 of the chapter which reads:
“Which then is best? – he that layeth his foundation on piety to Allah and his good pleasure? Or he that layeth his foundation on an undermined sand cliff ready to crumble to pieces? With him into the fire of hell, and Allah guideth not people that do wrong.”
Jesus Christ (May Allah be pleased with him) also said, “Don’t accumulate wealth on earth. It doesn’t remain; accumulate it on skies” (i.e. send your good deeds to Allah as wealth).
Alas how I wish we sent good deeds as wealth in Akhirah instead of building big houses and palatial bungalows.