Page 72 - The Truth of the Life of This World

house, or else, because the fact that his house is decorated in last year's
style, which is no longer in fashion, prompts him to redecorate it. Similarly,
since fashions and tastes change dramatically, he dreams of a more sophis-
ticated wardrobe because he is not satisfied with what he already has. The
psychology of disbelievers is clearly explained in the following verse:

Leave Me alone, (to deal) with the (creature) whom I created (bare and)
alone! To whom I granted resources in abundance, sons dwelling in his pres-
ence to whom I made (life) smooth and comfortable! Yet is he greedy that I
should add (yet more). (Surat al-Muddaththir: 11-15)
A person of sound mind and clear understanding should acknowledge
that those who possess mansions with more rooms than inhabitants, luxu-
ry cars or fabulous wardrobes are only able to use a limited part of those
possessions. If you had the biggest mansion in the world, would it be pos-
sible to enjoy the comfort of each room at the same time? Alternatively, if
you had a wardrobe of highly fashionable clothes, how many of your suits
could you wear in a day? The owner of a mansion with dozens of rooms,
as an entity limited in terms of time and space can only stay in a single
room at any one time. If you are offered all the delicious dishes of a
famous cuisine, your stomach would take no more than a few of them; if
you attempt to bolt down more, the result will be torture rather than plea-
sure.
The list could be further extended, yet the most striking fact is that man

is destined to a quite limited period of life in which he can enjoy the lux-
ury his wealth brings. Man rapidly proceeds towards his end, yet he hard-
ly acknowledges this during his life and assumes that his wealth will bring
him eternal happiness, as the verse suggests:
Thinking that his wealth would make him last forever! (Surat al-Humazah: 3)
Man is so blindly fascinated with the power of his wealth that when he
faces the awful end on the day of judgement, he will still struggle to escape
from punishment by giving away his wealth:
Though they will be put in sight of each other, - the wrongdoer's desire will
be: Would that he could redeem himself from the penalty of that day by (sac-
rificing) his children, wife and his brother, kindred who sheltered him, all that

70 The Lure of Worldly Goods