The Secret Wealth of a Wali Who Owns Nothing.

[Abu Hafsat]

 Imagine a King sleeping in a palace surronded by gold, yet frightened of loosing everything he owns. Then, imagine a humble servant with a small room; a simple cloth and almost nothing in his hands; he sleeps in peace; trusting Allah in every storm. Which of these two people is truly rich?

Note that the wealth of a Wali is not measured by the money he keeps; the land under his name; or the praise he receives. His treasure is a heart that remembers Allah when life is easy, and still turns to Him when life becomes painful. He knows that everything in this world can change -- money can disappear; friends can leave and strength can fade; but the door of returning to Allah remains open.

Many people spend their lives trying to own more because they fear having less; they collect things; chase praise and compare their lives with strangers. Even when they receive what they wanted, they discover another desire waiting behind it; their hands grow full but their hearts remain restless. The Wali seeks a different kind of freedom - he can enjoy a blessing without making it his master; he can lose a blessing without losing his faith.

Do not misunderstand this.... being poor does not automatically make someone close to Allah; and having wealth does not make someone distant from Him. The real question is not how much you possess, but what possesses your heart. A person can carry gold in his hands and remain humble, while another can own very little and still be consumed by envy. Another point worth noting is that a Wali is blessed with remembering Allah when no one is watching; and helps others without waiting for praise. This blessing of a treasure is closeness to Allah; it is not a power that erases pain or a title to claim; it grows through sincere worship; humble repentance; patience and the desire to please Allah. A person may be unknown to the crowds and still carry a heart that is awake; his prayers shape how he speaks; forgives and treats those who cannot reward him.

Think of a moment when you did something good, and nobody thanked you, perhaps you fed someone in need, held back an angry word or asked Allah for forgiveness after a mistake. Your ego wanted recognition, but a quieter part of you knew that being seen by people was never the purpose; that is where the search for inner wealth begins; when your actions stop depending on applause and your heart begins to value sincerity.

Another remarkable treasure [wealth] enjoyed by the Wali is Trusting Allah.... This does not mean sitting still while life falls apart; it means taking the steps you can take while knowing the final outcome is not yours to control. Sometimes the lesson is not to stop loving people or stop caring about the world; it is to love without worshipping what you love; to work without making success your identity and to receive blessings without forgetting the One who gives them.. Allahu, Tabaraka Wa Ta'ala. The heart grows lighter when it learns that a lost gift is not the loss of its giver, Jallah-Jalalahu.