OWNERS OF THE GARDEN:
The following story is mentioned in Surah Qalam (The Pen), Chapter 68 of the Holy Quran.
Once there was a wealthy and pious man. He had a big garden full of green trees laden with fruits. After the fruits were picked, this rightful man used to distribute some fruits among the poor who would gather at the garden every season to take their share.
Allah liked this act of the man. By the grace of Allah the garden used to give rich harvest every season. Truly, one who spends for the sake of Allah, gets the reward in the hereafter as well as in this life.
This man had many sons who were not so pious as him. When their father died, they discussed a plan and said to each other that their father was not a wise man. He did not know how it was difficult to earn livelihood. They did not like the habit of distributing some of the fruits among the poor. They felt as if all their efforts would go to vain if the poor had some share.
One of the sons had a concern. What will they tell the poor people when they gather to take their fruits next time? They thought over its implications, as they were worried about losing their prestige. However, they were not afraid of Allah's wrath. One of them suggested removing all the fruits in the night and thus clearing the garden before dawn so that nobody could come and ask for his share. Everyone agreed to this suggestion. Since they were not even afraid of Allah, they forgot to say 'Insha-Allah' (if Allah Wills),
"...We had tested the Owners of the Garden, when they had sworn an oath that they would pluck its fruits on the next morning, without saying Insha-Allah ('if Allah Wills')" (Verses 17-18).
If a Muslim does not say Insha-Allah before doing something Allah may not fulfill his wish. But those who have no faith in Allah fail to remember this and get stuck up in their act.
Allah is all Powerful. He knows no bounds in His Governance. All the brothers went to sleep with a view to getting up early in the morning and gather the ripe fruits. In the meantime, with the Will of Allah
"...there passed by on the (garden) a visitation (fire) from your Lord at night and burnt it while they were asleep." (Verse 19)
"Thus, on the next morning, it was like a harvested field” (Verse 20),
(all of them got up and hurried up and)
"...they called out one to another as soon as the morning broke, saying: ‘Set out early, if you are going to pluck (the fruits).’ So they set out while they were whispering to each other, saying: ‘Let no poor man enter into it upon you today.’And in early hours they rushed quickly, while they were (assuming themselves) powerful (to pluck the fruits and prevent the poor.)" (Verses 21-25)
(So when they reached the garden)“…when they saw it (the place of the ruined garden), they said: ‘We have missed the way.’” (Verses 26)
(Then, once they realized that the garden is the same, but it has been destroyed, they said) “No, but we are deprived (of the fruits).” (Verses 27)
“The best among them said: "Did I not say to you 'Why not glorify (Allah)'?" (Verses 28). He had been advising them earlier against this act, for he had said it is only Allah who would enhance their fruits if they continued to give away some of them in charity.
“They said: ‘we pronounce the purity of our Lord. No doubt, we were wrongdoers. Then, (at the beginning,) they started blaming one another; (and at last,) they said: ‘Woe to us! In fact, we (all) were outrageous. We hope that our Lord will give us in exchange a better (garden) than this. Truly, we turn to our Lord (wishing for good that He may forgive our sins, and reward us in the Hereafter)."
(Verses 29 -32)
“In this way the punishment comes. And, of course, the punishment of the Hereafter is even greater, if they but realize! Surely, for the God-fearing there are gardens of bliss.” (Verses 33 -34)
It is very beloved to Allah that we share with the less fortunate whatever we have. While some of us only feel hungry during the month of Ramadan, there are many who are hungry everyday. Let us be more generous with our wealth and help all those who are in need. We will not lose anything by giving away some of our wealth, we will only gain.
Once there was a wealthy and pious man. He had a big garden full of green trees laden with fruits. After the fruits were picked, this rightful man used to distribute some fruits among the poor who would gather at the garden every season to take their share.
Allah liked this act of the man. By the grace of Allah the garden used to give rich harvest every season. Truly, one who spends for the sake of Allah, gets the reward in the hereafter as well as in this life.
This man had many sons who were not so pious as him. When their father died, they discussed a plan and said to each other that their father was not a wise man. He did not know how it was difficult to earn livelihood. They did not like the habit of distributing some of the fruits among the poor. They felt as if all their efforts would go to vain if the poor had some share.
One of the sons had a concern. What will they tell the poor people when they gather to take their fruits next time? They thought over its implications, as they were worried about losing their prestige. However, they were not afraid of Allah's wrath. One of them suggested removing all the fruits in the night and thus clearing the garden before dawn so that nobody could come and ask for his share. Everyone agreed to this suggestion. Since they were not even afraid of Allah, they forgot to say 'Insha-Allah' (if Allah Wills),
"...We had tested the Owners of the Garden, when they had sworn an oath that they would pluck its fruits on the next morning, without saying Insha-Allah ('if Allah Wills')" (Verses 17-18).
If a Muslim does not say Insha-Allah before doing something Allah may not fulfill his wish. But those who have no faith in Allah fail to remember this and get stuck up in their act.
Allah is all Powerful. He knows no bounds in His Governance. All the brothers went to sleep with a view to getting up early in the morning and gather the ripe fruits. In the meantime, with the Will of Allah
"...there passed by on the (garden) a visitation (fire) from your Lord at night and burnt it while they were asleep." (Verse 19)
"Thus, on the next morning, it was like a harvested field” (Verse 20),
(all of them got up and hurried up and)
"...they called out one to another as soon as the morning broke, saying: ‘Set out early, if you are going to pluck (the fruits).’ So they set out while they were whispering to each other, saying: ‘Let no poor man enter into it upon you today.’And in early hours they rushed quickly, while they were (assuming themselves) powerful (to pluck the fruits and prevent the poor.)" (Verses 21-25)
(So when they reached the garden)“…when they saw it (the place of the ruined garden), they said: ‘We have missed the way.’” (Verses 26)
(Then, once they realized that the garden is the same, but it has been destroyed, they said) “No, but we are deprived (of the fruits).” (Verses 27)
“The best among them said: "Did I not say to you 'Why not glorify (Allah)'?" (Verses 28). He had been advising them earlier against this act, for he had said it is only Allah who would enhance their fruits if they continued to give away some of them in charity.
“They said: ‘we pronounce the purity of our Lord. No doubt, we were wrongdoers. Then, (at the beginning,) they started blaming one another; (and at last,) they said: ‘Woe to us! In fact, we (all) were outrageous. We hope that our Lord will give us in exchange a better (garden) than this. Truly, we turn to our Lord (wishing for good that He may forgive our sins, and reward us in the Hereafter)."
(Verses 29 -32)
“In this way the punishment comes. And, of course, the punishment of the Hereafter is even greater, if they but realize! Surely, for the God-fearing there are gardens of bliss.” (Verses 33 -34)
It is very beloved to Allah that we share with the less fortunate whatever we have. While some of us only feel hungry during the month of Ramadan, there are many who are hungry everyday. Let us be more generous with our wealth and help all those who are in need. We will not lose anything by giving away some of our wealth, we will only gain.
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