By Ishola Balogun

The Nigerian’s attitude towards wealth is quite negative. In fact, wealth, security and preservation of  life are at the dictates of Allah.  Even the Bible also attests to this. Those that use their wealth to help the poor will be blessed further while those that abuse and oppress people with their wealth will have their natural gifts withdrawn from them. Every Muslim should know this. That is why Allah says every mankind whether rich or poor, young or old, priviledged or underpriviledged are the same before Allah except those who distinguish themselves with piety.

The greatest quality a Muslim can have in life is moderation in all matters. He should not be extravagant, nor flashy, but rather, moderate, fair and balanced both in deeds and acquisition of worldly materials. Allah the Exalted says, “and be not excessive. Indeed, He does not like those who commit excess.” (Al Anaam: 141). One clear example of extravagance is the misuse of wealth that Allah has blessed us with. Almighty Allah says, “and cause not corruption upon the earth after its reformation. That is better for you, if you were believers.” (Al Araf: 85).

Like the raging issue of the N255million armoured car, the motive behind the acquisition was not only extravagant but also nutty.  What is the need of an armoured car when it can rarely save life? We have heard of somebody who was assasinated right in front of his bullet-proof car.  The assasin delibrately hit the bullet-proof car from the butt and the occupant highlighted from his car to see the extent of the damage, but unfortunately, the bullet-proof car could not save him.

Right there, the assasins had their way, shot at him and bolted away.  Nothing can protect except Allah. The acquisition of armoured cars especially by those in position of authority is not only a sheer waste of resources, abuse of power clearly prohibited in the Holy Quran, but also ignorance as a result of giving  attention to all means of worldly protections.

It is only people close to dementia would think and believe life can be prolonged by a cornucopia of security apparatus and a litany of bullet-proof cars at their beck and call, bought with our common partimony.  They throw caution to the wind and oblivous of the transcient nature of power, also forgetting that life itself is simply a passing scene. They jettison the ordinances of God and bestride like collosus.  The Qurans says: Give the people their [due] right, and the needy…, but do not squander wastefully. Indeed the wasteful are brothers of Satans, and Satan is ungrateful to his Lord. Q17 verse 26-27.

As muslims, we need to embrace the virtues of righteousness, moderation, balance and fairness.  Islam advises that even in the excess of water like flowing river, there is no need for excessive use during ablution. Islam teaches us to practice moderation in order to create a sense of balance and equilibrium in the life of every man. With that, a person will have joy without excess, grace without pride and humility without humiliation.

The issue of moderation as a moral virtue reflects the approach that Islam takes towards life.  This approach tries to inculcate a sense of balance in the heart and mind of the believer.  Islam condemns and discourages excessive materialism. This excessive materialism is an animal-like behaviour.  Moderation as defined in Islamic law applies to those things that are permissible, wholesome and pure.

Excess can manifest itself in different ways such as excessive eating, clothing and general lifestyle. The Prophet said that the worst container to fill is one’s stomach (relating to the various health problems overeating causes). The Quran also asks us to eat and drink but not to be wasteful or excessive because God doesn’t like those who are wasteful.

In order to go through life with its trials and tribulations, people need to have the solid ability to resist and stand in the face of these troubles. I wonder how these people will live after leaving their juicy positions or when condition changes.  Ritheousness cannot be achieve with flamboyancy and luxury merely because people will be so obsessed with personal pleasure and luxury.

Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) who was known to have left behind only his praying mat warned against excessive luxury. He said: “I am not afraid for you from poverty, what I am really afraid of is that the world will open for you and you will have lots of wealth and provisions and that you start competing in it and that it would destroy you as it did to people before you!”

Let us remember that whatever we possess in this life is vanity except what we do for others.  Those who have failed to work for others but enjoy being very extravagant will surely meet their Lord. They will soon come to realise that hundreds of armoured cars or very intimidating security apparatus or billions of naira in savings for the generation unborn cannot help them.

I suppose it will be too late for them, except they repent now. O Allah, make Iman (faith) beloved and a beauty to behold in our hearts, and make us hate passionately, immorality and disobedience to Allah. O’ Allah, we seek from You guidance, virtue, moderation, purification of the soul and contentment. O’ Allah, let us see the truth as Truth and grant that we follow it. And let us see falsehood as Falsehood and grant that we avoid it. Amin.