Living The Quran
From Issue: 597 [Read full issue]
True Wisdom
Al-Baqara (The Cow) Chapter 2: Verses 268-269
"Satan scares you with fears of poverty and tempts you to do shameful things, while God promises you pardon and grace. God is enough of a provider, and He is full of knowledge. He grants wisdom to whomever He wants, and whoever receives wisdom gains great benefits thereby; yet, only the insightful ever realize this."
One of Satan's tactics is to keep people so occupied with the fear of losing their wealth they end up desperately clinging to their money and depriving the needy - and themselves - of the goodness of giving for the sake of God. A person under the spell of irrational fear is more vulnerable to transgress laws, even to the point of indulging in lewdness, for the purpose of gaining profit and wealth.
Although the term has a broad range of meanings, "the wisdom" basically signifies insight, discernment, and knowledge of creation, life, right and wrong, and of the Divine system prevailing in the universe, so as to enable persuasive, convincing answers for such questions as "Who am I? What is the purpose for my existence in this world? Who has sent me to this world and why? Where did I come from and where am I heading? What does death ask of me?" It may be regarded, from one perspective, as harmony with Divine Destiny or knowledge of it.
Deceived by Satan, worldly people believe that it is the height of wisdom to be constantly concerned with saving out of one's earnings and to be perpetually on the look-out for a higher income. But those granted wisdom aim at eternal happiness in the eternal world, which requires spending in God's cause and giving to the needy for a balanced, happy social life.
The cure for fear of poverty is to have a good opinion of God. People who harbour good thoughts about their Provider deflect insidious whisperings about Him and the subtle provocations that create irrational fear. His dominion is never diminished in the least when He gives to His creation all that they need.
Compiled From:
"The Holy Quran: Guidance for Life" - Yahiya Emerick, pp. 40-41
"Purification of the Heart" - Hamza Yusuf, pp. 53, 54
"The Quran: Annotated Interpretation in Modern English" - Ali Unal, pp. 114, 115