In pursuit of vainglory

‘Wow, what a beautiful house, MA sha Allah. Looking at it makes one feel like being in those exclusive Dubai suburbs,’ my friend Zulai observed while looking out of the car window, at an exquisite mansion by her side.

‘Yes, it is definitely breathtaking. I often think so myself whenever I pass by it. I’m surprised you never noticed it before Zulai .’ I said in response.

‘You mean it’s been here for long? I thought it was newly constructed. I mean everything about it looks new and shiny. But I’ve never been to your house through this way. I always drive into your area through the other route. That’s why I never saw this grand edifice before.’ She replied.

‘Yes, most people seem to prefer coming in through that route. Anyway, I sometimes take this route just so I can look at the mansion.’ I disclosed.

‘Really? This means you are also as smitten as I am by its beauty.’ Zulai declared smiling.

‘Not really my friend. I pass this way to look at the house and derive some lessons from it. I mean, imagine spending enormous resources to build such a magnificent edifice, only to die as soon as you moved in.’ I said.

‘You mean the owner of this house is dead?’ She asked in shock. ‘When did that happen?’

‘Like I said, a few weeks after he moved in with his wife and children.’ I answered, turning the car down the lane that leads to my house

‘They said he suffered a brief illness.’ I added.

‘Kai, but this is so sad. I mean only the wife and kids are living in such opulence and the poor man is far away in his grave.’ She stated, with sympathy.

‘Yes, and that’s the reason I always find myself praying that he built the house with halal earnings. Imagine how tragic it would be if he looted or cheated or committed foul play in some other way, just so as to build this architectural wonder. In what situation could he be now, since he is where he can only account for his deeds, but not change them.’ I observed.

‘Very true Bint. That’s really the unfortunate part, but let’s pray that he was able to do all this with what he lawfully earned. It would be tragic if it’s otherwise.’ Zulai said.

‘But even if it was lawfully earned why build such a magnificent palace for just you and your small family to live in? Do you know that half of the amount he spent building that house can build at least forty smaller houses to accommodate poor folks?’ I asked.

‘Haba Bint, surely not forty houses, maybe ten or a little more but definitely not forty.’ Zulai argued.

‘I’m telling you that it’s possible. Let’s say he spent 100 million naira building this mansion that we just passed. And I’m sure it cost him more. But let’s approximate it at that. Now if he’d used half of that to build a less magnificent mansion, he could have saved the other 50 million naira. With that money he could have gone to his village and built forty modest houses at the cost of one million naira each. We are talking about a simple two or three bedroom accommodations that can provide basic but standard homes to people living in huts and other mud houses. Then he could have used the remaining ten million to build a mosque with five million and share the remaining five million among the beneficiaries of those houses, to help them settle in. Now if he had done this today that he’s dead be sure the reward for providing homes to those who need them is already with him. The mosque will be sadaqatil jaariya for him because as long as it stands and people pray in it, the reward will continue to accumulate for him till the Day of Judgement. Of course, there is the automatic home he built for himself in Aljannah (paradise) by building the mosque in the first place. Then the gratitude and prayers of those he housed will also be with him till the hereafter. And that would have been a win-win situation for him any day. Now, as it is he had built this palatial mansion and died soon afterwards. The wife and kids living there will mourn him, naturally, and prayer for him when they remember to, and then share his inheritance as stipulated by Islamic laws, then they’ll move on with their lives. There is no guarantee that there will be any continuing charity for him from even his own family just because he left them that grand palace and other kinds of fortune.

This is why I pity all those who build such architectural wonders and believe they have built their own paradise. In truth, they just invested in what might likely not benefit them at all, in their eternal life.’ I concluded.

‘You are very right Bint. I just wish people with such vainglorious tendencies would learn from the story of this man and invest more in the hereafter than in their pursuit of vanity.’ Zulai declared.

‘I hope so too.’ I answered, while parking the car at our parking lot.