Money is a blessing that should be preserved and not embezzled, Muslims will be reminded today.
“Islam has made preserving money a great cause, and a huge necessity, because there are great benefits by doing so,” says today’s sermon.
Allah has prohibited embezzling private or public money. Prophet Mohammed gave examples of the dire punishments for one who does so, even for the smallest amounts.
“It is not permissible for a man to take the cane of his brother without his consent,” he once said.
Therefore Islam has prohibited all methods that lead to undervaluing other people’s possessions.
“So it prohibited cheating in transactions,” continues the sermon.
As prophet Mohammed once said: “Whoever cheats us is not one of us.”
Islam has also prohibited cheating the scale, as verses from the Quran say: “Woe unto the defrauders: (1) Those who when they take the measure from mankind demand it full, (2) But if they measure unto them or weight for them, they cause them loss. (3) Do such (men) not consider that they will be raised again (4) Unto an awful Day, (5) The day when (all) mankind stand before the Lord of the Worlds?”
Bribery was also prohibited and those who pay or accept bribes were cursed.
“Illegitimate methods of income tat cause damage to people were also forbidden, such as stealing, gambling.”
Public money is also included in the equation, and should not be embezzled, as it is the property of all people and, if taken, damages the entire society.
Examples of such are: mosques, schools, parks, roads, recreations and all the belongings of a country.
hdajani@thenational.ae
