Thursday, August 22, 2019

What It Means - Day 157

"And We sent no warner unto a town, but that those living luxury therein said, 'We disbelieve in that wherewith you have been sent.' And they say, 'We are greater in wealth and children, and we shall not be punished.' Say, 'Truly my Lord outspreads and straitens provision for whomsoever he will, but most of mankind know not.' It is not your wealth or your children that bring you nigh in nearness unto Us, save those who believe and work righteousness - theirs is a manifold reward for what they did, and they will be secure in lofty chambers.'"
Quran 34:34-37

Here's a brief passage from the 34th surah, Saba, always rendered as "Sheba." It's another of the myriad passages in the Quran that attack the glorification of wealth. Instead, the emphasis is placed on those "who believe and work righteousness," one of the over fifty times when the two concepts are linked.  It's difficult to read these words and think of the crass "rich man" who inhabits the White House at the moment, replete with those cringe-worthy pictures of his family in that golden apartment. Decades ago, probably lining up with the election of Reagan when America began its great disassociation with reality, we began to worship wealth (we can all remember the popularity of Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous); it would be a pity if Trump were truly the president that we as a country deserved.


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