Saturday, August 4, 2007

Why knowledge is better than wealth?

Once ten wise men came to Hadhrat Ali(RA) and posed this question: 'Why is knowledge better than wealth?' Each of these men demanded a seperate answer in turn. Hadhrat Ali(RA) gave the following anwers:-

1. Knowledge is better than wealth because you guard wealth, whereas knowledge guards you.

2. Knowledge is better than wealth because the wealthy have enemies and the learned have many friends.

3. Knowledge is better than wealth because the former is a legacy of the Prophets, and the latter is a heritage of the Pharaohs.

4. Knowledge is better because it increases with distribution whereas wealth decreases.

5. Knowledge is better because a wealthy person generally becomes a miser.

6. Knowledge is better because unlike wealth, it cannot be stolen.

7. Knowledge is better because the wealthy person has to give an account of his wealth on the Day of Judgement.

8. Knowedge is better because it does not deteriorate on account of time, while wealth does.

9. Knowledge is better because the mind is illuminated by it, wheres welath tarnishes it.

10. Knowledge is better than wealth because the Pharaohs and the non-believers claimed divinity (God) on account of wealth.

'Umar ibn al-Khattab said: "Judge yourselves before you are judged, evaluate yourselves before you are evaluated and be ready for the greatest investigation (the Day of Judgement)

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