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Life Passes Like a Moment: Guidance, Trial, and Patience
Think back to the very first memory you have of your life—perhaps when you were five years old. Now, return to the present. How many years have passed? Some of you will say 20, some 50…
When Osman (r.a) is mentioned, the first thing that comes to mind is the story of the Ruma well. Once upon a time, life was quite difficult for Muslims in Medina, who were suffering from a shortage of water. Finding drinking water was a major issue under the scorching heat of the desert. The only reliable source of water in Medina was a well called the Ruma well. However, this well was operated by a Jew who was selling the water at a very high price. For Muslims, buying this water had become almost impossible.
One day, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) told his companions that Muslims needed to solve this water problem. Osman (r.a) immediately responded to this call and set out to buy the Ruma well.
Osman (r.a) met with the Jewish owner of the well and expressed his desire to buy the well completely. However, the owner of the well did not want to sell the well entirely. Therefore, Osman (r.a) proposed to buy half of the well. According to the agreement, Osman (r.a) would use the well one day, and the Jewish owner would use it the next day.
Osman (r.a) started distributing water for free to the Muslims on the days when he owned the well. Muslims were getting free water from the well on the days when Osman (r.a) distributed water and did not buy water from the Jew on other days. This situation ended the water sales of the Jewish owner.
Eventually, the Jewish owner had to sell the other half of the well at a very cheap price, and Osman (r.a) became the owner of the entire well. The Ruma well was now completely at the service of Muslims. Everyone had free access to water, and the water shortage had ended.
Doesn't this real story from the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him) give us an example of how to defeat those who try to use their economic power against us?
Now, what about us? We are still consuming the products of those who shoot Muslims and kill their children.
- They are stealing our underground gold mines!
- They are using our raw materials to produce goods!
- They are using our oil to bomb us!
- They are exploiting our workforce and belittling us!
- They are invading our lands, ignoring our culture!
- They are attacking our history, heritage, and values!
- They are insulting our faith, demeaning our religion!
- They are depleting our resources, polluting our environment!
- They are undermining our education system, stealing our children's future!
- They are restricting our freedom, silencing our voices!
- They are eliminating small businesses and making them work as employees in big markets!
- They are setting up online shopping sites and earning more than the sellers!
- Most dangerously, they are buying our national resources and big companies, putting pressure on our countries.
- Soon, all trade will be in their hands, and perhaps we will be workers toiling like slaves. Hasn't slavery already begun?
We work for days on end, barely making ends meet, unable to even plan a vacation or spend time with our children. They are already trying to educate our children, and they do so through phones and media!
These principles are not only relevant to Muslims but also to every conscientious person because we love Jesus (peace be upon him), Moses (peace be upon him), and all the prophets. We love all people because they are created by Allah (c.c) .
"What's my fault?" you will ask... What about our leaders?
First, let's correct ourselves; they will be forced to correct themselves anyway!
Then, where is our boycott of the oppressors' goods? If we do not boycott for Muslims, for the women and children being killed, for all of humanity, won't we be held accountable? What answer will we give?
Let's not take the Day of Judgment so lightly. We will be held accountable even for a cola drink that we consider insignificant. Believing brothers and sisters, pay attention! In the Qur'an, Allah (SWT) says:
"O men! Certainly the promise of Allah is true. Let not then this present life deceive you, nor let the Chief Deceiver deceive you about Allah." (Quran 35-5)
