Trust [Archives:2002/34/Last Page]

Written by Abdulrahman Mutahhar
Translated by Janet Watson
M God Almighty said in His Holy Book, In the name of God the merciful, the compassionate, we offered a deposit in trust with the heavens, the earth and the mountains, but they refused to take it, so it was taken up by man, for he is flawed and sinning. God has spoken truly.
Ma God has spoken truly indeed. But as far as Im concerned, Ive got nothing Im looking after for other people, and no one is looking after anything for me. Just the day before yesterday my sister came over to take back the gold she left with me in trust, and took it from me right there in front of her daughters!
M Cant you wait until I finish what Im saying? Cant you listen without adding your own bit of wisdom?
Ma Dont you worry. Id leave all the wisdom and knowledge up to you, even if you were totally ignorant.
M Im trying to talk to you about things left in trust to mankind, Im not telling you how your grandmother used to suck eggs!
Ma And Ive just told you, my sisters gold that she left with me in trust has just left, with her, the day before yesterday. Now Im not entrusted with anything, and no one is entrusted with anything of mine!
M Musida.
Ma Now what!
M There isnt a single one of Gods creatures who is not entrusted with something which is weightier than the mountains of the earth. Every single one of us will face God Almighty on the Day of Resurrection and will be asked about the deposit with which he was entrusted, and which was rejected by the mountains. And you know about Gods recompense either we go to Heaven or to Hell!
Ma Oh pray to God! Make us people of Heaven and save us from the fires of Hell, I pray!
M Amen! This item of trust, Musida, is not just the gold your sister left with you to take care of. The whole of our life is in trust to us, including what we say and do, the way we pray and worship God, our dealings with other people, even the way we look, and whether we listen to bad words. All these are items which have been entrusted to us, and for which we will be accountable.
Ma These are mighty words from you today.
M Yes. God Almighty said, Not one thing is said without the presence of the two angels Ragib and Atig. God has spoken truly.
Ma God has spoken truly.
M If you say nice things and speak the truth and mean well, a good deed will be recorded by your name and you will have taken good care of the trust which the mountains refused. But if you speak evil words or lie or spread malicious gossip, and if you talk about things that dont concern you, a bad deed will be recorded against your name, and you will have failed in your duty to take care of your trust.
Ma Why didnt you tell me this before, then Id have been able to hold my tongue and put a padlock on my mouth!
M You dont need a padlock to guard your tongue; just make sure you only say good things with the intention of spreading good.
Ma How can I do that, Musid, when we women have nothing to do apart from taking and giving words. And when we say anything its all lies and hypocrisy and boasting and snobbery!
M For goodness sake! The Yemeni saying goes, If you feel a draught from the door, get up and shut it!1 Start with yourself, guard your own tongue, and make sure you dont get involved in bad talk, whether it comes from your neighbour, or your sister, or even from your own mother. Were told that nothing sends a person to Hell quicker than a foul tongue.
Ma Now that youve told me all about shutting out the draught you can count yourself beyond reproach, and anything that happens from now on will be my fault. Once a child reaches forty days, hes not going to get a squint,2 Musid.
M Okay, but be sure to remember that holding off talking about people behind their backs, or letting out their secrets, or hurting their feelings, or belittling them is one type of trust which has been placed with mankind, and was rejected by the mountains. As the Prophet, peace be upon him, said, Whoever believes in the Last Day should say good things, or say nothing at all.
1 Al-Akwa, p. 257.
2 Al-Akwa, p. 39.
 

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