Money (not) Matters

We want it for its functionality

Two weeks ago I called my youngest brother and we had a nice chat with laughter in between as always. As a loving brother, he as always concerned about my welfare and my being single. He advised me to care myself more and save some of my salary for my future and if possible buying a house. It's nice to hear that he cared for me just like my other brother and sisters. Since some of the given advices I'm not sure if I can fulfill them, I answered him lightly in my sincere thank for his brotherly concern. It's just that his perspective is a bit different from mine.

Of all his concern about my welfare, I don't see anything wrong with me. Yes, I may not possess much of tangible items that I can really called mine and I am not as rich as others (I don't know to whom they want to compare me to). But I don't mind at all. Have I given up trying to be rich? The answer will be yes and no. Yes, I have given up trying to be rich materially but No, I have never given up trying to be rich in heart. This has been my driving force in the way I live this life.

Having a home

A home is where we should feel peace

People and my family asked me what I had done with my salary so far because they knew I had a good income (compare to the lesser ones) but seemed to have almost to nothing of tangible things such as house, car, motorbike or whatever they think I should have. As always I answered them lightly that I converted them to strength, knowledge and wisdom. Because it is. They only knew that I've been traveling quite a bit around Indonesia and overseas. They thought that's why I spent my salary for pleasure or vacation. Well, not quite right. Most of the time, it was to seek knowledge and wisdom. And some people don't understand that. And because all those attributes are intangible, they don't see me possessing much of worldly objects even though I have good salary (compare to the lesser one) and hardly indulge myself on worldly pleasure.

I remember some of my friends asked one of my best friends why I didn't buy a house whilst I worked in Batam island. And she told them that I would rather buy a piece of land with a size of 1x2mt for my future home, which is my graveyard. When she told me that, I was laughing, imagining how shocked they would hear that kind of answer from somebody that I called best friend, though I didn't blame her for that answer.

The future home for this physical body

This is my personal perspective as a single career woman who has been so much involved in the "male" world. I don't want to take away the pride and dignity from the man that is destined to be my husband by buying my own house. The house that he will provide me will be a symbol of his protection to me. I may not need his protection physically or emotionally since I feel secured having Allah as The Best Protector of All. But he will need his assurance that his existence is important to me and that I am grateful for his presence and anything that he will provide for me. So if I really have to buy a house, that piece of land is indeed what I will buy with my own money as I have also prepared my own shroud when the day come. However since we already have family graveyard, I don't think it is necessary now.

Why do I talk in such a way? Have I been desperate of living this life? NO. No no no no! In fact I really enjoy this life with all its ingredients. I am having a banquet with The Creator as the Host. It is merely a reminder for me that I only live temporarily in this world. I am just a guest here. And because I am very much aware of that. I try to prepare myself in the best way I can possibly do, that is I may have come to this world empty handed but I don't want to leave with empty handed either. I converted most of my assets that is given to me by The Creator to fill the bowl of my heart and prepare my future home to be as pleasing as it can be to His. If I should ever have to build my home, my concern will be:

If I have to build its foundation,

It has to be made of taqwa (piety) and yaqiin (conviction) to Allah

So that my home will not be shaked by any trial and tribulation of the worlds

If I have to set its truss,

I will use five times praying for its material

So that it will stay erect to the Day of Judgement

If I have to install its roof,  

I will select the material that is made of patience and gratitude

So that Allah’s blessing will always be upon those who use it as a shelter

If I have to embellish it with doors and windows,

I will choose to carve it with fasting, almsgiving and charity

So that the circulation of living energy can always be very refreshing, clean and pure

If I have to create a garden as a tranquilizer,,

I will choose to build a garden of good virtues and characters

So that their flowers of life can soothe my heart and appease my mind

If I have to illuminate it with lights,

I will choose the Light of the Divine that emanates from the depth of my being

So that it will always be bright even in the darkness of the grave

If I have to choose the location to where I shall build my home,

I will choose the perfect and strategic resort ever

It is in the proximity of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala
In the neighborhood amongst His messengers, the holders of Truth, the true believers and the pious ones.

Having a saving

Lock it and you will have a dead assets

I think any normal people in this world know the meaning of saving. It is to reserve something and then later use it when needed. To working people, they will save what they have earned through working for some emergency use in future. So they save their crops, money or convert them into land, housing, gold, jewelry, shares and so on that we called as assets. I think that is a very smart way of living. I mean they want to be ready if the unknown come. Understanding that I try to have some saving as well for the same reason. Not much but at least it will be there when I need it.

However, I am also aware that there is a certain period of time in which saving become a burden to the owner. Because to save means to preserve. And to preserve means you have a dead asset that does not have much values except it gives us the label of 'being rich' and to some give the feeling of secure. And if we look at this world, any dead objects (not moving) will either be withered away, dried up or become stink. It is the same with dead assets. We may be able to gain some advantage from them, the least people will call us rich. However as this dead assets do not move, then they become our burden. This burden can be in the form of tax obligation, maintenance cost and the worst, we will be enslaved by them. And even after we leave this world, those dead assets can become our enemy as mentioned in Qur'an QS At Tawba (9) 35 "On the Day when heat will be produced out of that (wealth) in the fire of Hell, and with it will be branded their foreheads, their flanks, and their backs.- "This is the (treasure) which ye buried for yourselves: taste ye, then, the (treasures) ye buried!"

Saving that will give manifold increase

To save and have saving is good but we must also know the extent of it so the fear to the unknown will not enslave us to become a greedy person. And having that consciousness, I choose to act moderately with a tendency to follow the command of Allah in the Quran QS Al Baqarah (2): 261 as He has promised - and He is the Best Keeper to His own promises - that " The parable of those who spend their substance in the way of Allah is that of a grain of corn: it groweth seven ears, and each ear Hath a hundred grains. Allah giveth manifold increase to whom He pleaseth: And Allah careth for all and He knoweth all things." That is the kind of saving that I also have if they asked me how much I have saved to prepare myself of the unknown, not much but hopefully sufficient. For Allah is The Best Provider of All.


Having a job

Conversion money to knowledge

I also remember some years ago when I was about to resigned from one of Tyco company in Batam. I had good salary and position. But I decided to resign after having a vision about my mother leaving this world. At that time my older brother advised me to not being a fool by leaving the well-paid job. Even though my boss told me that I could take unpaid leave for 3 months and came back after that (which was a big favor of him to me since I never heard this kind of arrangement before), somehow something inside told me to do otherwise. Thus I followed my heart. And that was the best decision I never regret or even trade for anything else.

That decision helped me to understand the feeling of dependent to Allah alone as the Best Provider of All. Having monthly salary when working in a company, in a way gave me the feeling of secure for my daily or monthly expense. I don't blame people for having that kind of feeling as I had it too at that time. But after I left my company and started my own work as a private tutor, I knew the other feeling as well. Because at that time I could see how Most Generous Allah is that even though I earned less but all my needs were fulfilled. I could both work and study and do social work without much problem and still had opportunity to enjoy my time with my mother, something that I couldn't do if I still worked in Batam. I had my beautiful experience with my mother that money can't buy and I had opportunity to gain more knowledge and wisdom through my further study in university and learning thariqah intensively.

Looking back to how I started my work, I feel very grateful that Allah has provided my living necessity all this time. I started working when I was young with salary as many as Rp. 7,500 (less than a dollar) a month. As I grew up the salary grew more. With small amount and big amount of money I had, my needs had been fulfilled by Allah in His own way and I am grateful to that. And to honor my pride I have never beg to anyone. I measure myself to anything that Allah provides me by learning to have the feeling of sufficient (indonesian : qanaah). If I should ever beg, it should be to Allah the Best Provider of All and The Most Generous One. Having that understanding, how i could ever doubt that He will not provide my needs some time in future when I become old (as if I will ever reach that age)?

Since I was a baby, my needs had been fulfilled through my mother and anyone who had helped me to survive. If the worms, the small creature that has no brain and not even understand the value of money indeed has been given its sustenance by The Almighty Allah, how will He not provide me as human being, His best creature in this whole world, with all my sustenance? After all this whole universe is created to serve human being. And I have been equipped with the best tool ever. I have: my brain, my hands, my feet, my body, my strength and my intelligence. My attitude about this is very clear:

I asked for strength... 
And God gave me difficulties to make me strong 

I asked for wisdom... 
And God gave me problems to solve. 

I asked for prosperity... 
And God gave me brain and strength to work 

I asked for courage... 
And God fave me danger to overcome 

I asked for love... 
And God gave me troubled people to help 

I asked for favors... 
And God gave me opportunities. 

I received nothing I wanted 
I received everything I needed. 

My Prayer has been answered.


All Praises belong to Allah the Most Generous and the Best Provider of All