angel of death approaches him and his entire wealth is given to his heirs after his death.

Let’s listen to an admonitory parable about the consequence of stinginess as stated on page 74 of the first volume of the 410-page book ‘Uyoon-ul-Hikayaat (part 1), published by Maktaba-tul-Madinah, the publishing department of Dawat-e-Islami:

Dreadful consequence of stinginess

Sayyiduna Yazeed Bin Maysarah رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه has stated: In the previous Ummah, there was a rich and miserly man who would not spend anything in the path of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ but he would continue multiplying and accumulating his wealth. Days and nights of that unwise and greedy person were passing in luxury, merriment and extreme heedlessness with his family. Once, somebody knocked at his door. One of his slaves opened the door and saw a beggar standing outside. The slave asked the reason for his coming. The beggar replied, ‘Go and send your master to me, I need to talk to him.’ The slave lied, ‘He has gone out to help a beggar like you.’

The beggar went away. After a short while, there was another knock at the door. The slave opened the door and found the same beggar again. This time the beggar said, ‘Go and tell your master that I am the angel of death.’ Intoxicated by wealth and heedless of Divine remembrance, when that rich person was informed about this, he began to tremble in fear and said to his slaves in terror, ‘Go and treat him in a very polite and humble way.’ The slaves came out and requested him pleadingly, ‘Please spare our master and seize the soul of somebody else’. The angel said, ‘It’s not possible at all.’ Then he said to the rich man, ‘Make your will if you want, I will not return without seizing your soul.’ Listening to this, the rich man and his family yelled out. The wealthy person asked his family members and slaves to bring the boxes of gold and silver and opened them. All carried out his order instantly and there was a hoard of treasure he had accumulated throughout his life. Turning towards the treasure, he then said, ‘O despicable and contemptible treasure! Curse be on you! I am doomed due to your love. Alas! I remained heedless of Divine worship and the Afterlife just because of you.’