The angel of death عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام knocked the door again after a short while, and when they came out, he عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام said to them, ‘Go and say to your master: I am the angel of death.’

When that wealthy individual heard this, he was overcome with fear and said to his servants, ‘Go and speak to him gently.’

The servants came out and said to the angel of death عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام, ‘Take the soul of somebody else in place of our master and leave him. May Allah Almighty bless you.’

The angel of death عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام said, ‘This can never happen.’ Then the angel of death عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام came inside and said to that wealthy individual, ‘Make your will; I will not leave from here without taking your soul.’

Hearing this, all of the members of the household screamed and began to cry. That man said to his family and servants, ‘Open the boxes and chests full of gold and silver, and bring all of my wealth to me.’ They immediately acted upon his command and gathered all of the riches at his feet.

The man then came to the gold and silver and said, ‘O lowly and evil wealth! Curse be upon you; it is you who has kept me heedless of remembering the Lord, it is you who has prevented me from preparing for the Hereafter.’

Hearing this, the wealth said to him, ‘Do not criticise me! Were you not the one who was lowly in the eyes of the worldly people? I increased your honour, it is due to me that your authority reaches the courts of the kings, otherwise, the poor and righteous people cannot reach them; it is due to me that you married princesses and rich women. Otherwise, how can poor people marry them. Now it is your fault that you spent me on satanic acts. If you had spent me on righteous works, then disgrace and dishonour would not be your end. Did I tell you to not spend me on virtuous works? It is not me, rather, it is you who is worthy of criticism and damnation today.’

صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب                            صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلٰى مُحَمَّد

Dear Islamic brothers! Undoubtedly, just as life is an excellent bounty, it is also an opportunity from Allah Almighty for us to earn good deeds and to prepare for the Hereafter. Therefore, we should realise the value of the life