really thoughtless; he didn't care that some of his friends could not
afford to buy such things. I thought his behavior was very wrong."
Zubair agreed: "You're right, Rasheed, what he did was not right at
all. Allah has given us all different blessings. The fact that a person
has more fine things, is more good-looking or successful, is not due
to his own ability at all. Allah has given us these things to test us and
to see how we will act if He gives us such blessings.
The behavior most pleasing to Allah is when a person doesn't for-
get that Allah has given him everything he has. We must not boast
about or be spoiled by the blessings Allah has given us; we must al-
ways behave modestly. Anyway, it's Satan who gets puffed up with
pride. If you remember, the verse we read yesterday was about this
matter. Allah tells us that: 'That is so that you will not be grieved
about the things that pass you by or exult about the things that come
to you. Allah does not love any vain or boastful man.' (Surat al-
Hadid: 23)"
Rasheed nodded: "So, we shouldn't become spoiled by what
Allah has given us, and we shouldn't get sad or frustrated when we
lose something. Is that right,
Zubair?"
Zubair smiled: "Right!
Allah owns everything. He
gives us as many blessings as
He wills to give us. Be they
many or few, they are all part
of the trials of this world."
Rasheed had a ques-
tion for his brother: "In
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