A series of moral, doctrinal, and social statements from the esteemed religious authority, Grand Ayatollah Shirazi, may his shadow remain (Words of Wisdom, episode number 34)
Good and Evil in the Use of Blessings
Blessing and Punishment
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Allah, Blessed and Exalted, says in the Holy Qur’an:
“Then We made you successors in the land after them to see how you would act.”
The meaning of this noble verse is that God states people have successively inhabited the earth. When one generation passed away, another took its place and rebuilt homes, shops, factories, and places in the same towns. At the end of the verse, God reveals that His purpose behind this succession of generations is to test them.
Nothing in this world is devoid of the aspect of a test—everything is either a tool for testing or itself a trial faced by humanity. Every blessing that God bestows upon humans, if used properly and in its rightful place—benefiting both this world and the Hereafter—is a true blessing. But if it is misused or applied inappropriately, instead of being a blessing and a source of prosperity, it becomes a curse (niqmah) and brings divine punishment. These corrupted blessings can affect not just the individual but also future generations and those connected to them.
The blessings God has placed within the human body, as well as those external to it—whether acquired or innate—can either be a blessing or a curse depending on how they are used. Knowledge, leadership, wealth, health, and many other gifts, if used well, are blessings. But if they are used in a wrongful manner, they become curses and deserving of divine wrath.
Looking through the Qur’an and the hadiths of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them), we find many examples in both categories: those who used God’s blessings in obedience to His commands, benefiting themselves, others, and even future generations; and those who wasted those blessings through improper use, harming themselves and others.
One such example found in books of tafsir and hadith is the story of Thalabah ibn Hatib, a companion of the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family). Thalabah was a hypocrite who pretended to follow Islam—he would attend the Prophet’s prayers and sermons, appearing to be devout.
Thalabah was poor and one day asked the Prophet (PBUH) to pray that God would give him wealth. He promised that if he received wealth, he would give others their due share from it. The Prophet replied:
“Would you not prefer to follow my example? If I were to ask God, He would give me mountains of gold and silver, yet I have never requested anything for myself. Be like me.”
Thalabah heard this but was not content. After some time, he returned and repeated his request. According to some reports, he asked three times. Eventually, the Prophet (PBUH) prayed:
“O Allah, provide Thalabah with wealth.”
Wealth is one of God's major tests. Many have failed this test, deceived by the fleeting nature of worldly possessions, forgetting the everlasting blessings of the Hereafter. Another test is the Prophet’s supplication itself: for some it led to greatness—like Abu Dharr, Salman, and Ammar—but for others like Thalabah, it became a source of ruin when misused.
Following the Prophet’s prayer, Thalabah acquired sheep. They multiplied, and through repeated buying and selling, his wealth grew so much that there was no room for them in his house. The people of Medina were overwhelmed, so he had to move his flock to a nearby valley.
As his sheep kept increasing, even that valley became too small. Eventually, Thalabah moved further away. Previously, he would visit the Prophet daily and attend most prayers. But as his business grew, his visits dwindled—first to once a day, then once a week, and eventually once every few weeks.
Thalabah’s wealth kept increasing, but so did his preoccupation. He spent his days managing his flock and had no time to visit the Prophet. Then the verse of zakat was revealed. The Prophet sent emissaries to those whose wealth was subject to zakat, instructing them to read the verse.
Many obeyed God’s command and gave zakat. But when the Prophet’s emissaries came to Thalabah and recited the verse, he refused. He said:
“What is this zakat? This is like the jizyah taken from non-believers. Are you calling us disbelievers?”
Thalabah had completely forgotten his past. He had gone to the Prophet several times begging for wealth and promising to give others their due. But now, deceived by worldly glitter, he rejected his own promises.
The zakat collectors returned to the Prophet and reported Thalabah’s refusal. The Prophet (PBUH) exclaimed:
“Woe to Thalabah! Woe to Thalabah!”
The divine blessing that was given to Thalabah, because of his unworthy use of it and improper behavior, became a source of disobedience and divine punishment instead of prosperity and well-being.
Any blessing that is not used properly or not channeled rightly will undoubtedly turn into a curse, and God's punishment will descend because of it.
The Two Sides of a Blessing
Electricity, a highly useful blessing that powers many human activities and devices today, can cause serious harm to life and property if not used correctly or with due caution. God's blessings require careful attention, mindfulness, and responsible use.
Gas, another blessing that gushes from the depths of the earth and is made accessible to humans through technology and human intellect, has likewise caused many fatalities. Most cooking, heating, and many other activities are enabled by gas. But if this flame is misused or mishandled, it can burn homes to the ground. Many people and homes have been destroyed due to negligence in gas usage. Misusing the blessing of gas turns it into a calamity.
All divine blessings share a similar mechanism in that they can be used in two very different—and even opposing—ways.
In the verse we referenced at the beginning of this discussion, God Almighty speaks about generations that came one after another, inheriting the consequences—good or bad—of the actions of previous generations. Previous generations can pass down customs, traditions, and beliefs that either help the next generation flourish or lead them to ruin and misguidance.
People like Salman, Abu Dharr, Miqdad, Habib ibn Muzahir, Ali ibn Mahziyar, and many other righteous individuals achieved their great status through good use of the blessings and resources available to them. Their wise use of blessings not only benefited them but also their communities and future generations.
A person who possesses knowledge and uses it rightly enables others to benefit from it. A person who holds a leadership position and acts justly becomes a good role model. Every leader who follows their example will likely succeed. Likewise, someone who has wealth and spends it appropriately—such as founding an orphanage, a center to spread virtue and morals, or an institution to promote sound beliefs and raise individuals on solid principles—has surely used their wealth properly. On the other hand, someone may use their resources or abilities for the wrong purposes, bringing harm to themselves and others.
One effective way to ensure proper use of blessings is constant reflection and self-reminding of both their benefits and potential harms. A person should always consider both the good and bad uses of each blessing: what benefits will come from proper use, and what calamities will follow from misuse.
A married person should be grateful for the blessing of their spouse and always consider their spouse’s well-being. Wrong behavior—misusing the blessing of a spouse—can bring misfortune and turn the blessing into a curse. The same applies to children. One must never allow the blessing of children to become a source of personal misery.
Misusing the blessings of a spouse or children affects not only this life but also the afterlife. It harms both the individual and those around them and brings divine punishment in the hereafter. Many people have attained Paradise through marriage, and sadly, many—God forbid—have ended up in Hell for the same reason. Likewise, many parents have found Heaven through their children, while others, due to poor upbringing or wrongful attachment, have been led to Hell by them. Wealth is no different—it can either purchase Heaven or lead to Hell.
The message in the verse at the beginning of this discussion reminds us to reflect on the blessings we currently possess. God directs our attention to previous nations and peoples—those who lived on this very earth, in these very cities and homes, and who enjoyed blessings similar to ours. Their fate varied depending on how they used these blessings.
Now that we are the residents of this land and the possessors of these blessings, it is only appropriate, as the Qur'an teaches, to deeply reflect on the lives of those who came before us and to make wise use of what we have.
Constant self-reminder and reflection on this truth is the key to proper use of divine blessings. If we use our blessings well, they lead to growth, prosperity, and salvation. But if we use them wrongly or waste them, God forbid, they bring ruin to both our worldly and eternal lives.
May we, by the grace of God Almighty and the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them), always remain aware that every blessing is a divine test. And may we use these blessings for the happiness of ourselves and others in both this world and the next.
And may God’s blessings be upon Muhammad and his pure family.
