Accumilation of Abundance

April 2, 2009, 8:06 am by dc-agape.

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Surah 102: Al-Takāthur: The Abundance of Wealth

Abundance diverts you,

Until you come to the grave.

Nay, you will soon know,

Nay, again, you will soon know.

Nay, would that you knew with a certain knowledge!

You will certainly see hell;

Then you will see it with certain of sight;

Then on that day you shall certainly be questioned about the boons. 

This surāh warns against not just wealth but abundance.  Many of the commentaries mention the difference.  Abundance can be power, followers, family, etc.  It is true that these things can be distractions.  I certainly hope that the translation is at fault for being so vague about the word “abundance”.  What I would hope for is that humankind would actually pay attention to this one.  Unfortunately, no where within Islam, Christianity, nor Judaism do we see people not attempting to accumulate abundance (with the broad definition). 

It is true that calamity does bring a divestment of abundance.  But these calamities are indiscriminate.  Those who have accumulated little are divested of much more than those who have accumulated abundance.  For example, Hurricane Katrina (Spiegel International) or the winter floods in Fargo, ND (ireport.com).  If people say that this is due to the US’s wealth accumulation then that argument can be negated by the “Christmas” tsunami of 2004.  This tsunami took the lives, properties, and livelihood of some of the most modest people in the world.  In each of these situation the people did get to see “hell on earth”.  But did they deserve this experience due to divine intervention?  Of course they did not. 

Then what about at death, will someone see the waste of life they spent accumulating abundance.  Not if it was the accumulation of family and friends.  Sometimes not even if it was the accumulation of wealth, since money can “buy” loyalty.  Even the accumulation of followers can eliminate the fear of death…just look at the case of Jim Jones and the Jonestown massacre (Rice University). 

That only leaves after death when the accumulator of abundance becomes aware of their error.  I was just at a panel discussion between an Greek Orthodox Christian, a Jewish Rabbi, and an Islamic Imam.  As a Ethical Humanist I wanted to ask what guarantee is there that after death anything happens.  I did not; many people were asking questions about the difference of the three religions.  But I will ask here, without using the concept of faith, what guarantee is there that anything happens to us after we die?  A further question is: does the assumption (without proof) that the afterlife will sort things out, not lead to apathy in the masses?  I see it here in the US, people would rather wait for “God” to deal with all forms of correction, than humankind to stand up and do something about it.

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