” The Imam introduced these people to us by saying that...

” The Imam introduced these people to us by saying that, “The intimate friends of Allah (SwT) (Awliya) are those people who have certain characteristics, one of which was that if some people worship this material world, those people (who have no fear nor grief) see the truth of the transient world.” In relation to those who worship this temporal world, the Noble Qur`an mentions: يَعْلَمُونَ ظَاهِراً مِنَ الْحَيٌوةِ الدُّنْـيَا وَهُمْ عَنِ الآخِرَةِ هُمْ غَافِلُونَ “These people (who worship this material world) know the apparent aspects of the life of this world very well, however they are completely heedless of the next life.”[^2] If these people (who worship the material world) decide to give something in charity, they would first employ mathematical calculations in regards to their donations (to measure their benefit and loss) and then finally would come to the conclusion that, “I have definitely gone into loss as my wealth has now decreased (by giving such a donation).”[^3] The people who do not worship this temporal world look deep in their hearts and see the act of giving in charity in another way - just as the Noble Qur`an mentions: مَثَلُ الَّذِينَ يُنْفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُمْ فِي سَـبِيلِ اللٌّهِ كَمَثَلِ حَبَّةٍ أَنْـبَتَتْ سَبْعَ سَنَابِلَ فِي كُلِّ سُنْـبُلَةِ مِائَةُ حَبَّةٍ وَ اللٌّهُ يُضَاعِفُ لِمَنْ يَشَآءُ وَاللٌّهُ وَاسِعٌ عَليمٌ “The parable of those people who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is just as a grain which (is planted) and then grows seven ears.