DR. KIRMANI’S CORNER
This section is developed through the weekly reflections of Dr. Sayed Shabbir Kirmani, our respected resident scholar. Each week, Dr. Kirmani will share his thoughts on faith, current affairs, and community matters, offering valuable insights on how Islamic teachings relate to both global and local events.
In the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful
The Divine Scale: Why Purity Outweighs the Dazzle of Abundance
“Say: ‘Not equal are the impure (al-khabīth) and the pure (aṭ-ṭayyib), even if the abundance of the impure dazzles you.’” (5:100)
This single verse dismantles the greatest illusion of our age: the belief that quantity can ever compensate for quality in the sight of Allah.
We live in a world obsessed with metrics. We are wired to be impressed by volume—more followers, larger bank balances, louder voices, and grander displays. We naturally equate “more” with “better.” Yet, the Qur’ān warns us that this is an optical illusion. The term used in the verse, tu’jiba, suggests being “dazzled” or blinded by a shiny exterior, causing us to lose sight of the rotting core beneath.
As ʿAllāmah Ṭabaṭabāʾī explains in Tafsīr al-Mīzān, aṭ-ṭayyib (the pure) and al-khabīth (the impure) are not merely subjective preferences; they are objective spiritual realities.
Aṭ-ṭayyib is that which nourishes the soul and connects it to the Creator: sincere faith, lawful income, and a heart free of envy. Al-khabīth is that which corrupts and severs that connection: arrogance, ribā-infested wealth, and slander disguised as humor. A palace bought with haram money is not just a building; it is a spiritual ruin. Conversely, a rented room filled with barakah (divine blessing) is a sanctuary. In the Divine calculation, one tear of genuine repentance outweighs a thousand mechanical prostrations offered with a dead heart.
In Surah al-Kahf, the owner of the two gardens possessed rivers, fruit, and wealth that dazzled the eye. He boasted, “I do not think this will ever perish.” Yet, because his abundance was rooted in arrogance (khabīth), it was reduced to dust overnight. His companion, who possessed little but had a heart filled with gratitude (ṭayyib), held the ultimate victory. Similarly, Prophet Yūsuf chose the scarcity of a prison cell over the “abundance” of sin in a palace. That single choice of purity eventually raised him from inmate to ruler.
Living by the Scale of Truth
We must recalibrate our lives to this Divine Scale.
● Wealth: A modest halal income that brings peace is infinitely superior to a massive salary that
invites the displeasure of Allah.
● Speech: A single word of truth spoken with kindness is heavier than a thousand viral posts laced
with sarcasm.
Before every decision, ask yourself: Is this ṭayyib, or am I merely dazzled by the abundance of the khabīth? The world measures success by accumulation; Allah measures it by purification. Choose the pure, even if it looks small in your hands. On the Day of Judgment, it will be the only thing that weighs heavy on the scale.
May we have the ability to receive the Divine Mercy and extend it to others!
With Duas,
Dr. Kirmani