Is Money the True Love?
(An Ongoing Story – Chapter One)
The village was called Noorpur. A small, peaceful place surrounded by green fields and muddy roads. As evening fell, the sound of the azan echoed gently from the mosque. In that village lived a young man named Raihan. Since childhood, he had carried one question in his heart:
"Whom do people truly love more? Money, or the Almighty?"
Raihan's father was a simple tailor. He worked all day at his sewing machine, earning just enough to run the family with difficulty. Yet he always told his son,
"My son, money is not the true love. True love is loving the Almighty."
Raihan was too young then to fully understand those words. But as time passed, he began to notice changes in people around him.
Karim Sahib, the wealthy businessman of the village, had once been a humble man. But as his business grew and his wealth increased, it seemed as if people became smaller in his eyes. He spoke less with the poor. He visited the mosque less frequently. Often he would say,
"In this world, if you have money, you have everything."
Raihan would quietly wonder,
"Is money really everything?"
One day, a religious scholar from the city visited the village. In the mosque he said,
"People of this world love money. But if you leave money for the sake of loving the Almighty, then money itself will begin to love you."
These words settled deep into Raihan's heart.
He decided to strengthen his faith first. He began praying regularly, serving his parents, and giving up lies. Slowly, people in the village started respecting him.
But life's real test had not yet begun…
One day, news came that his father's biggest order had been canceled. The family fell into financial hardship. Shopkeepers refused to give goods on credit.
Raihan stood at a crossroads.
One path offered quick money—but through dishonest means.
The other required patience and trust in the Almighty.
His friends urged him,
"Don't miss this chance. What's the harm in telling a small lie? Money will come easily."
That night, Raihan fell into prostration and wept. Only one thought filled his heart:
"O Allah, I want to love only You. If I hold onto You, will You ever abandon me?"
The next morning, something unexpected happened…
An elderly teacher from the village, who had long been ill, called Raihan and said,
"I have heard you are an honest young man. I once had a small business, but I can no longer manage it. Will you take care of it?"
Raihan was stunned. He had never asked anyone for help.
The words echoed in his mind again:
"If you leave money for loving the Almighty, money itself will love you…"
But was this the end of the story?
No…
Because from the city came a new temptation. A big company offered him a high-paying job—but with one condition: he would have to hide the truth.
Would Raihan remain firm in his values?
Or would the glitter of money lead him astray?
And the storm that was about to shake Karim Sahib's life—would it somehow intertwine with Raihan's destiny?Chapter Two: Shadows Behind the Glitter
Holding the letter from the city in his hands, Raihan sat silently for a long time. The company's name was printed in bold letters on the envelope. Inside was the offer letter— a monthly salary so high that his father could not earn that much even in an entire year.
His heart trembled.
The last line of the letter read:
"For the sake of company interests, certain information must remain confidential. According to company policy, the truth may not be disclosed when necessary."
Raihan understood. This was the test.
From inside the house came the sound of coughing. His father was sitting beside the sewing machine, arranging clothes. There was exhaustion in his eyes, yet a gentle smile on his lips.
"What does the letter say, son?"
After a moment of silence, Raihan replied,
"It's a good job… a lot of money."
His father's eyes lit up with joy.
"Alhamdulillah! Then our hardship will lessen."
But Raihan's voice grew heavy.
"But, Abba… I would have to hide the truth."
Silence filled the room. Only the slow turning of the sewing machine wheel could be heard.
His father spoke softly,
"Money reduces hardship, but it can increase the burden of sin. The decision is yours."
That night Raihan could not sleep. Light rain fell outside. Two voices battled within him.
One whispered,
"This opportunity comes once in a lifetime. Save your family."
The other said,
"Happiness built on hidden truth never brings peace."
Just then, news spread—
Karim Sahib's major business had collapsed. His city partner had betrayed him. Losses worth millions.
The man who once said, "If you have money, you have everything," now had people whispering outside his house. Bank officials were coming and going.
From a distance, Raihan saw Karim Sahib sitting alone on the mosque veranda. For the first time in many days, he was seen praying. There was a strange brokenness in his eyes.
The next day, the elderly teacher called Raihan again.
"Have you made your decision?"
"Yes," Raihan said firmly. "I will not take the city job."
The teacher smiled gently.
"I knew it. That's why I called you again."
He took out an old file from the cupboard.
"My business is not only a small shop. There is a piece of land in the city—unused for years. I want you to build something honest there. Even if the profit is small, let it be halal."
Raihan stood speechless. This was not just an opportunity—it was a responsibility.
But the city company would not give up so easily.
Two days later, their representative arrived in Noorpur.
He spoke directly,
"If you refuse, it will cause us trouble. We want you with us. In the future—big position, big power…"
There was a glimmer of temptation in his words.
At that very moment, Karim Sahib stepped forward.
Slowly he said,
"Raihan, I made a mistake. I ran after money and lost everything. Don't repeat my mistake."
The air grew heavy.
Would Raihan remain in his village and begin an honest business?
Or would he step into the world of power and influence in the city?
And why was the company representative so desperate to recruit him?
Did they have another hidden motive?
Clouds gathered over Noorpur.
These were not just rain clouds—
They were the warning signs of a coming storm.Chapter Two: Shadows Behind the Glitter
Holding the letter from the city in his hands, Raihan sat silently for a long time. The company's name was printed in bold letters on the envelope. Inside was the offer letter— a monthly salary so high that his father could not earn that much even in an entire year.
His heart trembled.
The last line of the letter read:
"For the sake of company interests, certain information must remain confidential. According to company policy, the truth may not be disclosed when necessary."
Raihan understood. This was the test.
From inside the house came the sound of coughing. His father was sitting beside the sewing machine, arranging clothes. There was exhaustion in his eyes, yet a gentle smile on his lips.
"What does the letter say, son?"
After a moment of silence, Raihan replied,
"It's a good job… a lot of money."
His father's eyes lit up with joy.
"Alhamdulillah! Then our hardship will lessen."
But Raihan's voice grew heavy.
"But, Abba… I would have to hide the truth."
Silence filled the room. Only the slow turning of the sewing machine wheel could be heard.
His father spoke softly,
"Money reduces hardship, but it can increase the burden of sin. The decision is yours."
That night Raihan could not sleep. Light rain fell outside. Two voices battled within him.
One whispered,
"This opportunity comes once in a lifetime. Save your family."
The other said,
"Happiness built on hidden truth never brings peace."
Just then, news spread—
Karim Sahib's major business had collapsed. His city partner had betrayed him. Losses worth millions.
The man who once said, "If you have money, you have everything," now had people whispering outside his house. Bank officials were coming and going.
From a distance, Raihan saw Karim Sahib sitting alone on the mosque veranda. For the first time in many days, he was seen praying. There was a strange brokenness in his eyes.
The next day, the elderly teacher called Raihan again.
"Have you made your decision?"
"Yes," Raihan said firmly. "I will not take the city job."
The teacher smiled gently.
"I knew it. That's why I called you again."
He took out an old file from the cupboard.
"My business is not only a small shop. There is a piece of land in the city—unused for years. I want you to build something honest there. Even if the profit is small, let it be halal."
Raihan stood speechless. This was not just an opportunity—it was a responsibility.
But the city company would not give up so easily.
Two days later, their representative arrived in Noorpur.
He spoke directly,
"If you refuse, it will cause us trouble. We want you with us. In the future—big position, big power…"
There was a glimmer of temptation in his words.
At that very moment, Karim Sahib stepped forward.
Slowly he said,
"Raihan, I made a mistake. I ran after money and lost everything. Don't repeat my mistake."
The air grew heavy.
Would Raihan remain in his village and begin an honest business?
Or would he step into the world of power and influence in the city?
And why was the company representative so desperate to recruit him?
Did they have another hidden motive?
Clouds gathered over Noorpur.
These were not just rain clouds—
They were the warning signs of a coming storm.Chapter Two: Shadows Behind the Glitter
Holding the letter from the city in his hands, Raihan sat silently for a long time. The company's name was printed in bold letters on the envelope. Inside was the offer letter— a monthly salary so high that his father could not earn that much even in an entire year.
His heart trembled.
The last line of the letter read:
"For the sake of company interests, certain information must remain confidential. According to company policy, the truth may not be disclosed when necessary."
Raihan understood. This was the test.
From inside the house came the sound of coughing. His father was sitting beside the sewing machine, arranging clothes. There was exhaustion in his eyes, yet a gentle smile on his lips.
"What does the letter say, son?"
After a moment of silence, Raihan replied,
"It's a good job… a lot of money."
His father's eyes lit up with joy.
"Alhamdulillah! Then our hardship will lessen."
But Raihan's voice grew heavy.
"But, Abba… I would have to hide the truth."
Silence filled the room. Only the slow turning of the sewing machine wheel could be heard.
His father spoke softly,
"Money reduces hardship, but it can increase the burden of sin. The decision is yours."
That night Raihan could not sleep. Light rain fell outside. Two voices battled within him.
One whispered,
"This opportunity comes once in a lifetime. Save your family."
The other said,
"Happiness built on hidden truth never brings peace."
Just then, news spread—
Karim Sahib's major business had collapsed. His city partner had betrayed him. Losses worth millions.
The man who once said, "If you have money, you have everything," now had people whispering outside his house. Bank officials were coming and going.
From a distance, Raihan saw Karim Sahib sitting alone on the mosque veranda. For the first time in many days, he was seen praying. There was a strange brokenness in his eyes.
The next day, the elderly teacher called Raihan again.
"Have you made your decision?"
"Yes," Raihan said firmly. "I will not take the city job."
The teacher smiled gently.
"I knew it. That's why I called you again."
He took out an old file from the cupboard.
"My business is not only a small shop. There is a piece of land in the city—unused for years. I want you to build something honest there. Even if the profit is small, let it be halal."
Raihan stood speechless. This was not just an opportunity—it was a responsibility.
But the city company would not give up so easily.
Two days later, their representative arrived in Noorpur.
He spoke directly,
"If you refuse, it will cause us trouble. We want you with us. In the future—big position, big power…"
There was a glimmer of temptation in his words.
At that very moment, Karim Sahib stepped forward.
Slowly he said,
"Raihan, I made a mistake. I ran after money and lost everything. Don't repeat my mistake."
The air grew heavy.
Would Raihan remain in his village and begin an honest business?
Or would he step into the world of power and influence in the city?
And why was the company representative so desperate to recruit him?
Did they have another hidden motive?
Clouds gathered over Noorpur.
These were not just rain clouds—
They were the warning signs of a coming storm.
Chapter Three: The Gathering Storm
That day, the sky over Noorpur was truly heavy. But heavier than the clouds was Raihan's heart.
When the company representative from the city drove away, the dust from his car wheels seemed to rise not just from the courtyard—but inside Raihan's chest.
That night, whispers spread throughout the village—
"A company that big coming all the way to recruit someone from a village? The boy must be special."
Others murmured,
"Or maybe there's something else…"
Raihan sat quietly in the yard, staring at the sky. His father's cough had worsened. The cost of medicine was increasing. Sewing orders had declined. The old machine often jammed.
From inside, his father called,
"Raihan, go to sleep. Don't worry so much."
Softly Raihan replied,
"Abba, what if I make the wrong decision?"
His father smiled gently.
"A mistake happens only when a person ignores his conscience."
🌆 The Hidden Truth of the City
Two days later, the company representative returned. This time he was not alone—there was a man with him who looked like a lawyer.
They spoke directly.
"Our project is very big. We need your signature on some documents. Occasionally, you'll have to speak to the media. Not everything can be disclosed—we must protect the company's image."
Raihan asked,
"You mean I would have to lie?"
The man smiled.
"Not lie… strategy."
Raihan's heart pounded.
He understood—this was not just a job. They wanted to use him. His reputation for honesty would be their shield to hide something bigger.
Just then, a village youth came running with news—
"An investigation has started against the company in the city! Allegations of land grabbing and false accounts!"
Everyone was stunned. The representative grew visibly uneasy.
Calmly, Raihan asked,
"Do you want me to stand before people and speak falsely on your behalf?"
This time the man's tone hardened.
"Think carefully before you answer. Opportunities don't come twice."
🕌 A Strange Evening
That evening, Karim Sahib was again sitting on the veranda of the mosque. But today, instead of his earlier broken pride, there was visible regret in his eyes.
Looking at Raihan, he said,
"When I first received a big contract, I was given similar conditions. I thought—what harm could a small compromise do? Then one compromise led to another… and in the end, I lost myself."
Tears gathered in his eyes.
"Money doesn't give you everything, son. But once honor is lost, it never truly returns."
Raihan took a deep breath.
The battle inside him slowly began to quiet.
🌱 A New Beginning
The next morning, Raihan told the elderly village teacher,
"I want to build a small training center and an honest business on your land in the city. So that the boys and girls of our village can learn skills."
The teacher closed his eyes and prayed.
"May Allah bless you."
Months passed.
A small building was constructed on the city land. There, sewing training, computer lessons, and fair-priced goods were introduced. The profits were not large—but every earning was transparent.
Many village youths began to earn through the skills they learned. Peace returned to Raihan's father's smile.
⚖️ The Victory of Truth
One day, news arrived—the city company was facing a major lawsuit. Several directors were arrested. Media scandals exposed their corruption.
The villagers realized—if Raihan had signed those documents, his name would have been on that list too.
The company representative never returned to Noorpur.
Karim Sahib, learning from his mistakes, restarted a small business. This time, not with greed—but with honesty.
🌈 Final Scene
One evening, after the rain, a rainbow appeared in the sky.
Raihan stood in front of his small institution. His father stood beside him.
His father said,
"See? Allah never leaves the hands of an honest person empty."
Raihan smiled softly.
"Money is not love, Abba. Truth and faith are the real wealth."
In the distance, children laughed. The sound of sewing machines was no longer weary—it had become a symbol of hope.
The sky over Noorpur had cleared.
The storm had come—
But it did not break them.
Instead, it strengthened their roots.
The End.