Letter to Erin 20150706

In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.

Hi there, rich girl!  All this materialism that's going on is important to you and your friends, and I don't mind at all providing for you, because it is my responsibility to do so as a good Muslim husband.  I am not a rich man, and it is of concern to people that my wife be so materialistic in this Islamic context.  My poverty is your wealth.  Does this seem like a paradox to you?  But Allah is the One Who sets the balance.

Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) was administrator of wartime booty and political leader, so a tremendous amount of valuables went through his hands.  But he lived an austere life, and this was a problem to some of his wives, because they had live poor as well.  Once he had to exile himself from his wives for about a month because of their material demands.  This incident became mentioned in Qur'an, in gist: do they care more about the valuables of this life over the hereafter?  Over God?

I'm not a prophet.  I'm not a politician.  I am a musician.  But I understand the politics of our marriage: I cannot force you to live in poverty as I do, and I must provide for you adequately and give you a house.  I've been in music business long enough to brush off what people say, but this time the concern is if you care more about materialism over the afterlife.  I am a servant of Allah, and to care more about materialism over the afterlife is anti Islamic.  Sure you can have your wealth, and sure it is my job to provide for you.  But the afterlife is more important.  Did you know that?  Do you accept that?  Do you understand your position as my wife?

This paradox of materialism belongs to my wife, not to me.  I already know of what I seek in a wife.  You are my wife inshaAllah, and with Allah as my Witness, I am sincere when I say that I love you and I need you.