Knowledge vs. Wealth
علم اور مال کا موازنہ
يَا كُمَيْلُ، الْعِلْمُ خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْمَالِ: الْعِلْمُ يَحْرُسُكَ وَأَنْتَ تَحْرُسُ الْمَالَ، وَالْمَالُ تَنْقُصُهُ النَّفَقَةُ، وَالْعِلْمُ يَزْكُوا عَلَى الْإِنْفَاقِ.
اے کمیل! علم مال سے بہتر ہے: علم تمہاری حفاظت کرتا ہے جبکہ مال کی حفاظت تمہیں کرنی پڑتی ہے؛ مال خرچ کرنے سے گھٹتا ہے، لیکن علم خرچ کرنے سے بڑھتا ہے۔
“O Kumayl! Knowledge is better than wealth: knowledge guards you while you have to guard wealth; wealth decreases by spending, while knowledge multiplies by spending (teaching).”
Reflections: In this legendary dialogue with Kumayl, Imam Ali ؑ highlights the liberating power of intellect. Wealth is a burden that requires constant anxiety and security, whereas knowledge acts as an internal compass that protects a person from errors and spiritual downfall. Most importantly, he points out a divine economic law: worldly assets are finite, but the treasury of the mind grows richer the more it is shared with others.