1. The Anniversary of the Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) Ascension
Time: Tonight, Monday, January 27, at 8:00 PM
Location: Qom, Qom University, Sheikh Mofid Hall
All Aradis, along with their families, are invited.
This event will be broadcast live at the following link for all those who cannot attend in person.
2. Special Podcast for Newcomers
Promotion, brand enhancement for exciting customers and suppliers in trade with you, and it does not require much capital.
3. Special Article for Newcomers
Groups that are greatly liked by people, while they wish for people to be poor and unfortunate, but people do not know this and easily fall for the outward appearance of their words.
4. Cultivating Interested Customers
🕰️ 64 minutes
5. Introduction to Incoterms
🕰️ 15 minutes
6. Mechanics or Trade
🕰️ 12 minutes
7. Burkina Faso Representative’s Visit to Iran
🕰️ 1 minute
8. Does God Want Me to Be Rich?
When someone does not become wealthy, we often hear the phrase, “God did not want it,” or conversely, when someone becomes wealthy, they say, “God wanted this person to become wealthy.”
And when they say “God did not want it” or “God wanted it,” it’s as if this person has no choice, and, with all due respect, this person is like a wall, with no influence over their own fate. In this interpretation, it is as though God, as an external being, comes and decides that one person will become wealthy, and the other will not.
We hear the phrase “It was God’s will” or “It wasn’t God’s will” quite often, and these interpretations have become common among people.
However, God Himself uses a similar expression in many verses, such as when He says:
“Allah enlarges the sustenance of any of His servants whom He will, and straitens the sustenance of whom He will.” Surah Al-Ankabut, Verse 62
All translators and interpreters of the Quran have translated this as restricting or limiting provision, which is indeed correct. But the interesting point here is that the phrase 'Yaghdero' means to measure something precisely, millimeter by millimeter, or in other words, to scrutinize things to the smallest detail, like spliting hairs, or calculating exactly.
This means that for some people, God expands their provision freely, without any calculation, giving them abundantly, while for others, He becomes extremely calculating and imposes strict accounts.
But when we want to understand which group receives provision freely and without calculation, and which group receives it in a restricted, precise, and unforgiving way, we come to a key expression: “for whom He wills.”
At first glance, when you say “for whom He wills,” it seems random and without rule, as if God’s will works by chance, wanting this for one and not for the other.
However, the wise know that God is far too wise to act without order or reckoning.
What does this mean?
It means that when God says:
“Indeed, God provides for whom He wills without reckoning.” Surah Ali Imran, Verse 37
The phrase “without reckoning” does not mean chaos or lack of order.
It is true that God grants provision to some without calculation, but those who receive this “without reckoning” provision are still under careful judgement.
9. Do You Want to Become Wealthy?
How can we know if we are on God’s list of those whom He wills to become wealthy or not?
First, look within yourself.
God says the first condition is yourself.
See if you truly want it or not.
If you do not want it, then surely I, God, do not want it either.
How can I say this?
Look at this verse:
“But you cannot will ˹to do so˺, except by the Will of Allah, the Lord of all worlds.” Surah At-Takwir, Verse 29
This means that God is saying, if you want to know whether I want you to become wealthy, see what you want for yourself.
Whatever you wish for yourself, I too wish for you.
This verse shows that God has linked His will to the will of His servants.
Do you want to be rich?
God wants that too.
Do you want to be a companion of the Imam Mahdi?
God wants that too.
Do you want to be poor and insignificant?
God wants that too.
God has directly tied His will to your own desires.
Now you might say, “If that’s the case, then my desire is to become wealthy, and I say to you, you’re lying or making excuses.”
Don’t be quick to guard yourself, listen to my words.
God has categorized provisions into two types in His book.
1. Provision without any calculation, which has no set limit.
2. Provision with a specific measure, where everything is calculated precisely.
Pay attention to these two verses one after the other:
“As for man, when his Lord tests him by exalting him and bestowing His bounties upon him, he says: My Lord has exalted me.”
“But when He tests him by straitening his sustenance, he says: “My Lord has humiliated me.”
Right after these two verses, He says:
“Absolutely not!”
What’s interesting is that in both cases—whether God is giving blessings or restricting provision—He uses the word “test”.
This means, first of all, O human, know that whether I make you wealthy or restrict your provision, both are tests from Me.
The second point is, when I bless you, why do you attribute it to your own dignity and say that God has honored you, as if there was something in you that deserved to be considered worthy of God’s generosity?
And why, when your provision is restricted, do you attribute it to God’s humiliation of you?
Both interpretations are rejected by God.
So what is the truth?
The truth is that God says: O human, do you want to know what I have willed for you?
First, see what you have willed for yourself.
Unlimited provision or limited provision?
I, your God, have placed nine-tenth of wealth in trade and one-tenth in other professions.
You chose to go for professions with limited income, yet now you expect Me, God, to give you unlimited provision?
Are you kidding?
Do you truly expect to be a driver for an online taxi service and have me send a passenger who will pay 200 million instead of the 20,000 fare, just so you can say, “Thank You, God, for giving me unlimited provision”?
Is this how you perceive your Lord?
When you place yourself in professions with limited income, you are essentially choosing that for yourself.
God refers to unlimited provisions as those related to trade and the heavenly professions, while other professions are referred to as earthly ones.
I am sure many will quickly take a position and ask, “Why does the author have such a bias toward trade?” I might even be criticized for speaking from my own perspective. This is where I must immediately refer to the Quranic verse. I truly must thank my team, who spend hours researching and bringing me the raw materials for these contents.
So, we have two categories of professions:
Trade, which is the heavenly profession.
Other professions, which are earthly ones.
And God says:
“If We had willed, We would have elevated him with Our signs, but he clung to this life—following his evil desires.” Surah Al-A’raf, Verse 176
The word “shayna” here comes from the same root as “yashaa”, meaning to desire.
So, why does God not want to elevate some people and raise them to the heavens?
The reason is that they do not want to rise to the heavens themselves; they are stuck to the earth.
Now, you can read this verse in this way.
If We had wanted, We would have certainly made him a wealthy trader, but he clings to his past misguided beliefs, remaining a worker or an employee, not letting go of his old ideas.
I am certain of the statement I am making right now.
If someone were to come to Arad and say, “I promise that for one year, I will stop holding on to my old beliefs, and whatever Arad says, I will say ‘yes’ without thinking even a bit, and I will stop second-guessing everything, this person will surely gain a lot of wealth.
All successful traders—even the very successful ones—spent the first two or three years filled with doubt, misconceptions, and false beliefs that prevented them from succeeding until they changed their mindset.
I mean, God, I wished there were 1,000 people who entered Arad with a deep belief, free from their own desires. Just like a two-story house that, without resistance, surrenders itself to the builder, and the builder turns it into a magnificent tower, Arad would build magnificent towers from such people.
But what can we do, when “he adhered to the earth and did not let go”?
People just won’t let go of these earthly jobs.
It astonishes me how attached they are to working as employees.
How much time they invest in being employees.
How much training they go through just to be employees.
When people work as employees, they seem like fast horses. But once they enter trade, they become like a lame donkey.
They spent 8 hours a day for 30 years working for someone else, but now that they’ve joined Arad, they won’t even work half an hour a day.
They worked 10 hours as a laborer, but now that they’re in trade, they won’t invest 2 hours a day.
They would spend hours, days, and years of their lives for others, but now that they want to build their own brand, they won’t spend even an hour a day.
For four or six years, they went to university and spent money and time learning various subjects that ultimately just made them into workers or employees, yet now, when they want to learn about trade, they expect the school of business to be free, and they won’t spend any time mastering the profession.
I’m reminded of the verse where God says, “If We had willed, We could have raised him, but he clings to the earth and doesn’t let go.”
A heavenly job means that every time you want to travel, you travel by airplane.
An earthly job means that, first of all, you can’t take your family on a trip every year, and if you do, you’ll travel by car, setting up your tent by the rest stops, and you’ll be nauseated by the smell.
And God says, “I have linked My will to your will.”
Someone who cries more than the bereaved is foolish.
When you, yourself, want to live in misery for years, why should I, God, struggle and make sacrifices to make you rich, when you’re content with being poor?
10. If you are serious about becoming wealthy.
I swear by my God that if these writings of mine have an impact on even one of you Aradis and inspire you to be determined in trade, that will be enough for me.
Because if you stay in trade, not only will you prosper, but also your descendants, your entire lineage, and your tribe will rise to dignity and honor.
Even if they write about me one day that Mr. Ahmadi was the one who solidified this generation of Iranian traders after they entered trade, that would be more than enough for me.
This will be my ever-abiding good work.
Now that you’ve made the decision to become wealthy and you say, “I really want to become a trader.
I really want to choose the heavenly profession.
I really want to be rich,”
God says, “Stop right there.”
I have a few conditions.
See if these are the foundation of your existence or not.
I’ve looked at God’s conditions and realized that even the non-believers in the lands of disbelief who have achieved immense wealth have adhered to these conditions.
Here, we are not talking about illegal professions or illicit earnings gained through bribery and corrupt practices.
We are talking about the wealthy who have attained their wealth through lawful means.
Now, God says it doesn’t matter if you’re Muslim, Christian, Jewish, or non-believer, or from any other faith.
Is the person human?
You say, “Yes, they are human.”
God says, “If they are human, then there are two possibilities, as mentioned in verses 15 and 16 of Surah At-Takwir.”
One possibility is the person to whom God gives unlimited blessings, and they claim it as their own honor.
The second possibility is the person whom God restricts in their provision, and they claim God’s restriction as an insult to themselves.
God says, “Never is it like that.”
You ask, “So how is it then?”
From here on, if you pay attention, you will see that even non-believers who have achieved wealth lawfully follow these same conditions.
I will bring the verses of the Qur’an, but I will modify the translation to suit the context.
“You are not even gracious to the orphan.”
How is it that you do not honor orphans, yet those to whom I gave unlimited provision do honor the orphans?
It means that when I give you money, you don’t even consider giving a little to orphans, but they, with their wealth, have allocated part of it for orphans.
“Nor do you urge one another to feed the poor.”
You don’t care at all whether the poor have food tonight or not, but those who have received lawful, abundant provision from Me, they care about feeding the helpless.
“And you consume inheritance, devouring [it] altogether.”
You are a people who devour your inheritance when it is left for you, consuming it all at once.
The Arabs use the expression “Aklan Lammā” to describe the way cows eat. If you put one kilogram of hay in front of them, they will eat it; if you put ten kilograms, they will eat that too.
The idea of saving some of that wealth and setting it aside for others is not part of the cow’s mentality.
God says the same about you when I limit your provision—not because I want to insult you, but because when wealth comes your way, you attack it as if you are trying to devour it all at once.
“And love wealth fervently.”
You love money in such a way that it feels like all your love is concentrated in it.
“Jamma” comes from the idea of piling up things or gathering them onto one another.
This means that your attachment to wealth is so great that all you care about is increasing the number, constantly adding to it without ever thinking of spending it.
If you are supposed to give in charity or share your wealth with others, it feels as if your soul is about to leave your body.
God says, “It’s better that this person remains poor. If they had wealth and, for example, a thief stole from them, they might have a stroke and die. I don’t want them to suffer, so it’s better they remain poor.”
11. The Law of Known Right
So, here we are: first, I must truly want to become wealthy, take trade seriously, and show God that I have prioritized trade over other occupations. I need to show God that I am focused on trade and intend to leave other pursuits behind soon.
Then, I will set aside a portion of my wealth for orphans and those in need. As I’ve mentioned before, those closest to me—my family and my community—should be my priority. It would be wrong for me to give my money to people in other cities or countries when there are those in my family or community who are in need. Just as God does not accept your prayer if the bowing is done after the prostration, He will not accept charity if the proper order is not followed.
When money comes my way, I must avoid spending it all at once impulsively, like a cow devouring everything put in front of it. Instead, I must plan, budget, and avoid hoarding wealth.
God is a distributor of wealth, and if He sees you trying to block the flow of His blessings by hoarding, He will reduce your wealth.
Therefore, when money comes into my hands, I should not keep it all for myself. I must use it in ways that either expand my business further or help my family and those in need.
When the topic arises, some people say, If we get rich, we will definitely help the needy. But here, a voice from God says: You are lying.
You insist: No, by God, if I become rich, I will help.
But again, the voice says: You are lying.
And then you argue with God, but He does not accept it.
Surely, God knows you better than you know yourself.
He asks you: How much have you given in charity today?
You reply: Nothing.
God says: You will not give tomorrow either.
You argue: No, God, that is not true.
God responds: Yes, it is.
You say: But I didn’t even have enough money today.
God says: Even if you didn’t have money for a box of dates to give at the cemetery.
You could still buy a pack of salt, which is very inexpensive, and take it to your neighborhood committee and say, "This salt is from me for the food of Aba Abdillah?" So that you could say, "O God, look, when you gave 10 million tomans, I spent 10 thousand tomans of it on Your path.
Therefore, if You give 10 billion tomans, I will spend 10 million tomans on You."
Then God would say, "Well done, My servant, it is clear here that you are telling the truth."
God has set a rule in His Book, called the Law of Known Right.
This law applies to all income, except for beggars.
If you are a beggar, you may claim that this law doesn’t apply to you.
But as soon as you leave begging and start earning, whether it’s 1 million tomans or billions of tomans, the Law of Known Right is in effect.
The Law of Known Right says:
“And who give the rightful share of their wealth.” Surah Al-Ma’arij, Verse 24
Imam Sadiq (AS) was asked whether this “known right” referred to Khums or Zakat.
He replied: No.
They asked, Does it refer to something else?
Imam Sadiq (AS) responded: Khums and Zakat are obligatory, but the group mentioned in the verse are praised for something else.
These are people who, by their own choice, have set a certain amount to give from their wealth, either daily or monthly.
They asked if this percentage was certain.
He said: No, each person specifies a number for himself. Some may say, I will give half of my wealth, others may say, I will give one-fifth, or one-tenth, or one-twentieth.
It is important that the individual adheres to the amount they have specified for themselves and consistently deducts and gives that amount from their wealth on a daily or monthly basis.
Someone asked, Does their income need to reach a certain level before they start giving?
Imam replied: No, it is not like that. If it were, your Lord would have informed you in His Book. In fact, during the time of the Prophet, there were people who were not wealthy, but they still paid their “known right” to be among those whom God praised.
Now, the question is: To whom should we give?
The continuation of the verse says:
“To the beggar and the poor.” Surah Al-Ma’arij, Verse 25
Which group has priority?
Those who ask.
A person came to Imam Jawad (AS), who was only ten years old at the time, surrounded by his companions. The man asked for money.
Imam immediately responded and gave him the amount he requested.
The companions were surprised at how quickly Imam had granted the request and how much he gave, which was quite a significant sum.
Imam explained: “By making this request in front of you, he has sold his dignity, and the money I gave him is the price of his dignity.”
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