INHERITANCE
Material Vs Moral
Most fathers believe wealth and property are the most significant inheritances they can leave for their children. However, the most valuable legacy a father can bestow upon their children is moral inheritance. Karim Bakhsh was a simple, religious man who lived in a village and earned an average income. When he passed away at the age of 65, he left four children without any substantial property to bequeath to them.
Following their father’s demise, the eldest son, Rahim Bakhsh, moved to the city in search of a better livelihood. There, he started a small business with limited capital. Unlike his father, Rahim Bakhsh did not inherit material wealth. Instead, he inherited something far more valuable—contentment, simplicity, and the ability to work diligently without complaint. These qualities proved to be immensely advantageous for Rahim Bakhsh. Despite having an average income, his simplicity and contentment propelled him forward. His temperament of avoiding conflicts and disputes further aided his progress. He gained the favour and support of everyone around him. Although his progress was gradual, it was unwavering.
While Rahim Baksh’s business may have been modest, his integrity, selflessness, and honesty earned him the respect one would associate with a person of great stature. Despite having limited capital, people in the market would often say to him, “Mian ji, take as much merchandise as you need. Don’t worry about payment. It can come later.” Occasionally, he faced disagreements, but he remained silent rather than retaliating against those who wronged him. He focused on his business and offered prayers for their well-being. Whenever negative thoughts crossed his mind, he would envision his father’s innocent face, reminding him that engaging in dishonest dealings or conflicts would not do justice to how his father raised him. This thought swiftly suppressed his emotions, and he resumed following the path of progress, the same path his father had shown him.
Their business expanded, requiring additional help. Consequently, Rahim Baksh decided to involve his brothers. Gradually, all four brothers moved to the city. Over time, their business flourished, establishing four permanent branches, each entrusted to one brother. While they would gather, dine, and socialize together from a business perspective, each brother operated his branch independently.
After a while, Rahim Baksh, the eldest brother and the business owner, noticed that his other brothers weren’t showing the same level of commitment as he had expected, given their responsibilities. Rahim Baksh had to make one of two choices: either assume complete control of the business and sever ties with his brothers, leading to lifelong enmity, or let the current state of affairs persist, including mutual grievances, and eventually divide the business with bitter memories.
Rahim Baksh pondered this dilemma for a few days. He then gathered all the brothers and openly discussed the matter with them. He expressed gratitude to God for the absence of major issues thus far and proposed the best course of action: each brother would assume individual responsibility for one business. This way, peace would be maintained between them, and Rahim Baksh believed it would bring blessings to everyone. The other three brothers were grateful for his generosity and agreed to abide by his decision.
After a brief discussion, they decided to draw lots to determine the assignment of each brother to a specific business. Now, all four brothers are engaged in their respective businesses, working diligently from morning till evening, often accompanied by their children.
Surprisingly, their relationships have improved even more than before. They willingly assist each other and have even established separate residences. However, Rahim Baksh remains the same elder brother he always was. No brother ever denies a request made by another, and when there’s a need in one household, the women and children from all four families unite to fulfill it, treating it as a collective responsibility.
Most fathers believe that the most significant inheritance they can leave for their children is wealth and property, focusing solely on worldly possessions. However, the truth is that the most valuable legacy a father can bestow upon their children is a principled life. It’s through imparting these lessons that children learn to trust in their hard work, engage in their pursuits without conflicts, be content with their rightful share, prioritize future possibilities over immediate benefits, embrace realism instead of indulging in fantasies, and understand that moral inheritance surpasses material wealth. Unfortunately, only a few fathers are aware of this profound reality.
