Money or Human Values?

There are many people who work selflessly, giving from their own pockets and efforts, not because they seek money

Some of our devout brothers assume that whatever we write, we do it for money. They think someone pays us. But the reality is that just yesterday, I worked 14 straight hours—along with a religious colleague—so he could take time off to observe his religious festival. Writing takes time; it requires reading, studying, checking references. We cannot just throw out baseless claims the way others do. If you calculate the time and opportunity cost, we lose hundreds of thousands of taka worth of productive hours. Yet our devout brothers imagine that someone gives us millions. Who gives money without profit? Who would pay someone just to irritate easily offended believers? If anything, supplying flattering content to them would earn millions. In Bangladesh, the easiest way to make money is to defend religion and produce religious content. Don’t you see how many YouTubers and TikTokers earn this way? Don’t you see how they claim that sharing Facebook or YouTube videos is also “service to religion”!

I can proudly say, hand on heart, that I have never earned a single taka through dishonest means. I had many opportunities, but I gave them all up like a fool. I have been cheated countless times, but I have never cheated anyone. How many of our devout brothers can say this with confidence?

Is money everything in this world?
Many people think so. Ask them any question, and the answer will be money.

– Why do people talk about the dark sides of religion, society, and the state to raise awareness?
Answer: For money.

– Why do people speak about and defend human rights?
Answer: For money.

– Why do countless young protesters stand in front of bullets for their country?
Answer: For money.

– Why do millions choose the life of a refugee?
Answer: For money.

– Why did Einstein make so many discoveries?
Answer: For money.

– Why did Socrates drink hemlock?
Answer: For money.

Anyone who answers “for money” to these questions can be assumed to have a distorted mindset. Because money is their deity. Money is their world. Since they lack the skill and competence to earn honestly, they assume everyone else must be doing everything for money. So to them, earning money is patriotism; earning money is education; earning money is business; earning money is employment; earning money is human service; earning money is the world; earning money is religious devotion; earning money is “service to Islam.”

But if you observe carefully, you’ll see that the scientists, philosophers, politicians, businesspeople, professionals, entrepreneurs, researchers, and ordinary people who changed the world were driven by passion for their work. Human welfare was like an addiction to them. They simply kept doing their work. Many sacrificed everything; many worked selflessly. Sometimes wealth came to them as a by-product, not as a goal.

My misguided devout brothers, money is not everything. Those who have skill and competence can earn enough to live with honesty, hard work, and dedication. They don’t need to earn by selling religion—or by criticizing it.