Among the homeless poor people who used to live in the mosque, there was a believer who was poor and indigent. He would follow Allah’s Messenger when praying and never lost congregational prayer. The Holy Prophet had sympathy for him closely watching his needs. The Holy Prophet kept on saying, “O Sa`d: I will make you needless if I gain something.” A long time passed but the Holy Prophet did not gain anything. Hence, his sympathy for the man increased. Allah Almighty Who was watching this, sent Archangel Gabriel to him with two Dirhams saying, “Allah is Aware of your sorrow about Sa`d. Would you like to make him needless?” The Holy Prophet said, “Yes.” “Give these two Dirhams to him to start a business.”
Taking the two Dirhams, the Holy Prophet left home for the mosque to perform his Noon Prayer with Sa`d waiting for him. He said, “Do you like business?” Sa`d said, “Yes, I do. But I do not have money.” The Holy Prophet gave the two Dirhams to him saying, “Start a business with it and seek the Divine food.” After completing his prayer, the Holy Prophet said, “Go after business from now on, for I was very sorry for you.” Sa`d did so in a way that he bought goods for one dirham selling them for two Dirhams or bought goods for two Dirhams selling them for four Dirhams. In this way, he made a fortune and his business became brisk. He went so far as to find premises near the mosque and set up his business there. He was so engaged in his business that he took no heed of Bilal’s call to prayer nor would he come to the mosque for prayer. One day, the Holy Prophet said to him, “O Sa`d! You are so much preoccupied with the world that you have failed to perform prayer with the Prophet! What has happened to your previous spirituality?” Sa`d said, “Shall I waste my property? I have no option! I have to sell my goods to people and receive the price and to purchase goods from people and pay for them!” The Holy Prophet became sadder for Sa`d than before when he was poor and indigent. At this time, Gabriel came to the Holy Prophet saying, “O Muhammad! Allah is Aware of your sorrow for Sa`d. Which one do you like best, the former or the present conditions?” The Holy Prophet said, “The former conditions, for he is in a situation that this world has ruined his Hereafter.” Gabriel said, “Tell Sa`d to return the two Dirhams you gave him. When he does so, he will be back to his former conditions.” The Holy Prophet too went to Sa`d telling him affectionately, “O Sa`d! Don’t you want to return our two Dirhams?” Sa`d said, “Yes, I will, along with two hundred Dirhams!” The Holy Prophet said, “Only those two Dirhams!” Sa`d gave the two Dirhams to the Holy Prophet and soon he lost what he had gained. Thus, he returned to the former situation. (Al-Kafi: 312/5, H 38 )