What is really valuable during the chaos, war & tribulation that is coming?

the head of a bull or 100 gold dinars?

With the recent rise in gold prices, 100 gold dinars would now be 'worth' around USD$70 000 (or over R1 000 000) at the time of writing this article. Thats a sum that many would not mind having

But what is the worth of a bulls head to you? Would you even eat from the head?

Is it even worth anything?

Would you pay $700 or even $70 for it, i don't think you would even pay $7 for it,

and yet the day is most definitely coming, when people would be prepared to give away 100 gold dinars, $70 000 or more than a million rand for just the head of a bull,

if they were even able to find one....

On one occasion, when mentioning the coming of Dajjal, and the descent of Isa (RA), and the emergence of Yajooj and Majooj, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ went on to say (regarding the difficult condition at that time):

حَتَّى يَكُونَ رَأْسُ الثَّوْرِ لأَحَدِهِمْ خَيْرًا مِنْ مِائَةِ دِينَارٍ

"Until (it reaches a point where) the head of a bull is (regarded) better than a 100 dinars..."

(Sahih Muslim: The Chapter on the tribulations and events approaching the final hour)

Why would the head of a bull, which is not even the part of the animal that has a lot of meat, be worth more than a 100 dinars?

It will be because of the difficulty the remaining muslims would be in and the scarcity of food at that time. such that even what is regarded as 'low value food' today will become extremely valuable tomorrow.

It is a general rule, that when food is scarce, it becomes more valuable, even more than gold and silver coins, and we have already seen the proof of this in the past...

Bosnia war: 387 Days Without Normal Life

During the siege of Sarajevo, there was:

• No electricity

• No running water

• No banking

• No fuel

• No formal economy

The people were originally affluent middle class, but overnight, their savings, bank balances and stores of gold and silver meant nothing.

One survivor, Selco Begović, who documented the collapse in detail in his book, describes how:

• A Gold necklace was traded for just 3 lighters

• Silver was traded for canned food

• Expensive watches were exchanged for antibiotics

Why?

Because a gold necklace cannot start a fire to cook with or boil water. But a $1 lighter can...

Gold & silver holders were not foolish. They simply misunderstood what a crisis does to value...and they neglected the real value of food, animals and skills.

Zimbabwe: Hyperinflation and the Death of Paper Wealth

In Zimbabwe’s hyperinflation crisis:

• Savings accounts were wiped out

• Pensions evaporated

• Paper money became wallpaper

But those who:

• Owned cattle

• Had land

• Grew maize

• Produced eggs

They survived.

A cow is not affected by inflation charts. A goat does not devalue because of monetary policy.

Food production insulated people from currency collapse.

Venezuela: Return to Barter

In Venezuela’s collapse:

• Hardware stores accepted coffee beans as payment

• Fishermen traded fish directly for flour

• Eggs and cooking oil became currency

A fisherman said:

“Money does not buy anything. So it is better for people to bring food so we can give them fish.”

Modern society reverted to pre-industrial exchange.

This wasn't prepper ideology.

It was a necessity.

The Great Depression: The Four-Acre Advantage

Even in the United States during the Great Depression:

Urban workers:

• Lost jobs

• Lost wages

• Had no productive capacity

Farmers:

• Struggled in monetary terms

• But grew vegetables

• Canned fruit

• Produced milk

• Raised chickens

One survivor said:

“My grandfather survived because he had a small four-acre farm and practical skills — not gold, not savings.”

These gardens in 1943 produced 40% of America’s vegetables

Schrebergärtens of Germany

During Germany’s major crises — especially the Weimar hyperinflation (1921–1923) and the period after World War II — many urban families survived because they had small allotment gardens called Schrebergärten.

These “mini farms” allowed families to grow potatoes, cabbage, beans, and other vegetables, and sometimes keep chickens or rabbits.

When paper money collapsed and savings became worthless, those with productive land could still feed themselves.

Urban residents who depended only on salaries and bank accounts suffered the most. Those with small plots, livestock, and practical skills were buffered from starvation.

The lesson: when currency fails, productive land and food production remain as real wealth.

In a collapse scenario:

• A dentist can trade treatment for food.

• A mechanic can trade repair skills for meat.

• A nurse can barter medical care for protection.

• A farmer can trade vegetables for fuel.

• A poultry owner can exchange eggs for medicine.

• A cattle owner can trade milk, meat, or calves for tools.

• A shepherd can barter livestock for long-term security.

• A hunter can trade wild game for grain.

• A beekeeper can trade honey for soap

• A soapmaker can trade soap for honey

• A fisherman can exchange fish for flour.

• A baker can trade bread for firewood.

• A water well owner can barter clean water for labour.

• A food preserver can trade dried meat or canned vegetables for clothing.

• A carpenter can exchange repairs for livestock.

• A blacksmith can trade tools for food.

• A tailor can barter clothing repairs for eggs.

• A teacher can exchange knowledge for shared resources.

• A security provider can trade protection for food supply.

• A landowner can trade access to grazing or cultivation for community support.

When money fails, production becomes the real currency.

But a person with gold bars and silver coins? He needs someone who still wants gold, and nobody wants gold and silver when they have to scrounge to feed their children, clean themselves to prevent infection, fix machinery to farm...

The Current Gaza Crisis

The same situation has become the norm in Gaza.

With the economy shattered, borders closed, cash scarce and even banknotes deteriorating to the point that many vendors refuse to accept them, people have quietly returned to something very simple — barter. Exchanging goods has become a daily necessity for thousands living under siege. Barter groups, once rare, are now among the most active online communities in Gaza, but what is being bartered? Its not gold or silver...

Flour is exchanged for lentils.

Sugar for oil.

Soap for shampoo.

Canned meat for spices

Baby milk for flour

Issa Al Namnam, 44, a father of six, says he never imagined he would be sourcing baby milk for his youngest child through Facebook. “The war and the lack of cash forced me, like many others, to rely on bartering,” he said. “Sometimes I need oil or sugar but have no money. So I find someone who has what I need and offer them something I have.”

People are openly saying that cash is no longer reliable. It does not solve the immediate problem of feeding your family. So they turn to what works — goods for goods, neighbour to neighbour.

This is a reality, and it confirms what history has always shown — when modern economic slavery systems collapse, people fall back again onto real production, tangible goods and community networks.

Money becomes secondary. Sustenance becomes primary.

The Islamic Concept of Wealth Is Productive:

In Islamic history and during the period when Islam was dominant in the world, the matter was clear, real wealth was always anchored to:

• Land

• Animals

• Water

• Skills

• Community

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ himself:

• Owned livestock

• Encouraged cultivation

• Praised those who planted trees even at the end of time

“If the Hour is about to be established and one of you has a sapling in his hand, let him plant it.”(Musnad Ahmad)

The Muslim who is wise, patient and learns what to invest in based on the ahadeeth:

• Secures land and makes it productive

• Invests in livestock and holds on to it for the long term

• Builds a community

• Develops skills.

• Owns some precious metals

Cattle, Game, and Land Are Not “Financial Instruments” — They Are Necessary Foundations

Allah ﷻ speaks about cattle in the Qur’an as a clear sign of His mercy and provision.

He says:

وَإِنَّ لَكُمْ فِى ٱلْأَنْعَـٰمِ لَعِبْرَةًۭ ۖ نُّسْقِيكُم مِّمَّا فِى بُطُونِهَا وَلَكُمْ فِيهَا مَنَـٰفِعُ كَثِيرَةٌۭ وَمِنْهَا تَأْكُلُونَ ٢١

“And indeed, for you in livestock is a lesson. We give you to drink from what is in their bellies, and for you in them are numerous benefits, and from them you eat.”(Surah Al-Mu’minun 23:21)

And He ﷻ says:

وَٱلْأَنْعَـٰمَ خَلَقَهَا ۗ لَكُمْ فِيهَا دِفْءٌۭ وَمَنَـٰفِعُ وَمِنْهَا تَأْكُلُونَ ٥

“And the grazing livestock He has created, for you in them is warmth and [numerous] benefits, and from them you eat.”(Surah An-Nahl 16:5)

Cattle are described as nourishment, clothing, transport, livelihood, and a sign of Allah’s favour upon you. They are never condemned. Rather, they are presented as provision (rizq) and barakah in the Quran and Ahadeeth

In contrast, gold and silver are mentioned with a warning when zakaat is not paid on it:

وَٱلَّذِينَ يَكْنِزُونَ ٱلذَّهَبَ وَٱلْفِضَّةَ وَلَا يُنفِقُونَهَا فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ فَبَشِّرْهُم بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍۢ ٣٤

“And those who hoard gold and silver and do not spend it in the way of Allah — give them tidings of a painful punishment.”(Surah At-Tawbah 9:34)

Gold and silver are not inherently evil, but when they are stored, withheld, not paid zakat on and disconnected from benefit, they become a source of accountability.

The Qur’an is clear:

Livestock are described as living provision that feeds, clothes, and sustains.

Gold and silver, when hoarded and unproductive, are described as a trial.

The believer reflects on this difference and makes decisions accordingly

Cattle are not just an investment that we measure against other investment classes like shares, rental property and business

Game animal ownership is not just a luxury for hunters and outdoor adventurers

Farming Land is not only about capital growth and investing in the best localities

They are in reality, the foundation of:

• Food security

• Trade security

• Community resilience

• Inter-generational protection

A cow produces:

• Meat

• Fat

• Bones

• Hides

• More calves

A piece of land produces:

• Food

• Grazing

• Water access

• Independence

These are multiplying assets, not static ones.

Gold & silver sits still, while farmable land and animals work, and result in tremendous barakah

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ already taught us what holds value in the difficult times of fitnah that we all are going to experience, it remains upon us to put our yaqeen in those words, even if our logic, thinking and analysis tells us the opposite.

Right now, farming land, cattle, game and crops, the actual real assets are at the bottom of the cycle, and that is why people are fooled into thinking its not a good investment, but they have already started becoming scarcer and prices are steadily going up, now is the time to acquire and invest in these real multiplying assets, that will one day be much more valuable than gold and silver, but sadly only a few will realize, the rest are rushing into 'investments' that are at the top already and about to come crashing down, and may one day be giving up their paper, gold and silver for even the head of a bull, 3 lighters or 6 eggs.....

Understanding this requires foresight and vision, and the yaqeen that the words of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ are true. more true than what we see with our own eyes or rationalize with our brain, or analyze with our investment calculators.

For those who feel this resonates with them and wish to take practical steps toward securing land, livestock, and a place within a productive Islamic community, we currently have opportunities available at the estate, consisting of smaller plots with self sufficiency garden allocation to mini homesteads and up to 5 hectare smallholdings in a secure islamic estate, for those who want to do things on a larger scale. Get in touch to explore the possibilities and plant the seed of the tree now that your progeny will rest in the shade of, ان شاء الله ﺗﻌﺎﻟﯽٰ