5. Apply detachment

Detachment simply means that you enjoy your blessings and belongings, appreciate all the gifts constantly appearing in your life, but do not get too attached to them. 51 Do not be interested merely in your material possessions; do not use these external possessions as a measure of your happiness, satisfaction, and success in life. The more generous you are, the more prosperous you will become. This is certainly not an invitation for indifference, complacency, or carelessness, it is just an attempt to put our priorities straight, to realise that we have no control over anyone or anything in our lives, whether it is money, job, person or even health; so do not allow these things to own you. Attachment to goods, people or belongings results in an alarming sense of insecurity that hinders our ability to appreciate our innumerable gifts, the things that truly matters in our lives. As Allah (~ ) says: ~Now whatever you have been given is but a passing comfort for the ° Carter-Scott, 1999. 5 51 Dyer, 1990. life of this world, and that which Allah has is better and more lasting for those who believe and put their trust in Allah) (Qur 'an 42: 36) Once the Caliph Haroon Rasheed asked a wise man for advice.

The man looked at the glass of water in the Caliph's hand and said, "If you are denied this sip of water, will you give away your entire kingdom to have it?" The Caliph nodded. The wise man continued, "And if after drinking it, it was withheld inside your body, would you give your entire kingdom to get it out?" Again the Caliph answered in the affirmative. The wise man concluded, "So what is the value of a kingdom that is not worth a sip of water or even a drop of urine?" 52 The Glorious Qur' an teaches us the meaning of detachment in many verses: C . ~ I~, :,J (:~,, J_>:>- :,. . . ,\ ::h-:- ·: ·, '-::'...ll • .J. • , ,.,.-,.. ~, ~..J ~ ~).J z~ . - ( :,;; : ( ' \..t ,I\ ~·~ ~ ,;.},/ ,V}.. 13i,. s. - u...1...3 .lJj? ""-~ ,., ...... >},;" / , / .J.. / (\1"\ : ...'.b •_;_,....,) ~~ ~IJ ~ 4.J Jj::?-' ~And strain not your eyes in longing for the things We have given for enjoyment to various groups of them [polytheists and disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah] - the splendour of the life of this world - that We may test them thereby. But the provision [good reward in the Hereafter] of Allah is better and more lasting) (Quran 20: 131) 52 Ghazali the Younger (Jl}JI ..w:), 2003a. ~And put forward to them the example of the life of this world, it is like the water [rain] which We send down from the sky, and the vegetation of the earth mingles with it, and becomes fresh and green.

But [later] it becomes dry twigs, which the winds scatter. And Allah is Able to do everything. Wealth and children are the adornment of the life of this world. But the good righteous deeds [five compulsory prayers, deeds of obedience to Allah, good speech, remembrance of Allah with glorification, praises and thanks] that last, are better with Allah for rewards and better in terms of hope) (Quran 18: 45-46) An early scholar who analysed detachment was the Muslim philosopher, Al-Farabi (870-950 CE). He divided the power of awareness of one's soul into three levels: the senses, the imagination and the intellect.

Using our senses, we draw a specified picture of a person or an object; this is a physical being that can be seen and detected. Then with our imagination, we add our own meanings and descriptions of this thing, whether we love it, need it or hate it. Finally comes the role of the intellect, which - according to AlFarabi - is an awareness level independent of any physical matter; it is a level of enlightenment totally detached from the materialistic aspect of life. This detachment converts the imagined picture into pure logic. A wise intellect perceives the meanings beyond the materials, frees it from the world of form and apprehends the rational unimportance of these materials in one's life. 53 In this hadith qudsi, Allah says: «O human, devote yourself to worshipping Me, I will fill your heart with prosperity, and meet your needs; but if you do not, I will keep your hands busy and I will not 53 Khirallah, n.d. fulfil your needs.» 54 (Remember the true meaning of worship discussed in the Introduction.) The Almighty also said: «Whoever's main concern is the Hereafter, Allah will put wealth and prosperity into his heart and gather his union, and the world will be driven to him.

And whoever's main concern is this worldly existence, Allah will bring his poverty between his eyes and disperse his union, and what will reach him from this world is only what is predestined for him.» 55 The most common attachment m one's life is to wealth. Having money is a great bliss from Allah, and working hard to get money is an absolutely normal part of our life. What is not normal is to let this money control us. Prophet Muhammad (~ ) said: «The bounty of this life is green and beautiful, whoever takes it with open-handedness, his sustenance will be blessed; and whoever takes it with haughtiness, it will not be blessed for him, and he will be like one who eats and never reaches satiety.» 56 Letting money have power over our lives creates a sort of attachment that cannot be satisfied, an obsession that gives a continuous feeling of dissatisfaction. Allah ( ~) warns us against avarice in many verses of the Quran, and encourages believers to spend their money on the needy, seeking Allah's approval. 54 Tirmidhi and lbn Majah (a good hadith). 55 Tirmidhi (a sound hadith). 56 Bukhari . 4Satan threatens you with poverty and orders you to commit sins; whereas Allah promises you Forgiveness from Himself and Bounty, and Allah is All-Sufficient for His creatures' needs, All-Knower.~ (Quran 2: 268) -; , . . ,..,. :>~ -~~ r·-:- i,:: ··r i > qi )./ ·1/ ~:J;-;;:.1 t: ~ 1/'-•t:i.. ,I! } / / • / '-'Y. er_) r--::- , !.J:- ~ '-' ~ !-' ,.,...........

'J / ~ ,.., .,,. >~ ~ ,,> (,::;:_I~-:: ,,-;;"\ '\I~~ .......,:.,11 4Jl > •! (J \ @·' -:t.:i!i:-· » ~ "~~>'"\ ~ \'\ (J ':';' ,;; ,!- • I . ! , .i........AJ ~ ,.,.. .. • :...r J 'r ~ ~ .~ ,., \. !=.:...., ,,,.. _,,, L (\v-,, : J.Wi ._;.,...) .£~ ;. I" g:~ ,,;;.,\/ " ( ~ ~ .)_p ....u:., r~<'\ ~_) •. !<1 r :n 4So keep your duty to Allah and fear Him as much as you can; listen and obey; and spend in charity; that is better for yourselves. And whosoever is saved from their own covetousness, then they are the successful ones. If you lend to Allah a goodly loan [i.e., spend in Allah's Cause] He will double it for you , and will forgive you.

And Allah is Most Ready to appreciate and to reward, Most Forbearing) (Quran 64: 16-17) lbn Mas'ood (~ ), a Companion of the Prophet(~ ), once said, «Everyone is a guest in the world, and their money is but a loan. The guest must go sooner or later, and the loan must be returned.» Another sort of attachment is the attachment to our own looks, the belief that this physical body is what you are all about. Some people are completely obsessed with their appearance, which makes them unaware of their true essence: the beauty of their souls. The sheer numbers of people - especially women - undergoing plastic surgery nowadays is clear proof of this terrible preoccupation. Some people believe that wrinkles, hair loss or obesity are valid reasons for depression; they consider their physical appearance to be a measure of their self-worth.

This creates an unnecessary life-long fear that can only lead to suffering. The Qur' an teaches that the body is only a temporary packaging; the most important part of a person is one's soul. This of course does not mean that we neglect our looks; on the contrary, we should appreciate, respect and care for our physical appearance, while at the same time concentrating on the beauty of our souls. The rule is to take care of your body so that it can effectively serve the true purpose it has been created for. Recall this du' a' each time you look in the mirror: «O Allah!

Perfect my manners as you have perfected the creation of me. (Allahumma kama a!Jsanta khalqee, i!Jsan khuluqee.)» 57 Detachment invokes the true meaning of Islam: surrender to Allah's will. Have total, unconditional faith and trust in His absolute Wisdom and Judgment; believe in His total domination of all things, He is the Trustee, the All-Sufficient, the Supporter. Do not get tense, calm down and work in harmony with this perfect universe. Relax.

There is a reminder in this hadith of the Messenger of Allah (~ ) about why we should not become too attached to our possessions: «The human being says: My wealth! My wealth! But verily only three things are his out of (all) his wealth: what he has consumed and used up, or worn and worn out, or given away and acquired (a reward instead); and what is besides these shall be gone, and he shall leave it for (other) people (when he dies).» 58 57 Al:imed (graded as sound by Albani). 58 Muslim.