Part 28

3. Love of the worldly life

Satan adorns this worldly life and makes it seem good in the hearts of many people, so they have willingly embraced it and held tight to it; they compete with envy, and fight each other for it; it is all the planning of Iblis who said: (My Lord, because You misled me, I will make things on the earth seem good to them, and I will mislead them all)’ What a pity, they have indeed followed him and obeyed him, except for the ones who sought refuge in Allah, and rejected the temptations of this worldly life: (Iblis was correct in his assessment of them and they followed him, except for a group of the believers)‘.

If people had perceived the reality of this worldly life, they would not have paid too much attention to it, or place it in their hearts; indeed Allah 3% has clearly shown its nature: (Know that the life of this world is merely a game and a diversion and ostentation, and a

‘ Recorded by al-Bukhari.

? Recorded by al-Bukhari and Muslim. > Surat al-Hijr, verse 39.

4 Surat Saba’, verse 20.

cause of boasting among yoursélves, and trying to undo one another in wealth and children: like the plant-growth after rain which delights the cultivators, but then it withers and you see it turning yellow, and then it becomes broken stubble. In the Hereafter, there is terrible punishment but also forgiveness from Allah, and His good pleasure. The life of this world is nothing but the enjoyment of delusion)'.

Therefore, this worldly life is merely a game, a diversion and ostentation; and the conscious man is the one who allows it to become a plantation for the Hereafter. It is for this reason that Allah 3 addressed us, saying: (Race each other for forgiveness from your Lord and to a Garden, whose breadth is like that of heaven and earth combined, made ready for those who believe in Allah and His Messengers)”, Likewise, the Prophet #% warned us against being tempted by this worldly life, when he said: “The world is sweet and green (alluring), and verily Allah is going to install you as vicegerent in it in order to see how you act; so avoid the allurement of women.”?

‘Abdullah bin ‘Amru 4 reported that the Prophet 38 said: “He who is successful has accepted Islam, been provided with sufficient for his needs, and made contented, by Allah, with what He has given.”

‘Abdullah ibn al-Shikbir 4 said: “I came to the Prophet # as he was reciting (Abundance diverts you); so he # said: ‘The son of Adam claims: ‘My wealth, my wealth,’ and he added: ‘O son of Adam, is there anything that you claim as your belongings as that which you consumed, utilised, or wore until it was worn out, or you gave away in charity and sent it forward?”

' Surat al-Hadid, verse 20.

? Surat al-Hadid, verse 21.

3 Recorded by Muslim, on the authority of Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri 2. * Recorded by Muslim, al-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majh.

> Recorded by al-Bukhari, Muslim and al-Tirmidhi.

Jabir ibn ‘Abdillah .% said: “The Messenger of Allah 4 happened to be walking through the market place with people on both sides of him. There he found a dead lamb with very short ears; he took hold of its ear, saying: ‘Who amongst you wants to have this for a dirham?’ They replied: ‘We do not even want to have it for less than that, as it is of no use to us.’ He 4% asked: ‘Do you wish to have it free of charge?’ They replied: ‘By Allah, even if it were alive, we would not like to have it; for there is a defect in it, as its ears are very short, and now it is dead also.’ Thereupon, the Prophet 4% said: ‘By Allah, this world is more insignificant in the Eyes of Allah as this dead lamb is in your eyes.””!

Abu Hurayrah said: “I heard the Messenger of Allah saying: ‘This world is cursed, as are all the things in it, except the remembrance of Allah and that which He likes, and scholars and students.””*

‘Amru ibn ‘Awf al-Ansari 4 said: “The Messenger of Allah 4 said: ‘By Allah, I am not afraid for your poverty, but I am afraid that you will lead a life of luxury, as past nations have done; whereupon you will compete with each other for it, as they competed for it, and it will destroy you as it destroyed them.””?

The love of this world has exceeded its limits in the hearts of some people, such that they worship it instead of Allah 8. Abu Hurayrah # reported that the Messenger of Allah 4% said: “Let the slave of dinar, dirham, and khamisa (luxury clothes) perish; for he is (only) pleased if he is given these things, yet displeased if (he is) not.”

If they had know its value, with regard to the Hereafter, they would have rejected it, and sought the Hereafter instead. The Messenger of Allah 4% said: “This world is as insignificant, in comparison to the Hereafter, as if one of you should dip his finger in the ocean and then he should see what has stuck to it.”*

Sahl ibn Sa‘d ¢ said: “I heard the Prophet 4 saying: ‘To guard the Muslims from the infidels, in Allah’s cause, for one day is better than

' Recorded by Muslim.

2 Recorded by al-Tirmidhi.

3 Recorded by al-Bukhari and Muslim. 4 Recorded by al-Bukhari.

5 Recorded by Muslim.

the world and whatever is on its surface, and a place as small as that occupied by the whip, of one of you, is better than the world and whatever is on its surface, and a morning’s or an evening’s journey which a slave of Allah travels in His cause, is better than the world and whatever is on its surface.”

‘Ali ibn Abi Talib 2 said: “He who combines the following features, has indeed sought Paradise and kept himself away from Hell: he knew Allah and obeyed Him; he knew Satan and disobeyed him; he knew the truth and followed it; he knew falsehood and steered clear of it; he knew the (temptations of the) worldly life and rejected them; and he knew the Hereafter and asked for it”.

You should know that if your love for this world overcomes the heart, Satan opens another door:

If a person’s hope lasts long, he/she becomes reluctant towards his/her religious duties, by indulging in worldly matters and destroying his/her potential for the Hereafter. Abu Hurayrah 4 said: “I heard the Prophet # say: ‘The heart of an old man remains young in two respects: his love for the world (its wealth, amusements and luxuries) and his incessant hope.”?

Al-Bukhari said: “‘Ali ibn Abi Talib said: ‘This world is lasting, and the Hereafter is drawing near, and each one of them has its people; so be of the people of the Hereafter, and not among the people of the world, because today is a day of work without reckoning, but tomorrow is the Day of Reckoning and no further work.”

‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar 2 said: “The Messenger of Allah took hold of my shoulder and said: ‘Be in this world as if you were a stranger or a traveller”. Ibn ‘Umar said: “If you survive till the evening, do not

expect to be alive in the morning, and if you survive till the morning,

' Recorded by al-Bukhari ? Recorded by al-Bukhari and Muslim. > Fath al-bari (11/235).

do not expect to be alive in the evening, and take from your health for your sickness, and (take) from your life for your death.”

The Prophet # showed his Companions the short life of man and his lasting hope, with the help of a small diagram. ‘Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud & said: “The Messenger of Allah drew a square and then drew a line through the middle of it, letting it extend outside the square, and then he drew some short lines attached to that central line, saying: ‘This is a human being, and this, (the square) is his lease of life, surrounding him from all sides, and this line which is outside the square is his hope, and these short lines are the calamities and troubles which may befall him, and if one misses him, another will hit (overcome) him, and if the other misses him, a third one will hit him.”

So my dear Muslim brother/sister, avoid having this long lasting hope, because it breeds ineffective work, and it opens another door for Satan.

Ka‘b ibn ‘Ayad # said: “I heard the Messenger of Allah # say: “Every nation has a test to undergo, my nation will be tried through wealth.’”*

Al-Qurtubi said: “The meaning of this Hadith is that beneficial wealth and being praiseworthy is to be found in self-contentment,” (i.e. if the person feels self-content, he renounces greediness, and he obtains

' Recorded by Mujahid.

* Recorded by al-Bukhari.

> Recorded by al-Tirmidhi.

4 Recorded by al-Tirmidhi,

* Recorded by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

more dignity and praise than the one whose self is weak because of his cupidity, which involves him in vice, to become despicable and despised by all people. The man with self-contentment accepts his designated provision from Allah 3#; he is not keen to get more, if not in need. It is a total submission to the Divine Decree of Allah 3% and. His Command, and the strong belief that what Allah 4% reserves for His believing Servants is better and ever-lasting.)

So avoid being greedy because it takes away one’s religion and dignity, and allows Satan to open the door for another similar bad characteristic:

Allah 4 said: (Satan promises you poverty and commands you to avarice. Allah promises you Forgiveness from Himself and Abundance; Allah is All-Encompassing, All-Knowing)'. Satan threatens man with poverty in order that he does not spend for the Sake of Allah; he makes him believe that if he does spend in the Cause of Allah, he would be left in poverty or need. But Allah 4 assures every sincere believer: (Allah promises you Forgiveness from Himself and Abundance; Allah is All-Encompassing, All-Knowing) (i.e. the wealth of Allah is unlimited and His Provision for his servants is unending and infinite.)