Detachment from the World
الزهدDetachment from excessive attachment to worldly life and preference for the Hereafter
Qur'an
القرآن الكريماعْلَمُوا أَنَّمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا لَعِبٌ وَلَهْوٌ وَزِينَةٌ وَتَفَاخُرٌ بَيْنَكُمْ وَتَكَاثُرٌ فِي الْأَمْوَالِ وَالْأَوْلَادِ ۖ كَمَثَلِ غَيْثٍ أَعْجَبَ الْكُفَّارَ نَبَاتُهُ ثُمَّ يَهِيجُ فَتَرَاهُ مُصْفَرًّا ثُمَّ يَكُونُ حُطَامًا ۖ وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَرِضْوَانٌ ۚ وَمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا مَتَاعُ الْغُرُورِ
Know that the life of this world is but amusement and diversion and adornment and boasting to one another and competition in increase of wealth and children - like the example of a rain whose [resulting] plant growth pleases the tillers; then it dries and you see it turned yellow; then it becomes [scattered] debris. And in the Hereafter is severe punishment and forgiveness from Allah and approval. And what is the worldly life except the enjoyment of delusion.
Translation: Saheeh International
بَلْ تُؤْثِرُونَ الْحَيَاةَ الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ وَأَبْقَىٰ
But you prefer the worldly life, while the Hereafter is better and more enduring.
Translation: Saheeh International
الْمَالُ وَالْبَنُونَ زِينَةُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا ۖ وَالْبَاقِيَاتُ الصَّالِحَاتُ خَيْرٌ عِنْدَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ أَمَلًا
Wealth and children are [but] adornment of the worldly life. But the enduring good deeds are better to your Lord for reward and better for [one's] hope.
Translation: Saheeh International
كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَائِقَةُ الْمَوْتِ ۗ وَإِنَّمَا تُوَفَّوْنَ أُجُورَكُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ۖ فَمَنْ زُحْزِحَ عَنِ النَّارِ وَأُدْخِلَ الْجَنَّةَ فَقَدْ فَازَ ۗ وَمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا مَتَاعُ الْغُرُورِ
Every soul will taste death, and you will only be given your [full] compensation on the Day of Resurrection. So he who is drawn away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise has attained [his desire]. And what is the life of this world except the enjoyment of delusion.
Translation: Saheeh International
Hadith
الحديث النبويعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " الدُّنْيَا سِجْنُ الْمُؤْمِنِ وَجَنَّةُ الْكَافِرِ ".
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:
The world is a prison-house for a believer and Paradise for a non-believer.
عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " إِنَّ الدُّنْيَا حُلْوَةٌ خَضِرَةٌ وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ مُسْتَخْلِفُكُمْ فِيهَا فَيَنْظُرُ كَيْفَ تَعْمَلُونَ فَاتَّقُوا الدُّنْيَا وَاتَّقُوا النِّسَاءَ فَإِنَّ أَوَّلَ فِتْنَةِ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ كَانَتْ فِي النِّسَاءِ " . وَفِي حَدِيثِ ابْنِ بَشَّارٍ " لِيَنْظُرَ كَيْفَ تَعْمَلُونَ " .
Abu Sa'id Khudri reported that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) 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: verily, the first trial for the people of Isra'il was caused by women. And in the hadith transmitted on the authority of Ibn Bashshar the words are:" So that He should see how you act."
عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَرَّ بِالسُّوقِ دَاخِلاً مِنْ بَعْضِ الْعَالِيَةِ وَالنَّاسُ كَنَفَتَهُ فَمَرَّ بِجَدْىٍ أَسَكَّ مَيِّتٍ فَتَنَاوَلَهُ فَأَخَذَ بِأُذُنِهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ " أَيُّكُمْ يُحِبُّ أَنَّ هَذَا لَهُ بِدِرْهَمٍ ". فَقَالُوا مَا نُحِبُّ أَنَّهُ لَنَا بِشَىْءٍ وَمَا نَصْنَعُ بِهِ قَالَ " أَتُحِبُّونَ أَنَّهُ لَكُمْ ". قَالُوا وَاللَّهِ لَوْ كَانَ حَيًّا كَانَ عَيْبًا فِيهِ لأَنَّهُ أَسَكُّ فَكَيْفَ وَهُوَ مَيِّتٌ فَقَالَ " فَوَاللَّهِ لَلدُّنْيَا أَهْوَنُ عَلَى اللَّهِ مِنْ هَذَا عَلَيْكُمْ ".
Jabir b. Abdullah reported that Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) happened to walk through the bazar coming from the side of 'Aliya and the people were on both his sides. There he found a dead lamb with very short ears. He took hold of his ear and said:
Who amongst you would like to have this for a dirham? They said: We do not like to have it even for less than that as it is of no use to us. He said: Do you wish to have it (free of any cost)? They said: By Allah, even if it were alive (we would not have liked to possess that), for there is defect in it as its ear is very short; now it is dead also. Thereupon Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: By Allah, this world is more insignificant in the eye of Allah than it (this dead lamb) is in your eye.
عَنْ مُطَرِّفٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ أَتَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَهُوَ يَقْرَأُ { أَلْهَاكُمُ التَّكَاثُرُ} قَالَ " يَقُولُ ابْنُ آدَمَ مَالِي مَالِي - قَالَ - وَهَلْ لَكَ يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ مِنْ مَالِكَ إِلاَّ مَا أَكَلْتَ فَأَفْنَيْتَ أَوْ لَبِسْتَ فَأَبْلَيْتَ أَوْ تَصَدَّقْتَ فَأَمْضَيْتَ " .
Mutarrif reported on the authority of his father:
I came to Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) as he was reciting:" Abundance diverts you" (cii. 1). He said: The son of Adam claims: My wealth, my wealth. And he (the Holy Prophet) said: O son of Adam. is there anything as your belonging except that which you consumed, which you utilised, or which you wore and then it was worn out or you gave as charity and sent it forward?
عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " يَتْبَعُ الْمَيِّتَ ثَلاَثَةٌ فَيَرْجِعُ اثْنَانِ وَيَبْقَى وَاحِدٌ يَتْبَعُهُ أَهْلُهُ وَمَالُهُ وَعَمَلُهُ فَيَرْجِعُ أَهْلُهُ وَمَالُهُ وَيَبْقَى عَمَلُهُ ".
Anas b. Malik reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:
Three things follow the bier of a dead man. Two of them come back and one is left with him: the members of his family, wealth and his good deeds. The members of his family and wealth come back and the deeds alone are left with him.
عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ عَوْفٍ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بَعَثَ أَبَا عُبَيْدَةَ بْنَ الْجَرَّاحِ إِلَى الْبَحْرَيْنِ يَأْتِي بِجِزْيَتِهَا وَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم هُوَ صَالَحَ أَهْلَ الْبَحْرَيْنِ وَأَمَّرَ عَلَيْهِمُ الْعَلاَءَ بْنَ الْحَضْرَمِيِّ فَقَدِمَ أَبُو عُبَيْدَةَ بِمَالٍ مِنَ الْبَحْرَيْنِ فَسَمِعَتِ الأَنْصَارُ بِقُدُومِ أَبِي عُبَيْدَةَ فَوَافَوْا صَلاَةَ الْفَجْرِ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَلَمَّا صَلَّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم انْصَرَفَ فَتَعَرَّضُوا لَهُ فَتَبَسَّمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم حِينَ رَآهُمْ ثُمَّ قَالَ " أَظُنُّكُمْ سَمِعْتُمْ أَنَّ أَبَا عُبَيْدَةَ قَدِمَ بِشَىْءٍ مِنَ الْبَحْرَيْنِ " فَقَالُوا أَجَلْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ " فَأَبْشِرُوا وَأَمِّلُوا مَا يَسُرُّكُمْ فَوَاللَّهِ مَا الْفَقْرَ أَخْشَى عَلَيْكُمْ وَلَكِنِّي أَخْشَى عَلَيْكُمْ أَنْ تُبْسَطَ الدُّنْيَا عَلَيْكُمْ كَمَا بُسِطَتْ عَلَى مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ فَتَنَافَسُوهَا كَمَا تَنَافَسُوهَا وَتُهْلِكَكُمْ كَمَا أَهْلَكَتْهُمْ ".
`Amr b. `Auf, who was an ally of Banu \`Amir b. Luwayy (and he was one amongst them) who participated in Badr along with Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) reported
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) sent Abu `Ubaida b. Al-Jarrah to Bahrain for collecting Jizya and Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) had made a truce with the people of Bahrain and had appointed `Ala' b. Hadrami and Abu `Ubaida (for this purpose). They came with wealth from Bahrain and the Ansar heard about the arrival of Abu `Ubaida and they had observed the dawn prayer along with Allah's Messenger (ﷺ). When Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) had finished the prayer, they (the Ansar) came before him and Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) smiled as he saw them and then said:
I think you have heard about the arrival of Abu \`Ubaida with goods from Bahrain. They said: Allah's Messenger, yes, it is so. Thereupon he said: Be happy and be hopeful of that which gives you delight. By Allah, it is not the poverty about which I fear in regard to you but I am afraid in your case that (the worldly) riches way be given to you as were given to those who had gone before you and you begin to vie with one another for them as they vied for them, and these may destroy you as these destroyed them.
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " إِذَا نَظَرَ أَحَدُكُمْ إِلَى مَنْ فُضِّلَ عَلَيْهِ فِي الْمَالِ وَالْخَلْقِ فَلْيَنْظُرْ إِلَى مَنْ هُوَ أَسْفَلَ مِنْهُ مِمَّنْ فُضِّلَ عَلَيْهِ ".
Abu Huraira reported that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said:
When one of you looks at one who stands at a higher level than you in regard to wealth and physical structure he should also see one who stands at a lower level than you in regard to these things (in which he stands) at a higher level (as compared to him).
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " إِنَّ ثَلاَثَةً فِي بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ أَبْرَصَ وَأَقْرَعَ وَأَعْمَى فَأَرَادَ اللَّهُ أَنْ يَبْتَلِيَهُمْ فَبَعَثَ إِلَيْهِمْ مَلَكًا فَأَتَى الأَبْرَصَ فَقَالَ أَىُّ شَىْءٍ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْكَ قَالَ لَوْنٌ حَسَنٌ وَجِلْدٌ حَسَنٌ وَيَذْهَبُ عَنِّي الَّذِي قَدْ قَذِرَنِي النَّاسُ . قَالَ فَمَسَحَهُ فَذَهَبَ عَنْهُ قَذَرُهُ وَأُعْطِيَ لَوْنًا حَسَنًا وَجِلْدًا حَسَنًا قَالَ فَأَىُّ الْمَالِ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْكَ قَالَ الإِبِلُ - أَوْ قَالَ الْبَقَرُ شَكَّ إِسْحَاقُ - إِلاَّ أَنَّ الأَبْرَصَ أَوِ الأَقْرَعَ قَالَ أَحَدُهُمَا الإِبِلُ وَقَالَ الآخَرُ الْبَقَرُ - قَالَ فَأُعْطِيَ نَاقَةً عُشَرَاءَ فَقَالَ بَارَكَ اللَّهُ لَكَ فِيهَا - قَالَ - فَأَتَى الأَقْرَعَ فَقَالَ أَىُّ شَىْءٍ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْكَ قَالَ شَعَرٌ حَسَنٌ وَيَذْهَبُ عَنِّي هَذَا الَّذِي قَذِرَنِي النَّاسُ . قَالَ فَمَسَحَهُ فَذَهَبَ عَنْهُ وَأُعْطِيَ شَعَرًا حَسَنًا - قَالَ - فَأَىُّ الْمَالِ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْكَ قَالَ الْبَقَرُ . فَأُعْطِيَ بَقَرَةً حَامِلاً فَقَالَ بَارَكَ اللَّهُ لَكَ فِيهَا - قَالَ - فَأَتَى الأَعْمَى فَقَالَ أَىُّ شَىْءٍ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْكَ قَالَ أَنْ يَرُدَّ اللَّهُ إِلَىَّ بَصَرِي فَأُبْصِرَ بِهِ النَّاسَ - قَالَ - فَمَسَحَهُ فَرَدَّ اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ بَصَرَهُ . قَالَ فَأَىُّ الْمَالِ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْكَ قَالَ الْغَنَمُ . فَأُعْطِيَ شَاةً وَالِدًا فَأُنْتِجَ هَذَانِ وَوَلَّدَ هَذَا - قَالَ - فَكَانَ لِهَذَا وَادٍ مِنَ الإِبِلِ وَلِهَذَا وَادٍ مِنَ الْبَقَرِ وَلِهَذَا وَادٍ مِنَ الْغَنَمِ . قَالَ ثُمَّ إِنَّهُ أَتَى الأَبْرَصَ فِي صُورَتِهِ وَهَيْئَتِهِ فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ مِسْكِينٌ قَدِ انْقَطَعَتْ بِيَ الْحِبَالُ فِي سَفَرِي فَلاَ بَلاَغَ لِيَ الْيَوْمَ إِلاَّ بِاللَّهِ ثُمَّ بِكَ أَسْأَلُكَ بِالَّذِي أَعْطَاكَ اللَّوْنَ الْحَسَنَ وَالْجِلْدَ الْحَسَنَ وَالْمَالَ بَعِيرًا أَتَبَلَّغُ عَلَيْهِ فِي سَفَرِي . فَقَالَ الْحُقُوقُ كَثِيرَةٌ . فَقَالَ لَهُ كَأَنِّي أَعْرِفُكَ أَلَمْ تَكُنْ أَبْرَصَ يَقْذَرُكَ النَّاسُ فَقِيرًا فَأَعْطَاكَ اللَّهُ فَقَالَ إِنَّمَا وَرِثْتُ هَذَا الْمَالَ كَابِرًا عَنْ كَابِرٍ . فَقَالَ إِنْ كُنْتَ كَاذِبًا فَصَيَّرَكَ اللَّهُ إِلَى مَا كُنْتَ . قَالَ وَأَتَى الأَقْرَعَ فِي صُورَتِهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ مِثْلَ مَا قَالَ لِهَذَا وَرَدَّ عَلَيْهِ مِثْلَ مَا رَدَّ عَلَى هَذَا فَقَالَ إِنْ كُنْتَ كَاذِبًا فَصَيَّرَكَ اللَّهُ إِلَى مَا كُنْتَ . قَالَ وَأَتَى الأَعْمَى فِي صُورَتِهِ وَهَيْئَتِهِ فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ مِسْكِينٌ وَابْنُ سَبِيلٍ انْقَطَعَتْ بِيَ الْحِبَالُ فِي سَفَرِي فَلاَ بَلاَغَ لِيَ الْيَوْمَ إِلاَّ بِاللَّهِ ثُمَّ بِكَ أَسْأَلُكَ بِالَّذِي رَدَّ عَلَيْكَ بَصَرَكَ شَاةً أَتَبَلَّغُ بِهَا فِي سَفَرِي فَقَالَ قَدْ كُنْتُ أَعْمَى فَرَدَّ اللَّهُ إِلَىَّ بَصَرِي فَخُذْ مَا شِئْتَ وَدَعْ مَا شِئْتَ فَوَاللَّهِ لاَ أَجْهَدُكَ الْيَوْمَ شَيْئًا أَخَذْتَهُ لِلَّهِ فَقَالَ أَمْسِكْ مَالَكَ فَإِنَّمَا ابْتُلِيتُمْ فَقَدْ رُضِيَ عَنْكَ وَسُخِطَ عَلَى صَاحِبَيْكَ ".
Abu Huraira, narrated that he heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:
There were three persons in Bani Isra'il, one suffering from leprosy, the other bald-headed and the third one blind. Allah decided to test them. So He sent an angel who came to the one who was suffering from leprosy and said: Which thing do you like most? He said: Beautiful colour and fine skin and removal of that which makes me detestable in the eye of people. He wiped him and his illness was no more and he was conferred upon beautiful colour and beautiful skin. He (the angel) again said: Which property do you like most? He said: Camels, or he said: The cow the narrator is, however, doubtful about it, but (out of the persons) suffering from leprosy or baldness one of them definitely said: The camel. And the other one said: Cow. And he (one who demanded camel) was bestowed upon a she-camel, in an advanced stage of pregnancy, and while giving he said: May Allah bless you in this. Then he came to the bald-headed person and said: Which thing do you like most? He said: Beautiful hair and that (this baldness) may be removed from me because of which people hate me. He wiped his body and his illness was removed and he was bestowed upon beautiful hair, and the angel said: Which wealth do you like most? He said: The cow. And he was given a pregnant cow and while handing it over to him he (the angel) said: May Allah bless you in this. Then he came to the blind man and he said: Which thing do you like most? He said: Allah should restore my eyesight so that I should be able to see people with the help of that. He wiped his body and Allah restored to him his eyesight, and he (the angel) also said: Which wealth do you like most? He said: The flock of sheep. And he was given a pregnant goat and that gave birth to young ones and it so happened that one valley abounded in camels and the other one in cows and the third one in sheep. He then came to the one who had suffered from leprosy in his (old) form and shape and he said: I am a poor person and my provision has run short in my journey and there is none to take me to my destination except with the help of Allah and your favour. I beg of you in His name Who gave you fine colour and fine skin, and the camel in the shape of wealth (to confer upon me) a camel which should carry me in my journey. He said: I have many responsibilities to discharge. Thereupon he said: I perceive as if I recognise you. Were you not suffering from leprosy whom people hated and you were a destitute and Allah conferred upon you (wealth)? He said: I have inherited this property from my forefathers. Thereupon he said: If you are a liar may Allah change you to that very position in which you had been. He then came to the one who was bald-headed in his (old) form and said to him the same what he had said to him (one suffering from leprosy) and he gave him the same reply as he had given him and he said: If you are a liar, may Allah turn you to your previous position in which you had been. And then he came to the blind man in his (old) form and shape and he said: I am a destitute person and a wayfarer. My provision have ran short and today there is no way to reach the destination but with the help of Allah and then with your help and I beg of you in the (name) of One Who restored your eyesight and gave you the flock of sheep to give me a sheep by which I should be able to make my provisions for the journey. He said: I was blind and Allah restored to me my eyesight; you take whatever you like and leave whatever you like. By Allah, I shall not stand in your way today for what you take in the name of God. Thereupon, he said: You keep with you what you have (in your possession). The fact is that you three were put to test and Allah is well pleased with you and He is annoyed with your companions.
عَنْ عَامِرِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ قَالَ كَانَ سَعْدُ بْنُ أَبِي وَقَّاصٍ فِي إِبِلِهِ فَجَاءَهُ ابْنُهُ عُمَرُ فَلَمَّا رَآهُ سَعْدٌ قَالَ أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ شَرِّ هَذَا الرَّاكِبِ فَنَزَلَ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَنَزَلْتَ فِي إِبِلِكَ وَغَنَمِكَ وَتَرَكْتَ النَّاسَ يَتَنَازَعُونَ الْمُلْكَ بَيْنَهُمْ فَضَرَبَ سَعْدٌ فِي صَدْرِهِ فَقَالَ اسْكُتْ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْعَبْدَ التَّقِيَّ الْغَنِيَّ الْخَفِيَّ " .
It is reported on the authority of Amir b. Sa'd that Sa'd b. Abi Waqqas was in the fold of his camels that his son 'Umar came to him. When Sa'd saw him he said:
I seek refuge with Allah from the mischief of this rider. And as he got down he said to him: You are busy with your camels and your sheep and you have abandoned people who are contending with one another for kingdom. Sa'd struck his chest and said: Keep quiet. I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: Allah loves the servant who is God-conscious and is free from want and is hidden (from the view of people).
عَنْ خَالِدِ بْنِ عُمَيْرٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عُتْبَةَ بْنَ غَزْوَانَ يَقُولُ لَقَدْ رَأَيْتُنِي سَابِعَ سَبْعَةٍ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَا طَعَامُنَا إِلاَّ وَرَقُ الْحُبْلَةِ حَتَّى قَرِحَتْ أَشْدَاقُنَا.
Khalid b. Umair reported:
I heard Uqba b. Ghazwan as saving: I found myself as the seventh amongst the seven who had been along with Allah's Messenger (ﷺ). We had nothing to eat but the leaves of hubla (a wild tree) until the corners of our mouths were injured.
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْ رِزْقَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ قُوتًا ".
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:
O Allah, make for the family of Muhammad the provision which is a bare subsistence.
عَنْ عَائِشَةَ قَالَتْ مَا شَبِعَ آلُ مُحَمَّدٍ صلى الله عليه وسلم مُنْذُ قَدِمَ الْمَدِينَةَ مِنْ طَعَامِ بُرٍّ ثَلاَثَ لَيَالٍ تِبَاعًا حَتَّى قُبِضَ.
'A'isha reported:
Never had the family of Muhammad (ﷺ) eaten to the fill since their, arrival in Medina with the bread of wheat for three successive nights until his (Holy Prophet's) death.
عَنْ عَائِشَةَ قَالَتْ إِنْ كُنَّا آلَ مُحَمَّدٍ صلى الله عليه وسلم لَنَمْكُثُ شَهْرًا مَا نَسْتَوْقِدُ بِنَارٍ إِنْ هُوَ إِلاَّ التَّمْرُ وَالْمَاءُ.
'A'isha reported:
We the family of Muhammad (ﷺ) used to spend (the whole) month in which we (did not need to) kindle the fire as (we had nothing to cook) ; we had only dates and water (to fill our bellies).
عَنْ أَبِي أُمَامَةَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " إِنَّ أَغْبَطَ أَوْلِيَائِي عِنْدِي لَمُؤْمِنٌ خَفِيفُ الْحَاذِ ذُو حَظٍّ مِنَ الصَّلاَةِ أَحْسَنَ عِبَادَةَ رَبِّهِ وَأَطَاعَهُ فِي السِّرِّ وَكَانَ غَامِضًا فِي النَّاسِ لاَ يُشَارُ إِلَيْهِ بِالأَصَابِعِ وَكَانَ رِزْقُهُ كَفَافًا فَصَبَرَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ ". ثُمَّ نَفَضَ بِيَدِهِ فَقَالَ " عُجِّلَتْ مَنِيَّتُهُ قَلَّتْ بَوَاكِيهِ قَلَّ تُرَاثُهُ ". وَبِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " عَرَضَ عَلَىَّ رَبِّي لِيَجْعَلَ لِي بَطْحَاءَ مَكَّةَ ذَهَبًا قُلْتُ لاَ يَا رَبِّ وَلَكِنْ أَشْبَعُ يَوْمًا وَأَجُوعُ يَوْمًا أَوْ قَالَ ثَلاَثًا أَوْ نَحْوَ هَذَا فَإِذَا جُعْتُ تَضَرَّعْتُ إِلَيْكَ وَذَكَرْتُكَ وَإِذَا شَبِعْتُ شَكَرْتُكَ وَحَمِدْتُكَ ".
Abu Umamah narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:
"Indeed the best of my friends to me is the one of meager conditions, whose share is in Salat, worshipping his Lord well and obeying Him even in private. He is obscure among the people such that the fingers are not pointed towards him. His provisions are only what is sufficient and he is patient with that." Then he tapped with his fingers and said: "His death comes quickly, his mourners are few, and his inheritance is little."
With this chain it is narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: "My Lord presented to me that He would make the valley of Makkah into gold for me. I said: 'No, O Lord! But being filled for a day and hungry for a day' — or he said three days or something like that — 'So when I am hungry, I would beseech You and remember You, and when I am full I would be grateful to You and praise You.'"
عَنْ سِمَاكٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ النُّعْمَانَ بْنَ بَشِيرٍ يَقُولُ أَلَسْتُمْ فِي طَعَامٍ وَشَرَابٍ مَا شِئْتُمْ لَقَدْ رَأَيْتُ نَبِيَّكُمْ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَمَا يَجِدُ مِنَ الدَّقَلِ مَا يَمْلأُ بِهِ بَطْنَهُ.
Nu'man b. Bashir said:
Don't you eat and drink according to your heart's desire, whereas I saw that your Prophet (ﷺ) (at times) could not find even an inferior quality of the dates with which he could fill his belly? Qutaiba, however, did not make a mention of It.
عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " مَنْ كَانَتِ الآخِرَةُ هَمَّهُ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ غِنَاهُ فِي قَلْبِهِ وَجَمَعَ لَهُ شَمْلَهُ وَأَتَتْهُ الدُّنْيَا وَهِيَ رَاغِمَةٌ وَمَنْ كَانَتِ الدُّنْيَا هَمَّهُ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ فَقْرَهُ بَيْنَ عَيْنَيْهِ وَفَرَّقَ عَلَيْهِ شَمْلَهَ وَلَمْ يَأْتِهِ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا إِلاَّ مَا قُدِّرَ لَهُ ".
Anas ibn Malik reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said,
“Whoever is concerned about the Hereafter, Allah will place richness in his heart, bring his affairs together, and the world will inevitably come to him. Whoever is concerned about the world, Allah will place poverty between his eyes, disorder his affairs, and he will get nothing of the world but what is decreed for him.”
عَنْ سِمَاكِ بْنِ حَرْبٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ النُّعْمَانَ يَخْطُبُ قَالَ ذَكَرَ عُمَرُ مَا أَصَابَ النَّاسُ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا فَقَالَ لَقَدْ رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَظَلُّ الْيَوْمَ يَلْتَوِي مَا يَجِدُ دَقَلاً يَمْلأُ بِهِ بَطْنَهُ.
Simak b. Barb reported:
I heard Nu'man deliver an address in which he said that (Hadrat) Umar made a mention of what had fallen to the lot of people out of the material world and he said: I saw Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) spend the whole day being upset because of hunger and he could not get even an interior quality of dates with which he could fill his belly.
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ أَنَّهُ قَالَ لِمَنْ سَأَلَهُ أَلَسْنَا مِنْ فُقَرَاءِ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ أَلَكَ امْرَأَةٌ تَأْوِي إِلَيْهَا قَالَ نَعَمْ قَالَ أَلَكَ مَسْكَنٌ تَسْكُنُهُ قَالَ نَعَمْ قَالَ فَأَنْتَ مِنَ الأَغْنِيَاءِ قَالَ فَإِنَّ لِي خَادِمًا قَالَ فَأَنْتَ مِنَ الْمُلُوكِ . ثُمَّ قَالَ لِثَلاَثَةِ نَفَرٍ إِنْ شِئْتُمْ صَبَرْتُمْ فَإِنِّي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " إِنَّ فُقَرَاءَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ يَسْبِقُونَ الأَغْنِيَاءَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ بِأَرْبَعِينَ خَرِيفًا " قَالُوا فَإِنَّا نَصْبِرُ لاَ نَسْأَلُ شَيْئًا.
'Abd al-Rahman al-Hubuli reported:
I heard that a person asked 'Abdullah b. 'Amr b. 'As and heard him saying: Are we not amongst the destitute of the emigrants? Abdullah said to him: Have you a spouse with whom you live? He said: Yes. Abdullah asked: Do you not have a home in which you reside? The man replied "Yes." Abdullah said: Then you are amongst the rich. He said: I have a servant also. Thereupon he (Abdullah b. 'Amr b. 'As) said: Then you are amongst the kings. Abu 'Abd al-Rahman reported that three persons came to 'Abdullah b. Amr b. 'As while I was sitting with him and they said: By Allah, we have nothing with us either in the form of provision, riding animals or wealth. Thereupon he said to them: I am prepared to do whatever you like. If you come to us, we would give you what Allah would make available for you. and if you like I would make a mention of your case to the ruler, and if you like you can show patience also. for I have heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: The destitute amongst the emigrants would precede the rich emigrants by forty years in getting into Paradise on the Day of Resurrection. Thereupon they said: We then, show patience and do not ask for anything.
عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ ثَابِتٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَنْ كَانَتْ الدُّنْيَا هَمَّهُ فَرَّقَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ أَمْرَهُ وَجَعَلَ فَقْرَهُ بَيْنَ عَيْنَيْهِ وَلَمْ يَأْتِهِ مِنْ الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا مَا كُتِبَ لَهُ وَمَنْ كَانَتْ الْآخِرَةُ نِيَّتَهُ جَمَعَ اللَّهُ لَهُ أَمْرَهُ وَجَعَلَ غِنَاهُ فِي قَلْبِهِ وَأَتَتْهُ الدُّنْيَا وَهِيَ رَاغِمَةٌ
Zayd ibn Thabit reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Whoever is concerned about the world, Allah will disorder his affairs, make poverty appear before his eyes, and he will not get anything from the world but what has been decreed for him. Whoever is concerned about the Hereafter, Allah will settle his affairs, make him content in his heart, and the world will reluctantly come to him.”
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَنْ جَعَلَ الْهُمُومَ هَمًّا وَاحِدًا هَمَّ الْمَعَادِ كَفَاهُ اللَّهُ هَمَّ دُنْيَاهُ وَمَنْ تَشَعَّبَتْ بِهِ الْهُمُومُ فِي أَحْوَالِ الدُّنْيَا لَمْ يُبَالِ اللَّهُ فِي أَيِّ أَوْدِيَتِهِ هَلَكَ.
Abdullah ibn Mas’ud reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said,
Whoever focuses on only one concern, the afterlife, Allah will be enough for his concerns in the world. Whoever scatters his concerns among the matters of the world, it does not matter to Allah in which valley he meets his demise.”
عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لَوْ كَانَتِ الدُّنْيَا تَعْدِلُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ جَنَاحَ بَعُوضَةٍ مَا سَقَى كَافِرًا مِنْهَا شَرْبَةَ مَاءٍ ".
Sahl ibn Sa’d reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said,
“If the world were as worthy to Allah as the wing of a mosquito, an unbeliever would not even be given a sip of water.”
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَلَا إِنَّ الدُّنْيَا مَلْعُونَةٌ مَلْعُونٌ مَا فِيهَا إِلَّا ذِكْرُ اللَّهِ وَمَا وَالَاهُ وَعَالِمٌ أَوْ مُتَعَلِّمٌ
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, "Is not the world cursed and everything in it? Except for the remembrance of Allah and what facilitates it, the scholar or the student."
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَا تَتَّخِذُوا الضَّيْعَةَ فَتَرْغَبُوا فِي الدُّنْيَا.
Abdullah ibn Mas’ud reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said,
“Do not be preoccupied with accumulating much wealth, such that you place your hope in the world.”
عَنْ ابْنِ كَعْبِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ الأَنْصَارِيِّ عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " مَا ذِئْبَانِ جَائِعَانِ أُرْسِلاَ فِي غَنَمٍ بِأَفْسَدَ لَهَا مِنْ حِرْصِ الْمَرْءِ عَلَى الْمَالِ وَالشَّرَفِ لِدِينِهِ ".
Ibn Ka'b bin Malik Al-Ansari narrated from his father, that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said:
"Two wolves free among sheep are no more destructive to them than a man's desire for wealth and honor is to his religion."
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ عَنْ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ يَخْرُجُ فِي آخِرِ الزَّمَانِ رِجَالٌ يَخْتِلُونَ الدُّنْيَا بِالدِّينِ يَلْبَسُونَ لِلنَّاسِ جُلُودَ الضَّأْنِ مِنْ اللِّينِ أَلْسِنَتُهُمْ أَحْلَى مِنْ السُّكَّرِ وَقُلُوبُهُمْ قُلُوبُ الذِّئَابِ.
Abu Huraira reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said,
Men will appear near the end of time who seek the worldly life with religion, confusing the people. Their skin is as soft as sheep, their words are sweeter than sugar, yet their hearts are like the hearts of wolves.”
عَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ دَعُوا الدُّنْيَا لأَهْلِهَا مَنْ أَخَذَ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا فَوْقَ مَا يَكْفِيهِ أَخَذَ حَتْفَه وَهُو لَا يَشْعُرُ.
Anas reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said,
“Leave the world to its people. Whoever takes from the world more than what suffices him, he has taken a portion of his ruin while he is unaware.”
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَنْ أَشْرَبَ قَلْبَهُ حُبَّ الدُّنْيَا الْتَاطَ مِنْهَا بِثَلَاثٍ شَقَاءٍ لَا يَنْفَدُ عَنَاهُ وَحِرْصٍ لَا يَبْلُغُ غِنَاهُ وَأَمَلٍ لَا يَبْلُغُ مُنْتَهَاهُ فَالدُّنْيَا طَالِبَةٌ وَمَطْلُوبَةٌ فَمَنْ طَلَبَ الدُّنْيَا طَلَبَتْهُ الْآخِرَةُ حَتَّى يَأْتِيَهُ الْمَوْتُ فَيَأْخُذَهُ وَمَنْ طَلَبَ الْآخِرَةَ طَلَبَتْهُ الدُّنْيَا حَتَّى يَسْتَوْفِيَ مِنْهَا رِزْقَهُ.
Abdullah ibn Mas’ud reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said,
“Whoever absorbs his heart in love of the world will be entangled by three things: misery that will not cease to discomfort him, greed that will not achieve his independence, and vain hopes that will never reach their end. For the world is seeking and is sought. Whoever seeks the world, the Hereafter will pursue him until death comes to him and it seizes him. Whoever seeks the Hereafter, the world will pursue him until he exhausts his provision from it.”
عَنْ خَبَّابِ بْنِ الْأَرَتِّ قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِنَّمَا يَكْفِي أَحَدَكُمْ مَا كَانَ فِي الدُّنْيَا مِثْلُ زَادِ الرَّاكِبِ.
Khabbab ibn al-Aratt reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said,
“Verily, it is enough for you to have in the world the likes of a traveler’s provision.”
عَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ خَطَّ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم خُطُوطًا فَقَالَ " هَذَا الأَمَلُ وَهَذَا أَجَلُهُ فَبَيْنَمَا هُوَ كَذَلِكَ إِذْ جَاءَهُ الْخَطُّ الأَقْرَبُ ".
Anas ibn Malik reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, drew some lines in the sand and he said,
“This one is the worldly hopes of man and the other is his lifespan. A man will continue like this until the other line overtakes him.”
عَنْ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ رضى الله عنهما يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " لَوْ كَانَ لاِبْنِ آدَمَ وَادِيَانِ مِنْ مَالٍ لاَبْتَغَى ثَالِثًا وَلاَ يَمْلأُ جَوْفَ ابْنِ آدَمَ إِلاَّ التُّرَابُ وَيَتُوبُ اللَّهُ عَلَى مَنْ تَابَ ".
Narrated Ibn 'Abbas:
I heard the Prophet (ﷺ) saying, "If the son of Adam had two valleys of money, he would wish for a third, for nothing can fill the belly of Adam's son except dust, and Allah forgives him who repents to Him."
عَنْ أُبَيِّ بْنِ كَعْبٍ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ إِنَّ مَطْعَمَ ابْنِ آدَمَ ضُرِبَ لِلدُّنْيَا مَثَلًا بِمَا خَرَجَ مِنَ ابْنِ آدَمَ وَإِنْ قَزَّحَهُ وَمَلَّحَهُ فَانْظُرْ مَا يَصِيرُ إِلَيْهِ.
Ubayy ibn Ka’b reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said,
“Verily, the food of the son of Adam presents a parable for the worldly life in what the son of Adam defecates. He garnishes the food and seasons it, yet look at what it becomes.”
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ قَالَ اضْطَجَعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَلَى حَصِيرٍ فَأَثَّرَ فِي جَنْبِهِ فَلَمَّا اسْتَيْقَظَ جَعَلْتُ أَمْسَحُ جَنْبَهُ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَلَا آذَنْتَنَا حَتَّى نَبْسُطَ لَكَ عَلَى الْحَصِيرِ شَيْئًا فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَا لِي وَلِلدُّنْيَا مَا أَنَا وَالدُّنْيَا إِنَّمَا مَثَلِي وَمَثَلُ الدُّنْيَا كَرَاكِبٍ ظَلَّ تَحْتَ شَجَرَةٍ ثُمَّ رَاحَ وَتَرَكَهَا.
Abdullah ibn Mas’ud reported:
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, laid down upon a reed mat and it left marks on his side. When he woke up, I started wiping his side, and I said, “O Messenger of Allah, why do you not let us spread something on top of this mat for you?” The Prophet said, “What is the world to me? What am I to the world? Verily, the parable of myself and this world is that of a rider who seeks shade under a tree, then he moves on and leaves it behind.”
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى يَقُولُ يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ تَفَرَّغْ لِعِبَادَتِي أَمْلَأْ صَدْرَكَ غِنًى وَأَسُدَّ فَقْرَكَ وَإِلَّا تَفْعَلْ مَلَأْتُ يَدَيْكَ شُغْلًا وَلَمْ أَسُدَّ فَقْرَكَ.
Abu Huraira reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said,
“Allah Almighty said: O son of Adam, use your free time to worship Me and I will fill your heart with riches and alleviate your poverty, otherwise I will fill your life with troubles and never relieve your poverty.”
عَنْ الْمُسْتَوْرِدِ بْنِ شَدَّادٍ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " وَاللَّهِ مَا الدُّنْيَا فِي الآخِرَةِ إِلاَّ مِثْلُ مَا يَجْعَلُ أَحَدُكُمْ إِصْبَعَهُ هَذِهِ فِي الْيَمِّ فَلْيَنْظُرْ بِمَ يَرْجِعُ ".
Al-Mustawrid ibn Shaddad reported that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said:
"By Allah, this world in comparison to the Hereafter is like one of you dipping his finger into the ocean; let him see what it brings back."
عَنْ عَبْد اللَّهِ الْهَوْزَنِي قَالَ لَقِيتُ بِلَالًا مُؤَذِّنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِحَلَبَ فَقُلْتُ يَا بِلَالُ حَدِّثْنِي كَيْفَ كَانَتْ نَفَقَةُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ مَا كَانَ لَهُ شَيْءٌ كُنْتُ أَنَا الَّذِي أَلِي ذَلِكَ مِنْهُ مُنْذُ بَعَثَهُ اللَّهُ إِلَى أَنْ تُوُفِّيَ وَكَانَ إِذَا أَتَاهُ الْإِنْسَانُ مُسْلِمًا فَرَآهُ عَارِيًا يَأْمُرُنِي فَأَنْطَلِقُ فَأَسْتَقْرِضُ فَأَشْتَرِي لَهُ الْبُرْدَةَ فَأَكْسُوهُ وَأُطْعِمُهُ
Narrated Abdullah al-Hawzani:
I met Bilal, the Mu'adhdhin of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) at Aleppo, and said: Bilal, tell me, what was the financial position of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)?
He said: He had nothing. It was I who managed it on his behalf since the day Allah made him Prophet of Allah (ﷺ) until he died. When a Muslim man came to him and he found him naked, he ordered me (to clothe him). I would go, borrow (some money), and purchase a cloak for him. I would then clothe him and feed him.
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ دَخَلَ عَلَى بِلَالٍ فَوَجَدَ عِنْدَهُ صُبَرًا مِنْ تَمْرٍ فَقَالَ مَا هَذَا يَا بِلَالُ فَقَالَ تَمْرًا ادَّخَرْتَهُ لَكَ فَقَالَ وَيْحَكَ يَا بِلَالُ أَمَا تَخَافُ أَنْ يَكُونَ لَهُ بُخَارٌ فِي النَّارِ أَنْفِقْ يَا بِلَالُ وَلَا تَخْشَ مِنْ ذِي الْعَرْشِ إقْلَالًا
Abu Huraira reported:
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, entered the room of Bilal and he found a pile of dates with him. The Prophet said, “What is this, O Bilal?” Bilal said, “They are dates I have stored for you.” The Prophet said, “Woe to you, O Bilal! Are you not afraid they will become your fumes in the Hellfire? Spend them in charity, O Bilal, and do not fear that the One upon the Throne will leave you bereft.”
عَنْ أَبِي حُمَيْدٍ السَّاعِدِيُّ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ أَجْمِلُوا فِي طَلَبِ الدُّنْيَا فَإِنَّ كُلًّا مُيَسَّرٌ لِمَا كُتِبَ لَهُ مِنْهَا.
Abu Humayd al-Sa’idi reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said,
“Be moderate in seeking from the world, for everyone will be facilitated towards what has been decreed for him in it.”
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَنْ طَلَبَ الدُّنْيَا أَضَرَّ بِالآخِرَةِ وَمَنْ طَلَبَ الآخِرَةَ أَضَرَّ بِالدُّنْيَا فَأَضِرُّوا بِالْفَانِي لِلْبَاقِي.
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said,
“Whoever seeks the world will be harmed in the Hereafter, and whoever seeks the Hereafter will be harmed in the world. Thus, be harmed by the ephemeral for the sake of the everlasting.”
عَنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ أَنَّهُ أَتَى النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ إِنِّي أُحِبُّكُمْ أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ فَقَالَ لَهُ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ اللَّهَ فَأَعِدَّ لِلْفَقْرِ تِجْفَافًا فَإِنَّ الْفَقْرَ أَسْرَعُ إِلَى مَنْ يُحِبُّنَا مِنَ السَّيْلِ مِنْ أَعْلَى الْأَكَمَةِ إِلَى أَسْفَلِهَا.
Abu Dharr reported:
He came to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and he said, “Indeed, I love the people of your house!” The Prophet said to him, “By Allah? Then prepare to endure poverty, for poverty quickly approaches those who love us faster than a torrent flows from the highest hillock to its lowest part.”
عَنْ أَبِي أُمَامَةَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى الله عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمْ سَيَكُونُ رِجَالٌ مِنْ أُمَّتِي يَأْكُلُونَ أَلْوَانَ الطَّعَامِ وَيَشْرَبُونَ أَلْوَانَ الشَّرَابِ وَيُلْبِسُونَ أَلْوَانَ اللِّبَاسِ وَيَتَشَدَّقُونَ فِي الْكَلَامِ فَأُولَئِكَ شِرَارُ أُمَّتِي.
Abu Umamah reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said,
“There will be men from my nation who eat a variety of foods, drink a variety of drinks, wear a variety of clothes, and are boastful in their speech. These are the worst of my nation.”
عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَدْعُو يَقُولُ اللَّهُمَّ قَنِّعْنِي بِمَا رَزَقْتَنِي وَبَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ وَاخْلُفْ عَلَيَّ كُلَّ غَائِبَةٍ لِي بِخَيْرٍ.
Ibn Abbas reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, used to supplicate,
“O Allah, make me content with what You have provided for me, bless me in it, and replace everything I do not have with something better.”
عَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَسْتُ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا وَلَيْسَتْ مِنِّي إِنِّي بُعِثْتُ وَالسَّاعَةَ نَسْتَبِقُ.
Anas reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said,
“I am not of the world and it is not of me. Verily, I have been sent and the Hour is not far behind.”
عَنْ أَبِي أُمَامَةَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِنَّ الْبَذَاذَةَ مِنْ الْإِيمَانِ إِنَّ الْبَذَاذَةَ مِنْ الْإِيمَانِ يَعْنِي التَّقَحُّلَ.
Abu Umamah reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said,
“Verily, humble living is part of faith, humble living is part of faith,” meaning asceticism.
عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى الأَشْعَرِيِّ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَلا إِنَّ الدِّينَارَ وَالدِّرْهَمَ أَهْلَكَا مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ وَهُمَا مُهْلِكَاكُمْ.
Abu Musa reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said,
“Surely, there is no doubt that gold and silver coins destroyed those before you, for they are both causes of your ruin.”
عَنْ مُعَاذِ بْنِ جَبَلٍ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَمَّا بَعَثَ بِهِ إِلَى الْيَمَنِ قَالَ إِيَّاكَ وَالتَّنَعُّمَ فَإِنَّ عِبَادَ اللَّهِ لَيْسُوا بِالْمُتَنَعِّمِينَ.
Mu’adh ibn Jabal reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, sent him to Yemen and he said,
“Beware of luxury, for the servants of Allah do not live luxuriously.”
عَنْ مَحْمُودِ بْنِ لَبِيدٍ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يَحْمِي عَبْدَهُ الْمُؤْمِنَ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَهُوَ يُحِبُّهُ كَمَا تَحْمُونَ مَرِيضَكُمْ الطَّعَامَ وَالشَّرَابَ تَخَافُونَ عَلَيْهِ.
Mahmud ibn Labid reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said,
“Verily, Allah Almighty will put his faithful servant on a diet from the world when He loves him, just as you put your sick on a diet from food and drink, fearing for him.”
عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ ازْهَدْ فِي الدُّنْيَا يحِبُّكَ اللهُ وَأَمَّا النَّاسُ فَانْبِذْ إِلَيْهِمْ هَذَا يُحِبُّوكَ
Anas ibn Malik reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Renounce the worldly life and Allah will love you. As for people, leave this to them and they will love you.”
Statements of the Salaf
أقوال السلفعَنْ وَهْبِ بْنِ مُنَبِّهٍ رحمه الله قَالَ مَثَلُ الدُّنْيَا وَالآخِرَةِ كَمَثَلِ رَجُلٍ لَهُ ضَرَّتَانِ إِنْ أَرْضَى أَحَدَهُمَا أَسْخَطَ الأخْرَى
The parable of this world and the Hereafter is that of a man with two wives. If he pleases one of them, he will displease the other.
عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ عَنِ ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ أَنْتُمْ أَطْوَلُ جِهَادًا وَأَكْثَرُ صَلاةً مِنْ أَصْحَابِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَكَانُوا خَيْرًا مِنْكُمْ قَالُوا وَلِمَ قَالَ كَانُوا أَزْهَدَ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَأَرْغَبَ فِي الآخِرَةِ مِنْكُمْ
You strive for longer and you perform more prayers than the companions of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, yet they are better than you. They said, “Why is that?” Ibn Mas’ud said, “They were less interested in the world, and more desirous of the Hereafter than you.”
Source: Ibn Abī al-Dunyā, al-Zuhd 237
قال أَيُّوبَ السِّخْتِيَانِيَّ رحمه الله لا يَنْبُلُ الرَّجُلُ حَتَّى تَكُونَ فِيهِ خَصْلَتَانِ الْعِفَّةُ عَمَّا بِيَدِ النَّاسِ وَالتَّجَاوُزُ عنهم
A man will not achieve nobility until he has two qualities: to be indifferent to what people possess, and to pardon them.
Source: Ibn Ḥibbān, Rawḍat al-ʿUqalāʾ wa Nuzhat al-Fuḍalāʾ 1/167
Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, would give seventy thousand coins in charity while her clothes were covered in patches.
Source: al-Zuhd wal-Raqāʾiq 754
Concern about the world is a darkness in the heart, and concern about the Hereafter is a light in the heart.
Source: al-Zuhd li-Ibn Abī al-Dunyā 543
To renounce the world does not mean to forbid what is allowed, nor to squander wealth. Verily, to renounce the world means to be more reliant on what is in the hand of Allah than your own hand. If you are afflicted with a calamity, you have stronger hope for the reward in store for you, if you continue to endure it.
Source: al-Zuhd li-Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal 96
Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, when he arrived in Syria, he said to Abu ‘Ubaydah, “Let us go to your house.” Abu ‘Ubaydah said, “You want nothing but to shed tears for me?” Umar entered his house and he saw nothing. Umar said, “Where are your provisions? I do not see anything but rags, a water-skin, and a dish. You are governor! Do you have food?” Abu ‘Ubaydah went to a bucket and took out some scraps, and Umar wept. Abu ‘Ubaydah said to him, “I told you that you would shed tears over me, O commander of the faithful. It is enough for you to have in the world what lets you reach the final place of rest.” Umar said, “The world has changed all of us except for you, O Abu ‘Ubaydah.”
Source: al-Zuhd li-Abī Dāwūd 115
You know that greed is poverty and renunciation is independence. Verily, whoever renounces his desire for what people have, he will be independent of them.
Source: al-Zuhd wal-Raqāʾiq 631
What is the definition of temperance? It is that you are grateful in prosperity and patient in adversity. If one is like that, he is temperate. What is gratitude? It is that you avoid what Allah has prohibited.
Source: Shuʿab al-Īmān 4214
Whoever renounces the worldly life, afflictions will be made easy for him. Whoever expects to die, he will hasten to good deeds.
In another narration, Ali said, “Whoever yearns for Paradise, he will forget his lusts. Whoever is afraid of the Hellfire, he will turn away from unlawful deeds.”
Source: al-Zuhd li-Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal 92
When a servant renounces the world, Allah will cause wisdom to grow in his heart and to come forth from his tongue. He will grant him insight into the faults of the world, its diseases, and its cures.
Source: Ḥilyat al-Awliyāʾ 6/389
Verily, the kings have left the Hereafter to you, so leave the world to them.
Source: Siyar Aʿlām al-Nubalāʾ 7/278
Statements of Scholars
أقوال العلماءO son of Adam, you seek the world as one seeks what he must have, and you seek the Hereafter as one who has no need of it. The world will suffice you as long as you do not seek it, yet by seeking the Hereafter you will acquire it. Thus, understand your affair.
Source: Ṣifat al-Ṣafwah 2/294
The world has no worth to its Lord, although he owns it. It should not be worthwhile to you, while you do not own it.
Source: Ḥilyat al-Awliyāʾ 15031
It was said to Abu Yazid, may Allah have mercy on him, “What do you want?” Abu Yazid said, “I want not to want.” Ibn al-Qayyim said, “He wanted the lower-self to be cut off from its aims… so he guarded his will and restricted it from anything besides Allah Almighty.”
Source: Madārij al-Sālikīn 1/462
I have not satiated myself for sixteen years, as I have cast fullness aside. For satiety puts heaviness in the body, hardens the heart, causes loss of intelligence, induces sleepiness, and weakens the performance of the worshiper.
The circle of Ahmad ibn Hanbal, may Allah be pleased with him, was a circle of the Hereafter, as he would not mention the affairs of the world therein. I never once saw Ahmad ibn Hanbal mentioning the world.
Source: Tārīkh Dimashq 5/291
وَكَانَ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَسْخَى النَّاسِ لَا يَبِيتُ عِنْدَهُ دِينَارٌ وَلَا دِرْهَمٌ وَإِنْ فَضَلَ شَيْءٌ وَلَمْ يَجِدْ مَنْ يُعْطِيهِ وَفَجَأَهُ اللَّيْلُ لَمْ يَأْوِ إِلَى مَنْزِلِهِ حَتَّى يَتَبَرَّأَ مِنْهُ إِلَى مَنْ يَحْتَاجُ إِلَيْهِ
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was the most generous of people. He would not pass the night if he had a gold or silver coin with him. If he had any surplus and he could find no one to give it to and nighttime suddenly arrived, he would not retire to his house until he donated it to whoever needed it.
Source: al-Ghazālī, Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn 2/360