It has been related by Ibn Shaddad al-Fahri that the Prophet (saws) said,
"This world, in comparison with the world to come, is the same as if one of you were to put his finger in the ocean.� Consider how much you would have when you pulled it out.
related by Sahih Muslim Kitab al-jannatu wa Na'imuha,17/191.
"Richness does not come from an abundance of wealth; [true] richness is the richness of the heart." (al-Bukhari; Muslim)
This is because a person with richness of heart is free from excessive desire for worldly goods and is focused on the Hereafter. He is content with what his Provider has bestowed upon him. Conversely, one whose heart is driven by the lust for worldly possessions is in reality a pauper, even though he possesses much, because his longing for material wealth forces him to continue desiring more. A poet says:
Venerable of heart is one who holds fast to contentment (qana'a)
And does not expose to creation his cover [his needs]
It is reported that Yūnus b. 'Ubayd (d. 139H) - Allāh have mercy on him - said:
"I only liken the worldly life (dunyā) to a man who, whilst sleeping, sees in his dream things he likes and things he does not like. Then he wakes up (the world ends and the next life starts)."
Work for this world to the extent of your stay here!
The Advice of Hazrat Sufyan Thawri رحمه الله regarding this world
Hazrat Sufyan Thawri رحمه الله was asked by someone to give him advice, but to be very brief and concise. So he advised him saying,
"Make an effort for the world to the extent of your stay here. And make an effort for the hereafter to the extent of your stay there."
Everyone knows that after leaving this world there is no return, and the life of the hereafter is everlasting. Therefore, one should make a great effort for that which is everlasting. The stay in this world is temporary. Thus, to make too much effort for it is foolishness. What a complete and comprehensive advice this is! Remember it and let it become imprinted in your heart.
[Source: What is the reality of Tasawwuf - Hazrat Maulana Shah Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar Sahab]
Malik Ibn Dinar رحمه الله asked al-Hasan al-Basri رحمه الله: "What is the consequence if an 'alim loves this world?"
He replied: "Death of the heart. When he loves this world, he will seek it through deeds of the hereafter. At such a time, the blessings of knowledge will depart from him and just the routine of knowledge will remain."
"Have you ever seen a faqeeh (jurist)? A faqeeh is one who exercises abstinence from the world (zuhd), is a seeker of the Hereafter, is insightful in the matters of his religion, and is regular in his worship of his lord." (ad-Darami)
It is reported that 'Abdullāh b. Mas'ūd - Allāh be pleased with him - said:
"This world (the dunyā) is [only taken as] a home by those who will have no real home [in Jannah], and it is the wealth of those who will have no real wealth, and it is gathered and collected for by those who have no real intelligence."
Hadrat Mahmood Ibn Labeed رضي الله عنه narrates that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
"Man dislikes two things. He dislikes death, whereas death is best for a believer so that he may be safeguarded from trials. He also dislikes a shortage of wealth, whereas this will ensure less reckoning."
"Everyone goes out in the morning and sells himself, either freeing or destroying himself." (Muslim)
Everyone who abandons the world and gives preference to the Hereafter has purchased himself from his Lord for this world. Therefore, he sets himself free. Whoever abandons the Hereafter and gives preference to this world, then he is selling the Hereafter and is destroying himself. [Mirqat al-Mafatih, vol 1, p321]
Every day a person is either going to obey Allah سبحانه و تعالى or disobey Allah سبحانه و تعالى. In essence, every day a person going to be setting himself free from the Hell fire or leading himself to the Hell fire and his own destruction. Every day of a person's life, he is either doing something that will set his soul free or he is doing something that will destroy himself. Even the person who sits at home and seemingly does absolutely nothing is, in reality, actually leading himself to some result.
Allah سبحانه و تعالى says in the Qur'an,
"Certainly, your efforts and deeds are diverse (different in aims and purposes); as for him who gives and keeps his duty to Allah and fears Him, and believes in a reward (from Allah), We will make smooth for him the path of ease (goodness). But he who is greedy and thinks himself self-sufficient, and belies the good reward, We will make smooth for him the path of evil."(92:4-10)
The one who is successful is the one who sells himself to Allah or buys his freedom from Allah سبحانه و تعالى. Allah سبحانه و تعالى has said in the Qur'an,
"Verily, Allah has purchased of the believers their lives and their properties; for the price that theirs shall be the Paradise. They fight in Allah's Cause, so they kill (others) and are killed. It is a promise in truth which is binding on Him in the Taurat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel) and the Quran. And who is truer to his covenant than Allah? Then rejoice in the bargain which you have concluded. That is the supreme success."(9:111)
They have given their lives and wealth in this world for the sake of Allah. Actually, their lives and wealth were given to them by Allah. But, in His mercy, Allah will 'take them back' in exchange for Paradise.
In another verse, Allah سبحانه و تعالى says,
"And of mankind is he who would sell himself, seeking the pleasure of Allah. And Allah is full of kindness to His slaves."(2:207)
These are the people who 'sell themselves' for the sake of Allah سبحانه و تعالى.
However, the disbelievers sell themselves to Shaytan, to this world or to their desires. Such a trade can never bring about anything beneficial because, in reality, these trading partners have nothing to offer. All that they can offer are delusions and promises that end up to be punishment in the Hereafter.
People sell themselves for money, power, lusts and so forth. Many times, they are willing to give up their dignity for these things. In reality, they are simply selling themselves in exchange for the Hellfire. Their trade is an evil one indeed. This is why Allah سبحانه و تعالى describes some of the unbelievers in following way,
"And how bad indeed was that for which they sold their own souls, if they but knew."(2:102)
Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen رحمه الله gives a comparison between the believer and unbeliever. He states that a believer gets up in the early morning and the first thing he does is make ablution and purify himself. And, 'purification is half of faith.' (Muslim) Then he goes and prays. Hence, he is beginning his morning with tawheed and belief in Allah سبحانه و تعالى. Indeed, as soon as be awakes, before he even gets to making ablution, he should recite certain words of dhikr. He is indeed setting himself free from the Hell-fire.
On the other hand, an unbeliever gets up in disobedience to Allah سبحانه و تعالى. He does not remember Allah سبحانه و تعالى and does not begin his day with specific worship of Allah سبحانه و تعالى. In fact, the food and drink he gets in the morning will be a source of punishment in the Hereafter. The clothing he wears will be a source of punishment in the Hereafter. This is because they are all bounties from Allah سبحانه و تعالى, yet he refused to give gratitude to Allah for those bounties. Hence, everyday he is selling his soul and leading himself to his own destruction. [Sharh Riyadh us Saliheen]
The word that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم used, baayi', implies one who exchanges something for something else. In that case, it applies equally well to a seller or a buyer. This is a type of speech in Arabic where the Prophet could have meant both aspects: buying and selling. In other words, every morning the person goes out and either buys himself from Allah سبحانه و تعالى or he sells himself to Shaytan. [Zarabozo: Commentary on the 40 hadeeth of an-Nawawi رحمه الله]
"By Allah, it is not poverty that I fear for you. But I fear that the world will be spread out before you as it was for the people before you. Then you shall compete in it as the people before you competed in it and it shall destroy you as it destroyed them."
This cannot be undone and I am sure it will be greatly appreciated.
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