25- EXCESSIVE LOVE FOR THE MATERIAL THINGS

KEYWORDS:

Dunya: it has two meanings. The first one is the world. The second one has a special meaning such that the things that become an obstacle in the way of obeying to the orders of Allahu ta'ala are called "Dunya."

The properties or wealth obtained through forbidden (Haram) means will not be property of a person. Using such illegally obtained property is forbidden. Collecting permissible (Halal) property which is in excess of one's necessity is a disliked action (Makruh) in religion. Not giving its "Zakat" will cause punishment in the next world (Akhirat). In one hadith, Rasulullah, peace be upon him, said, "Curses be on those who become slaves to gold and silver!" A slave always tries to gain the favor of his master. Running after worldly possessions is worse than trying to satisfy the appetite or desires of his soul (Nafs). If running after possessions and money causes one to forget about the commandments of Allahu ta'ala, then it is called "love for the world." The devil will take possession of the heart in which there is no mentioning (Dhikr) [Thought] of the name of Allahu ta'ala. The greatest trick of the devil is to encourage one to do good deeds so that one may think of himself as a pious and worthy person. This type of person becomes a slave to himself and worships himself. In one hadith, Rasulullah, peace be upon him, said, "In the past, all followers 'Ummats' of Prophets were tested with various instigations 'Fitnas'. Collecting property and money will be the instigation (Fitna) of my followers 'Ummat." They will be running after the reaches of the world and forgetting about the next world.

In one hadith, Rasulullah, peace be upon him, said, "Allahu ta'ala while creating the human beings decreed their life spans, how they are going to die, and their sustenances 'Rizqs'." The sustenance of a human being does not change, does not increase or decrease and will not be untimely in reaching that human being. As human beings seek their sustenances, so the sustenances seek their owners. There are so many poor persons that live happier lives than rich ones. Allahu ta'ala would send sustenance from unexpected sources to those who fear Him and who embrace the religion whole heartedly. It is reported in one hadith al-qudsi that Allahu ta'ala said, "Oh World! Be a servant to a person who serves me! Show difficulty to those who serve you!" and in another hadith Rasulullah, peace be upon him, said, "Oh my Lord! Give useful properties to those who love me. Give many children and much properties to those who become an enemy to me." A Jewish person passed away and left two sons and a villa behind. Two sons could not reach an agreement on how to divide the villa. They heard a voice coming through the wall saying, "Do not become an enemy to each other because of me. I was a king. I lived a long life. I stayed in the grave for 130 years. Later, they made pots out of the soil that was taken from my grave. They used that pottery for forty years in the houses. I was broken and thrown into the streets. Later, they used me to make bricks that were used for the construction of this wall. Do not fight with each other. You will become just like me."

Hasan Chalabi, may Allahu ta'ala be pleased with him, in the introduction of the book Mawakif says: Hadrat Hasan and Hadrat Husayn, may Allahu ta'ala be well pleased with them, became sick. Hadrat Ali and Hadrat Fatima and their servant girl, may Allahu ta'ala be well pleased with them, vowed to fast for three days if they become well again. They became well again. They started to fast. They had nothing to eat at the end of the fasting-day. They borrowed three "sa" - measuring quantity - barley from a Jewish person. Hadrat Fatima, may Allahu ta'ala be well pleased with her, made flour out of one "sa" barley and then baked five loaves of bread. At the end of the day, just before they were going to break their fast, a poor person came along and said, "Give me some food". They gave all the bread to him and slept hungry that night. They intended to fast again for the next day. Hadrat Fatima, may Allahu ta'ala be well pleased with her, baked five more loaves of bread with the second "sa" quantity. At the end of fasting, an orphan came along. They gave the bread to him and slept hungry again. They again intended to fast for the third day. She prepared five more loaves of bread from the last quantity of barley. At the end of the day, a slave came along and asked for food. They gave the bread to him. Allahu ta'ala sent a verse through revelation to Rasulullah, peace be upon him, and praised their vowing and their "Isar". Keeping just the necessary amount of sustenance (rizq) [property and money] and distributing the rest is called "Zuhd".

[Giving back one's rights or paying back what is due to him would be justice (Adalat). Giving more than what is due would be benevolence or favor (Ihsan). Giving away all the things that are necessary for himself would be "Isar".]

A person who has "Zuhd" is called "Zahid." Two "Rak'at" salat prayers performed by a "Zahid" scholar is more valuable than a lifetime of "salats" performed by a non-Zahid. Some of the companions, may Allahu ta'ala, be well pleased with them, said to some of the followers (Tabiin) of the companions that they were performing more worships (Amal) than the companions of Rasulullah but since companions' "Zuhd" were more than theirs, the companions were more blessed. Love and fondness for the worldly goods and properties means one's trying to obtain the money which satisfies desires of the soul (Nafs) through forbidden (Haram) ways. Love and fondness for the worldly goods and properties is running after fancy because the destruction brought by worldly pleasures is greater than any positive contributions obtained through them. They do not stay with the person permanently and go away quickly. Obtaining them is also a very difficult task. Things that do not have any positive in them, e.g., "any usefulness" is called game (La'b) and amusement or entertainment (Lahw).

["Dharurat" is the thing which saves a human being from death or from losing one of his organs or from extreme pain. "Ihtiyaj" is the thing which comforts the spirit (Ruh) and the body as well as things that are necessary for giving alms, for performing good deeds, for making pilgrimage (Hajj), for giving obligatory alsmgiving (Zakat), for slaughtering sacrificial animal (Qurban), and for giving for a loan. "Zinat" are the things that are in excess of "Ihtiyaj" and also they make one feel good by having them. Using properties that are in excess of "Ihtiyaj" for bragging or ostentation would not be "Zinat" but would be a forbidden act. It is obligatory (Fard) to earn as much as "Dharurat." Earning as much as "Ihtiyaj" is Sunnat. This is also called contentment (Kanaat). Earning as much as "Zinat" is optional (Mubah). Earning as much as to meet "Ihtiyaj" and "Zinat" is worshipping (Ibadat) but we should not violate the rules of Islam while earning these amounts. Earning as much as to meet the "Ihtiyaj" and "Zinat" by observing the "Shari'at" would be worshipping but going outside the Shari'at in order to earn wealth or properties as much as "Ihtiyaj" and "Zinat" is forbidden. The things that are obtained in this manner would be the things for the world (Dunya). "Shari'at" means the orders and prohibitions of Allahu ta'ala.]

In one hadith, Rasulullah, peace be upon him, said, "Things that are for the world 'Dunya' is cursed. Things that are for Allahu ta'ala and things that are consented by Allahu ta'ala are not cursed." Things that are for the world (Dunya) have no value in the sight of Allahu ta'ala. The sustenance (Rizq) that is earned and used by observing the rules of the religion (Shari'at) will not be a thing of the world (Dunya) but instead would be a blessing (Nimat) of the world. The most valuable blessing among the blessings of the world is the pious (Saliha) woman. A person having belief and following the rules of Islam is a pious (Salih) person. The pious woman protects her husband from committing prohibited actions and helps him to perform worships and good deeds. A non-pious woman is harmful and is one of the worldly things (Dunya). The following is reported in the hadiths, "Among the blessings of the world, my women and fine perfume are made beloved to me." And again, "If the things of the world had any value at all in the sight of Allahu ta'ala, He would not give one drop of water to the disbeliever." He is giving worldly things to disbelievers in abundance and thus leading them to disasters. Other hadiths stated, "The value of a believer in the sight of Allahu ta'ala decreases in proportion to the worldly things he owns," and "When love of the world 'Dunya' increases, the damage to the next world 'Akhirat' also increases. When love for the next world increases, the world's damage to him decreases." Hadrat Ali, may Allahu ta'ala be well pleased with him, states that this world and the next world are like the East and the West. A person who approaches one departs from the other one. In another hadith, Rasulullah, peace be upon him, said, "Running after the worldly things is like walking on the water. Is it possible for the feet not to get wet? Things that are obstacles toward clinging to the commandments of Islam are called world 'Dunya'." And "If Allahu ta'ala loves a person, He makes him Zahid in the world and Ragib in the hereafter. He would inform him of his shortcomings." And "Allahu ta'ala loves one who is Zahid in the world. Humans love the one who is Zahid in the things that humans possess." And "It is difficult for a seeker of the worldly things to attain his desires. It is easy for the seeker of the next world to attain his desires." And "Having excessive love for the world is the leading fault." It causes all kinds of errors and mistakes. The person who runs after the world, starts to dive into doubtful things, then into disliked actions (Makruhs), and then into prohibited actions (Harams) and then even dives into disbelief. The reason why the ancient people (Ummats) did not believe in their Prophets, peace be upon them, was their excessive love for the world. The love of the world (Dunya) is like wine. Anyone who drinks from it will sober up at the time of his death. Moses, peace be upon him, while traveling toward the mountain of "Tur", saw a person who was crying much. He said to Allahu ta'ala, "Oh my Lord! This slave of yours is crying much because of the fear of You." Allahu ta'ala said to Moses, "I would not forgive him even if he cries tears of blood because he has excessive love for the world." The following is reported in the hadiths, "A person who earns worldly things through permissible means will give its account in the next world. The one who earns things through prohibited means will be punished." And "If Allahu ta'ala does not love a slave of His, He will make him spend his money on prohibited (Haram) things." Building a house for bragging and ostentation is of this kind. In a hadith, Rasulullah, peace be upon him, said, "If one constructs a building with clean 'Halal' money, he will receive rewards 'Thawabs' as long as human beings derive benefit from that building." It is permissible to construct a high building with the intention of getting rid of moisture and for obtaining clean air. Constructing high buildings for bragging or for ostentation is forbidden (Haram). Imam al-a'zam Abu Hanifa, may Allahu ta'ala be pleased with him, says, "Scholars' and leaders' dresses and buildings should be with 'Zinat' so that ignorants would not be able to insult and that the enemies would see them as strong and great."