Author: Mufti Nusratullah Esmati
The World in the Mirror of Truth (Part 9)
The World and Its Truths from the Perspective of the Sunnah
10. A Lecture by the Prophet (PBUH) about This World and the Hereafter
وَعَنْ عَمْرٍو رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ خَطَبَ يَوْمًا فَقَالَ فِي خُطْبَتِهِ
«أَلَا إِنَّ الدُّنْيَا عَرَضٌ حَاضِرٌ يَأْكُلُ مِنْهُ الْبَرُّ وَالْفَاجِرُ أَلَا وَإِنَّ الْآخِرَةَ أَجَلٌ صَادِقٌ وَيَقْضِي فِيهَا مَلِكٌ قَادِرٌ أَلَا وَإِنَّ الْخَيْرَ كُلَّهُ بِحَذَافِيرِهِ فِي الْجَنَّةِ أَلَا وَإِنَّ الشَّرَّ كُلَّهُ بِحَذَافِيرِهِ فِي النَّارِ أَلَا فَاعْمَلُوا وَأَنْتُمْ مِنَ اللَّهِ عَلَى حَذَرٍ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّكُمْ مَعْرُوضُونَ عَلَى أَعْمَالِكُمْ فَمَنْ يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ خَيْرًا يَرَهُ وَمَنْ يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ شَرًّا يَرَهُ»
Translation: “It was narrated from Hazrat Amr bin Al-Aas (MABH) that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) delivered a lecture one day and said: Be aware! The world is a fleeting and unstable commodity that is currently available to everyone, both the good and the bad. Know that the Hereafter is a true promise that will come at the appointed time, and on that day, a mighty Lord will rule over everything. Be aware that all good and blessings are in Paradise, and all evil and punishments are in Hell. So be vigilant! Act with fear of Allah, because ultimately, your deeds will be presented before Him. Whoever does a piece weight of good will see it and whoever does a piece weight of evil will also see it.”
11. Man’s Share of the World
;وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ
«يَقُولُ الْعَبْدُ: مَالِي مَالِي. وَإِنَّ مَالَهُ مِنْ مَالِهِ ثَلَاثٌ: مَا أَكَلَ فَأَفْنَى، أَوْ لَبِسَ فَأَبْلَى، أَوْ أَعْطَى فَاقْتَنَى. وَمَا سِوَى ذَلِكَ فَهُوَ ذَاهِبٌ وَتَارِكُهُ لِلنَّاسِ»
Translation: “Hazrat Abu Hurairah (MABH) narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said: ‘A servant (man) says: “My wealth! My wealth!” and takes pride in his wealth, while only three things will remain for him from his wealth: what he has eaten and destroyed, what he has worn out, and what he has given away to store for the Hereafter. But whatever is other than these three will be lost from him and will remain for others.’
The phrase “مالی مالی” means that a person is proud of his wealth and boasts about it, while he does not understand its true nature.
The phrase «أَوْ أَعْطَى فَاقْتَنَى» indicates that the true accumulation of wealth is that a person gives it away and spends it in the way of Allah to store its reward for the Day of Judgment.
As the poet says:
وَمَنْ يَحْمَدِ الدُّنْيَا لِعَيْشٍ سَرَّهُ
فَسَوْفَ، لَعَمْرِي، عَنْ قَلِيلٍ يَلُومُهَا
إِذَا أَدْبَرَتْ كَانَتْ عَلَى الْمَرْءِ حَسْرَةً
وَإِنْ أَقْبَلَتْ كَانَتْ كَثِيرًا غُمُومُهَ
Translation of the poem:
“And he who praises the world for its fleeting comfort will soon—by Allah!—blame it.
For if the world is lost, it will leave man with nothing but regret,
and if he turns to it, it will be accompanied by many sorrows and worries.”
12. Rebuke of the World
;وَعَنْهُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ
«أَلَا إِنَّ الدُّنْيَا مَلْعُونَةٌ، مَلْعُونٌ مَا فِيهَا إِلَّا ذِكْرُ اللَّهِ وَمَا وَالَاهُ، وَعَالِمٌ أَوْ مُتَعَلِّمٌ»
Translation: “It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Hurairah that the Holy Prophet (PBUH) said: Be aware! Indeed, the world is distanced from Allah’s mercy, and everything in it, except the mention of Allah and what pleases Him, as well as scholars and students, are not exempt from this rule.
The purpose of this statement by the Prophet (PBUH) is that a person should be disinterested in the world and avoid things that are not pleasing to Allah, such as forbidden actions, lest he be deprived of Allah’s mercy. On the contrary, he should focus on activities that are acceptable and pleasing to Allah, such as remembering Allah, performing righteous deeds, and acquiring knowledge, in order to be among those who are close to Allah.
13. Excessive Greed in Acquiring the World Causes Attachment to It
;وَعَنِ ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ
«لَا تَتَّخِذُوا الضَّيْعَةَ فَتَرْغَبُوا فِي الدُّنْيَا»
Translation: Hazrat Abdullah bin Masoud narrates that the Holy Prophet (PBUH) said: “Do not accumulate property and wealth to such an extent that it causes you to become dependent and attached to the world.”
In this hadith, the meaning of «ضَیعَه» is worldly tools and equipment, such as trade, agriculture, real estate, gardens, and other means of livelihood. The hadith does not imply that earning a living and providing for oneself are forbidden; rather, it warns that excessive attachment to these things leads to neglect of the Hereafter and sinking into greed. If someone focuses solely on accumulating wealth while neglecting the remembrance of Allah and the performance of acts of worship, he has actually preferred this world over the Hereafter. Therefore, a balanced use of worldly means alongside attention to the Hereafter is desirable.
14. The World is Sweet and Seductive
وَعَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ:
«إِنَّ الدُّنْيَا حُلْوَةٌ خَضِرَةٌ، وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ مُسْتَخْلِفُكُمْ فِيهَا فَيَنْظُرُ كَيْفَ تَعْمَلُونَ، فَاتَّقُوا الدُّنْيَا وَاتَّقُوا النِّسَاءَ، فَإِنَّ أَوَّلَ فِتْنَةِ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ كَانَتْ فِي النِّسَاء»
Translation: “Hazrat Abu Saeed Al-Khudri (MABH) narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said: ‘The world is sweet and green (delightful), and Allah has made you successors in it to see how you act. So beware of the trials of the world and the trials of women, because the first trial of the Children of Israel was in relation to women.’”
It is an obvious fact that the more a person’s wealth increases, the more likely he is to deviate from the path of truth. Many are attached to the glitter of the world—cars, houses, fancy clothes, and other luxuries—while being oblivious to actions that benefit their hereafter. Media and publications often focus on material well-being and worldly pleasures, neglecting spirituality and the hereafter. As a consequence, many fail to remember Allah and fall into rebellion. Allah Almighty says in the Holy Quran: «كَلَّا إِنَّ الْإِنْسَانَ لَيَطْغَى أَنْ رَآهُ اسْتَغْنَى» Translation: “Indeed, man is (strange and) rebellious when he perceives himself as self-sufficient.”
شادی دنیـــا سراســـر غـــم بود
سود او در عقـــب ماتـــم بود
نهی لاتفــرح ز قــــرآن گوش دار
جای شادی نیست دنیا، هوشــدار
شادمانی را ندارد دوست حــق
این سخـن دارم ز استــادان سـبق
گر فرح داری ز فضل حق رواست
لیک از دنیا فرح جستن خطـاست
ای پسر! با محنت و غم خـوی کن
روی دل را جانب دل جـوی کن
حزن و اندوه است قوت بندهگان
غم شود یار فرحجویندهگان
Translation:
“The joy of the world was full of sorrow, and its benefit was mourning.
Listen to the Quran that says: Do not rejoice. There is no place for joy in the world. Be alert.
The friends of Allah do not follow happiness. I speak from the masters of the past.
If you are happy, it is due to the grace of Allah, but seeking joy in the world is wrong.
O son! Through hardship and sorrow, turn your heart towards love.
Sorrow is the strength of the servants and may sorrow be the friend of those who seek joy.”
Continues…
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