Imām Ibn Qudāmah -rahimahullāh-
Said:
Az-Zuhd, its Status, Stages and Categories.
Know verily that, Zuhd in this Dunya is a lofty stage amongst the stages of those who travel on the path of Allāh, and Zuhd means shunning away from something to a better and more praiseworthy one, and it is expected that the one renounced should have some level of value, thus, whoever forsakes a thing which has no value nor attraction, cannot be termed as a Zāhid; like the one who shunned away from sand cannot be called a Zāhid.
And it is known that the term Zāhid is normally applicable to one who renounced the luxuries of the transitory life, hence, whoever forsakes everything and loves Allāh Ta’āla alone, is indeed a perfect Zāhid, and whoever renounces the luxuries of the Dunya while hastening towards Jannah and its pleasures, is also considered a Zāhid though his stage is not up to the former.
However, know that, it is not of Zuhd to shun away from wealth, spending it in a generous way and wining over hearts, rather Zuhd is for one to turn away from the Dunya due to the knowledge one possessed of its pettiness as against the Hereafter.
Therefore, whoever knows that Dunya is as though an ice which melts away with time while the Hereafter is as though a pearl which remains forever, then his decision and resolve of giving up the dunya for Hereafter become stronger and solid.
In this context, Allāh says:
قُلْ مَتَاعُ الدُّنْيَا قَلِيلٌ وَالْآخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ لِّمَنِ اتَّقَىٰ
The provision of this world is short, and the Hereafter is better for him who guards (against evil);
Sūratu An-Nisa, Verse 77.
مَا عِندَكُمْ يَنفَدُ وَمَا عِندَ اللَّهِ بَاقٍ.
What is with you passes away and what is with Allāh is enduring;
Sūratu An-Nahl, Verse 96.
And amongst the virtues of Zuhd is where Allāh Ta’āla says:
وَلَا تَمُدَّنَّ عَيْنَيْكَ إِلَىٰ مَا مَتَّعْنَا بِهِ أَزْوَاجًا مِّنْهُمْ زَهْرَةَ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا لِنَفْتِنَهُمْ فِيهِ..
And do not stretch your eyes after that with which We have provided different classes of them, (of) the splendor of this world’s life, that We may thereby try them;…
Sūratu Taha, Verse 131.
And the Prophet Salallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam said:
من أصبح وهمه الدنيا، شتت الله عليه أمره، وفرق عليه ضيعته، وجعل فقره بين عينيه، ولم يأته من الدنيا إلا ما كتب له، و من أصبح وهمه الآخرة، جمع الله له همه، وجفظ عليه ضيعته، وجعل غناه في قلبه، وأتته الدنيا وهي راغمة.
Whosoever wakes up with the Dunya being his main goal, Allāh will confound his affairs, and he will make poverty appear before his eyes, and he will not achieve of it except what Allāh Has designed for him. And whosoever wakes up with Hereafter being his main target, Allah will settle his affairs, and make contentment appear before his eyes, and the world will be driven to him.
Transmitted by Ibn Mājah(4105). And Shaykh Al-Albānī declared it Sahīh.
Al-Hasan said:
Verily, some individuals have honoured the Dunya, thus they were enslaved thereof, therefore, renounce it.
Al-Fudayl said:
Every evil is as though a house whose key is the love of the Dunya. And every goodness is though a house whose key is Zuhd in this Dunya.
And some Salaf used to say:
Shunning away from the Luxuries of this transitory world relieves the heart and the body, whereas hastening towards it increases disturbances and grieves.
Allāhu A’alam
Bārakāllāhu fīkum.
19th Muharram, 1441H.
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