love of worldly life
Islam calls for creating an intellectual balance between this worldly life and seeking Allah’s Pleasure. A Muslim is not asked to hate life nor to abandon its pleasures, but he is asked to utilize its advantages in his path to Allah. He is asked to convert all forms of wealth to serve Islam and spread Islam all over the world. Also, Allah has created numerous types of enjoyment to facilitate our journey in this life. The fact that we are mortal pushes us to make the best use the tools of this life. Love of the worldly life is a part of our human nature, for this reason, the prophet Muhammed gave us an ultimate rule in dealing with everything in this life which is ”Do good deeds properly, sincerely and moderately.” The beauty of this life is worthy of capturing but also the limitless beauty and the endless comfort in the hereafter are are worth striving for. Allah made this life a test, the heart is exposed to lust and desires, and Man is watched to see what sides he will choose, this is life. In Surah Al-Mulk, Ayah 2, Allah told us the secret of this life and the reason beyond His creation, He said ”[He] who created death and life to test you [as to] which of you is best in deed – and He is the Exalted in Might, the Forgiving (الَّذِي خَلَقَ الْمَوْتَ وَالْحَيَاةَ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا ۚ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْغَفُورُ). This world wavers from life to death with the purpose only to see how we will lead our lives. Love of the worldly life is one of the most dangerous diseases of the heart, a Muslim must recognize this disease and seek its cure.
Allah said in Surah Al-Imran, Ayah 14, ”Beautified for people is the love of that which they desire – of women and sons, heaped-up sums of gold and silver, fine branded horses, and cattle and tilled land. That is the enjoyment of worldly life, but Allah has with Him the best return. (زُيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ حُبُّ الشَّهَوَاتِ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ وَالْبَنِينَ وَالْقَنَاطِيرِ الْمُقَنطَرَةِ مِنَ الذَّهَبِ وَالْفِضَّةِ وَالْخَيْلِ الْمُسَوَّمَةِ وَالْأَنْعَامِ وَالْحَرْثِ ۗ ذَٰلِكَ مَتَاعُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا ۖ وَاللَّهُ عِندَهُ حُسْنُ الْمَآبِ), this proves that the test of the heart is revolved around this Ayah. Allah explained the reality behind our quest in this life, our hearts are looking forward to attain these things, as they give us power, pleasure, wealth, and enjoyment. But Allah said that it is deceptive and part of mortal life, while real life starts when Allah gives us what is real in the hereafter. Love of the worldly life affects both body and heart. When the servant of Allah loves this life more than anything else and sets his goal to obtain everything in it, instead of becoming a servant of Allah, he becomes a servant of this life. It weakens his powers and impairs his abilities and the resistance that is needed to overcome challenges. On top of that and what we severely need, the strong faith that supports our roots against Satan’s tricks. If your heart is riddled with life wishes and dreams only, it may never seek to achieve any of the goals of the Hereafter, such as Jannah, a home in Paradise, the company of the prophet Muhammed and his noble companions, and all sorts of happiness that Allah mentioned in the Holy Quran.
The love of worldly life is the reason behind all disasters and evil deeds. It is what makes humans see evil as good, ignore the legislation of Allah, and turn the Haram into Halal. It is the reason that makes a man wrongfully devour property. He has no concern for the source of this money. When the mind seeks only pleasure he may never think of the day of Judgment, he refuses to admit the moment of its accountability before Allah. It blinds his heart, mind, soul, and logic. The harm is not limited to a person’s life, but also it expands to stir up disputes among people, and even close relations, such as within families and between spouses.
the cure
If you want to find a cure for any disease, then you must start with knowledge. The prophet Muhammed (ﷺ) said “Were this world worth a wing of mosquito, He would not have given a drink of water to an infidel.” When you realize that this life is weightless and trivial, you will stop chasing it. You may only seize what enhances your life and the lives of the people you care about. You will only have what was written and your destiny. It is all destined by Allah. It was narrated that Sahl bin Sa’d (RAA) narrated, A man came to the Prophet and said, “O Allah`s Messenger (ﷺ), direct me to a deed which if I do it, I shall be loved by Allah and by people.” He replied, “If you practice abstinence in this world, Allah will love you, and if you abstain from (desiring) what people have, they will love you.” Related by Ibn Majah and others with a good chain of narrators. This is a prophetic prescription for how to remove this disease from the heart, it starts with the love of Allah. It is also important to have a religious companions, you need a friend to enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong, as Allah said in Surah Al-Tawbah, Ayah 119 ”O you who have believed, fear Allah and be with those who are true” (يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَكُونُوا مَعَ الصَّادِقِينَ). What also helps you to strengthen your love for the Hereafter is Sadaqah, as it helps you to abandon what you love for the sake of Allah. Your heart will face many desires and wishes, only the winner is the one who accepts what benefits his life after death!
