“…The life of this world is only a deceiving enjoyment.” 57: 20
IN THE NAME OF ALLAH THE MOST GRACIOUS, THE MOST MERCIFUL
INTRODUCTION
Allah, the One Who Provides (Ar Razzaq) is the One Who Provides us with provisions in this life. We are allowed to seek the halal provisions that Allah has Provided for us, as long as we do not let this matter of seeking provisions be the sole focus of our purpose in life. Allah Advised us:
وَابتَغِ فيما آتاكَ اللَّهُ الدّارَ الآخِرَةَ ۖ وَلا تَنسَ نَصيبَكَ مِنَ الدُّنيا ۖ وَأَحسِن كَما أَحسَنَ اللَّهُ إِلَيكَ ۖ وَلا تَبغِ الفَسادَ فِي الأَرضِ ۖ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لا يُحِبُّ المُفسِدينَ
“But seek, with that (wealth) which Allah has bestowed on you, the home of the Hereafter, and forget not your portion of legal enjoyment in this world, and do good as Allah has been good to you, and seek not mischief in the land. Verily, Allah likes not the Mufsidun (those who commit great crimes and sins, oppressors, tyrants, mischief-makers, corrupts).” 28: 77
Therefore, Islam does NOT prohibit us to seek provisions to support our life in this life, as long as:
- Provisions are halal
- The seeking of provisions does not take us away from our obligations, such as salah, etc
- It does not involve things that Allah dislike such as lying, cheating, etc
- It does not cause us to forget about our purpose in life – which is to worship Allah.
- It does not cause us to be greedy
- It does not cause us to be arrogant
- It causes us to be GRATEFUL TO ALLAH
- It enhances our ability to seek Allah’s Pleasure – such as feeding the poor, saving money for Hajj or Umrah, etc
THE MEANING OF THE DUNYA AND OUR PROBLEM WITH THIS DUNYA
The word dunya/”dunja” (دُنْيا) is usually translated into English as world. The meaning is correct – but the literal translation is totally different. Let us check the root for this word: د – ن – و
The literal meaning ofالدُّنْيا is the LOWEST or the CLOSEST or the NEAREST.
The word dunya comes from danaa (root: dal nun wau). This root word has two meanings: 1) near and 2) lowly. This life has been called al-hayaat ad-dunya because it is the near (or “nearest”), the apparent and the current existence which we know and also because it is lesser, despicable and superficial in comparison to the real life as Allah called it – the life in the hereafter.
Ad-Dunya is the place which contains all the objects of desire of the human nafs in this life. It is in reality a mere transition or place of passing and has no permanence or lasting meaning. The life of this world and all that is in it is like the beautiful plants or crops which impress those who look on them but which shortly are turned into dead leaves and dust blown about by the wind.
The problem with humans in general is that they are attracted to things which bring short term benefit, and they become greedy and seek all means to acquire more, forgetting:
- The Provider of the provisions
- The covenant we have made with Allah (7: 172)
- They think it is through their hard work that they get these provisions
- Being grateful to Allah by submitting more to Allah.
Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) Reminded us:
“Surely, this dunya is sweet and fresh. And Allah makes you the heirs of it and then watches what you do. So beware of this dunya and beware regarding women.” Muslim
And Allah also Warned us:
فَمِنَ النّاسِ مَن يَقولُ رَبَّنا آتِنا فِي الدُّنيا وَما لَهُ فِي الآخِرَةِ مِن خَلاقٍ
وَمِنهُم مَن يَقولُ رَبَّنا آتِنا فِي الدُّنيا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنا عَذابَ النّارِ
أُولٰئِكَ لَهُم نَصيبٌ مِمّا كَسَبوا ۚ وَاللَّهُ سَريعُ الحِسابِ
But of mankind there are some who say: “Our Lord! Give us (Your Bounties) in this world!” and for such there will be no portion in the Hereafter.
And of them there are some who say: “Our Lord! Give us in this world that which is good and in the Hereafter that which is good, and save us from the torment of the Fire!”
For them there will be alloted a share for what they have earned. And Allah is Swift at reckoning.
2: 200
Therefore there must be a balanced way to seek the provisions in this help and at the same time strive to get the best provisions in the Hereafter (by striving to do good deeds as a provision for the Day of Judgment).
WARNINGS FROM ALLAH IN THE QUR’AN OF THE DUNYA
اعلَموا أَنَّمَا الحَياةُ الدُّنيا لَعِبٌ وَلَهوٌ وَزينَةٌ وَتَفاخُرٌ بَينَكُم وَتَكاثُرٌ فِي الأَموالِ وَالأَولادِ ۖ كَمَثَلِ غَيثٍ أَعجَبَ الكُفّارَ نَباتُهُ ثُمَّ يَهيجُ فَتَراهُ مُصفَرًّا ثُمَّ يَكونُ حُطامًا ۖ وَفِي الآخِرَةِ عَذابٌ شَديدٌ وَمَغفِرَةٌ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَرِضوانٌ ۚ وَمَا الحَياةُ الدُّنيا إِلّا مَتاعُ الغُرورِ
“Know that the life of this world is only play and amusement, pomp and mutual boasting among you, and rivalry in respect of wealth and children, as the likeness of vegetation after rain, thereof the growth is pleasing to the tiller; afterwards it dries up and you see it turning yellow; then it becomes straw. But in the Hereafter (there is) a severe torment (for the disbelievers, evil-doers), and (there is) Forgiveness from Allah and (His) Good Pleasure (for the believers, good-doers), whereas the life of this world is only a deceiving enjoyment.” 57: 20
إِنّا جَعَلنا ما عَلَى الأَرضِ زينَةً لَها لِنَبلُوَهُم أَيُّهُم أَحسَنُ عَمَلًا
Verily! We have made that which is on earth as an adornment for it, in order that We may test them (mankind) as to which of them are best in deeds. 18: 7
زُيِّنَ لِلنّاسِ حُبُّ الشَّهَواتِ مِنَ النِّساءِ وَالبَنينَ وَالقَناطيرِ المُقَنطَرَةِ مِنَ الذَّهَبِ وَالفِضَّةِ وَالخَيلِ المُسَوَّمَةِ وَالأَنعامِ وَالحَرثِ ۗ ذٰلِكَ مَتاعُ الحَياةِ الدُّنيا ۖ وَاللَّهُ عِندَهُ حُسنُ المَآبِ
“Beautified for men is the love of things they covet; women, children, much of gold and silver (wealth), branded beautiful horses, cattle and well-tilled land. This is the pleasure of the present world’s life; but Allah has the excellent return (Paradise with flowing rivers, etc.) with Him.” 3: 14
فَما أوتيتُم مِن شَيءٍ فَمَتاعُ الحَياةِ الدُّنيا ۖ وَما عِندَ اللَّهِ خَيرٌ وَأَبقىٰ لِلَّذينَ آمَنوا وَعَلىٰ رَبِّهِم يَتَوَكَّلونَ
“So whatever you have been given is but a passing enjoyment for this worldly life, but that which is with Allah (Paradise) is better and more lasting for those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah Islamic Monotheism) and put their trust in their Lord (concerning all of their affairs).” 42: 36
WARNINGS FROM PROPHET MUHAMMAD (PEACE BE UPON HIM)
Narrated Thawban:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: The people will soon summon one another to attack you as people when eating invite others to share their dish. Someone asked: Will that be because of our small numbers at that time? He replied: No, you will be numerous at that time: but you will be scum and rubbish like that carried down by a torrent, and Allah will take fear of you from the breasts of your enemy and last enervation into your hearts. Someone asked: What is wahn (enervation). Messenger of Allah (ﷺ): He replied: Love of the world and dislike of death.
(Abu Daud, sahih by Al Bani)
Al-Mustawrid reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
What is the example of this worldly life in comparison to the Hereafter other than one of you dipping his finger in the sea? Let him see what he brings forth.
Source: Sahih Muslim 2858, Grade: Sahih
The people of Paradise and Hellfire will soon forget whatever pleasures or hardships they experienced in the world.
Anas ibn Malik reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
The most privileged people in the world from the people of the Hellfire will come on the Day of Resurrection to be dipped in the Hellfire, then it will be said: O son of Adam, did you see any good? Did you get any blessing? He will say: No, by Allah, my Lord! Then the most miserable people in the world from the people of Paradise will come on the Day of Resurrection to be dipped in the Paradise, then it will be said: O son of Adam, did you see any hardship? Did you have any distress? He will say: No, by Allah, my Lord! I did not once see hardship or distress.
Source: Sahih Muslim 2807, Grade: Sahih
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “When Allah created Paradise and Hellfire, he sent Gabriel to Paradise saying: Behold it and what I have prepared therein for its people. Gabriel came and looked at it and what Allah had prepared therein for its people. He returned to Allah and he said: By your might, no one will hear of it but that he will enter it. Allah ordered that it be surrounded by adversity and he said: Return to it and behold what I have prepared therein for its people. Gabriel returned and found that it was surrounded by hardship. He returned to Allah and he said: By your might, I fear that no one will enter it. Allah said: Go to the Hellfire and behold it and what I have prepared therein for its people. Gabriel found that it was in layers, one above another. He returned to Allah and he said: By your might, no one who hears of it will enter it. Allah ordered that it be surrounded by desires and he said: Return to it. Gabriel returned and he said: By your might, I fear that no one will escape it.”
Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2560
Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Al-Tirmidhi
Anas ibn Malik reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Paradise and Hellfire were shown to me and I have never seen such good or evil as I have today. If you knew what I know, you would laugh little and weep often.”
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2359
Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Muslim
SIGNS THAT PEOPLE HAVE WHO ARE TOO MUCH DECEIVED BY THE DUNYA
- Disobedience to Allah – missing prayers
- Too engrossed in their conversations on dunya – buying bigger house, better car, etc
- Refuse to help the poor
- Are not grateful to Allah for the numerous Blessings (14: 34)
- Arrogant – look down on the poor
- Strive hard for the dunya by working 17 hours a day but do not have time to recite the Qur’an and seek knowledge by attending classes
- Your life revolves around accumulating more wealth
- Fall into haram things when you fail to get sufficient wealth
- Get depressed easily when you suffer a set back on your work or on money issues
- Your praying are affected because you rush through them and prefers to focus on your work
- You are comforted by rich friends and by your wealth
- You ask Allah for more money and your du’a rarely involves akhirah
- You love social media and influencers that teaches you on how to gain wealth
- You plan far ahead about your career path and your dunya but do not think that perhaps tonight is your last night on this earth.
HOW TO GET LESS ATTACHED TO THE DUNYA?
- Seek Allah’s Guidance
- Seek Knowledge
- Recite the Qur’an with more understanding – tadabbur
- Seek Protection with Allah from shaytan
- Choose your companions wisely
- Stay away from cultural practices that compromises Islam
- Know that today might be our last day in this life
- Look at the poverty facing the world and thank Allah by helping them
- Visit the graves more often
- Ensure you visit the mosque as often as you can
LASTLY, READ BELOW ON OTHER VARIOUS HADITHS AND ADVICE FROM OUR BELOVED PROPHET MUHAMMAD (PACE BE UPON HIM)
All hadiths below were narrated by Ibn Majah
It was narrated from Abu Dharr Al-Ghifari that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“Indifference towards this world does not mean forbidding what is permitted, or squandering wealth, rather indifference towards this world means not thinking that what you have in your hand is more reliable than what is in Allah’s Hand, and it means feeling that the reward for a calamity that befalls you is greater than that which the calamity makes you miss out on.’”
It was narrated that Abu Khallad, who was one of the Companions of the Prophet (ﷺ), said:
“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘If you see a man who has been given indifference with regard to this world and who speaks little, then draw close to him for he will indeed offer wisdom.’”
It was narrated that Sahl bin Sa’d As-Sa’idi said:
“A man came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, show me a deed which, if I do it, Allah will love me and people will love me. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Be indifferent towards this world, and Allah will love you. Be indifferent to what is in people’s hands, and they will love you.”
Abdur-Rahman bin Aban bin ‘Uthman bin ‘Affan narrated that his father said:
“Zaid bin Thabit departed from Marwan at mid-day. I said: ‘He has not sent him out at this time of the day except for something he asked.’ So I asked him, and he said: ‘He asked me about some things we heard from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: “Whoever is focused only on this world, Allah will confound his affairs and make him fear poverty constantly, and he will not get anything of this world except that which has been decreed for him. Whoever is focused on the Hereafter, Allah will settle his affairs for him and make him feel content with his lot, and his provision and worldly gains will undoubtedly come to him.”
Abdullah said:
“I heard your Prophet (ﷺ) say: ‘Whoever focuses all his concerns on one thing, the Hereafter, Allah will relieve him of worldly concerns, but whoever has disparate concerns scattered among a number of worldly issues, Allah will not care in which of its valleys he died.’”
May Allah Guide us not to be deceived by the dunya and to focus our attention and to know and understand the purpose of life, and may He Ease our path in the hereafter until we enter JANNATUL FIRDAUS.
