Download PDF: [S] How to Treat this World

Ibn Abid Dunyah narrates through a long chain of narrators from Hadrat Sayyiduna Wahb bin Mambeh – may Allah be pleased with him – who states that, “In some recordings, it is mentioned that for the intelligent the world is a great gift and for the ignorant, it is a source of forgetfulness. (In other words, the intelligent person is someone who uses the world to do good and noble deeds while the Jaahil completely ignores this and becomes so immersed in the word that he forgets to use it to better his state in the Hereafter). In fact the Jaahil is someone who when he dies wishes to return. But where is there a possibility of returning?” (Al Ihya)

 

Ibn Abid Dunyah narrates from Jabir bin Aun Asadi who mentions that the first words which were mentioned by Sulayman bin Abdul Malik when he became the leader of the Muslims was: “All Praise is due to that Creator Who has the power to do whatever He wishes. He raises whoever He wishes and lowers whoever He wishes. He gives to whoever He wants and refuses to give to whoever He wants to. There is no doubt that the world is nothing but a house of deception. It is something which will end. A show which changes all the time. It makes a person who cries to laugh and the one who laughs to cry. It creates turmoil for one who is at peace and creates peace for the one who creates turmoil. It makes the rich into a poor person and the poor person into a rich person. It plays with a rich person and takes him here and there. O servants of Allah! Make the Qur’an your Imam and guide. Be content with its decision and testimony. There is no doubt that this Qur’an clearly reveals the evil plans and intentions of the Satan. In fact, the Qur’an reveals this in the same manner in which the light appears to dispel the darkness.” (Bahiqi Shareef).

 

Ibn Abid Dunyah reports from Abdur Rahman bin Yazeed who stated to people, “There is no doubt that your Salaah, your fasting and your Jihad is much more than the blessed Ashaab, but in spite of this, they are far superior than you.” The people asked him the reason for this and he replied, “The reason is that they avoided the world much more than you and turn their attention towards the Hereafter much more than you.” (Hulyatul Awliyah)