One of the causes of the decrease and weakness of iman is to be engrossed with the transient things of this temporary worldly life; to occupy one’s time with it; be devoted to seeking it and to race after its pleasures, temptations and seductions.
Whenever the servants longing for this world intensifies and his heart becomes attached to it, his obedience will weaken and his iman will decrease accordingly. Ibn al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy upon him, says:
“The extent of the servants desire for the world and of his pleasure with it determines his slackness towards obedience of Allah and seeking the Hereafter.”
Accordingly, Allah, the Wise the All-Aware, censured the world in His Book and made clear its vileness and wretchedness in many ayat in the Noble Qur’an, Allah says:
“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, just like the vegetation after rain, which pleases the tillers; 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.”
(Al-Qur’an 57:20)
Allah also says:
“And put forward to them the example of the life of this world, it is like the water (rain),which We send down from the sky. The vegetation of the earth mingles with it, and becomes fresh and green. But (later) it becomes dry and broken pieces, which the winds then scatter. And Allah is Able to do everything. Wealth and children are the adornment of the life of this world. But the everlasting righteous deeds are better with your Lord, for rewards and better in respect of hope.”
(Al-Qur’an18:45-46)
Allah says:
” … and they rejoice in the life of the world, whereas the life of this world as compared with the Hereafter is but a brief passing enjoyment.”
(Al-Qur’an 13:26)
Allah also says:
“Verily, those who hope not for their meeting with Us, but are pleased and satisfied with the life of the present world, and those who are heedless of Our ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.). Those, their abode will be the Fire, because of what they used to earn.”
(Al-Qur’an 10:7-8)
This contains the greatest warning to one who is pleased with the life of this world, is comforted by it, is heedless of the ayat of Allah and who does not hope to meet Him.Furthermore, Allah says in censuring those of the believers who are pleased with this world:
“O you who believe! What is the matter with you, that when you are asked to march forth in the Cause of Allah (i.e., Jihad) you cling heavily to the earth? Are you pleased with the life of this world rather than the Hereafter? But little is the enjoyment of the life of this world as compared with the Hereafter.”
Al-Qur’an 9:38)
The Prophet, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said:
“By Allah, it is not poverty that I fear for you, but l fear that the world will be spread out for you just as it was spread out for those before you and then you will compete for it just as they competed for it and then you will be destroyed just as they were destroyed.”
The hadith is agreed upon In another wording of theirs,
” … you will be distracted just as they were distracted.”
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