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> Asceticism, or Zuhd, is to abandon the desire for something for
the sake of something which is better, and to abandon the comfort of
this world for the sake of that of the Hereafter. It also means that
the heart should not desire anything that one does not possess.
Knowing that this worldly life is temporary and will eventually come
to an end helps the slave ofAllaah to be this way.
Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {Know that the life of this
world is but amusement anddiversion and adornment and boasting to one
another and competition in increase of wealthand children - like the
example ofrain whose [resulting] plant growth pleases the tillers;
then itdries and you see it turned yellow; then it becomes [scattered]
debris. And in the Hereafter is severe punishment and forgiveness from
Allaah and approval. And what is the worldlylife except the enjoyment
of delusion.} [Quran 57:20] Allaah The Almighty has called this life
the "enjoyment of delusion" and has forbidden us from being deceived
by it. He has also informed us of the evil end of those who are
deceived by this worldly life, He warns us of being considered with
the same recompense that they deserved for what they committed and
hasdispraised whoever is satisfied orfeels secure therein. He has
dispraised such people because He knows that after this worldly life
is an abode which is greater and more honored: the home of final
settlement.
In addition, the slave of Allaah the Almighty knows that his
asceticism in this worldly life will not prevent him from receiving
what was decreed for him and his keenness on it does not bring him
what was not decreed for him. When the slave of Allaah TheAlmighty is
certain of this fact, hewill abandon the inclination to things that do
not bring benefit in the Hereafter. However, being ascetic towards
things that bringbenefit in the Hereafter is not a religious act and
its doer is addressed in the verse in which Allaah The Almighty Says
(what means): {O you who have believed, do not prohibit the good
things which Allaah has made lawful to you and do not transgress.
Indeed, Allaah does not like transgressors.} [Quran 5:87]
The Essence of Asceticism
Asceticism in this worldly life does not mean that one should reject
it, as Sulaymaan (Solomon) and Daawood (David), may Allaah exalt their
mention, were the most ascetic men of their time while they had
considerable wealth, kingship and a number ofwives. The Prophet was
the most ascetic person ever, yet he had nine wives. 'Ali ibn Abi
Taalib,'Abdur-Rahmaan ibn 'Awf, Az-Zubayr and 'Uthmaan and many others
were ascetic people while they were wealthy. Imaam Ahmad was asked,
"Can a rich person be ascetic?" He answered,"Yes, if he does not
rejoice with the increase of his wealth or grieve over its decrease."
Al-Hasan said, "Asceticism does not mean wasting wealth or making what
is lawful unlawful; rather, it is to have confidence in what is in the
Hand of Allaah more than what is in one's own hand, and [it is also]
that one's condition at the time of a calamity and that under normal
circumstances is alike; and to have the same attitude towards the one
who praises youand the one who dispraises you for the sake of the
truth." This is true asceticism, therefore, a slaveof Allaah The
Almighty might be the richest person, yet he is of the most ascetic
because his heart is not attached to this worldly life. On the other
hand, another slave of Allaah The Almighty may be the poorest of
people, but he is not an ascetic atall because his heart clings to
thisworldly life.
Kinds of Asceticism
Asceticism with regards to abstaining from what is unlawfulis an
individual obligation, and abandoning suspicious matters isobligatory
if it is a strong suspicion; however, if it is weak, abandoning the
suspicious matter is merely recommended. There is asceticism with
regards to abandoning speech, looking, inquiring, meeting and other
things that are not required or called for. Also, there is asceticism
regarding people and asceticism regarding one's own self when one
sacrifices himself in the cause of Allaah The Almighty. The
comprehensive asceticism is being ascetic in everything except in
things that are with Allaah The Almighty and being ascetic in
everything that keeps him away from Him. The best kind of asceticism
is one that is concealed, and the most difficult kind is in things
that are lawful.
Virtues of Asceticism
In many verses, Allaah The Almighty praises asceticism and dispraises
any inclination to worldly life, as He the Almighty Says (what means):
• {And they rejoice in the worldly life, while the worldly life is
not, compared to the Hereafter, except [brief] enjoyment.} [Quran
13:26]
• {The example of [this] worldly life is but like rain which We
havesent down from the sky that the plants of the earth absorb -
[those] from which men and livestock eat - until, when the earth has
taken on its adornmentand is beautified and its people suppose that
they have capabilityover it, there comes to it Our command by night or
by day, andWe make it as a harvest, as if it had not flourished
yesterday. Thus do We explain in detail the signs for a people who
give thought.} [Quran 10:24]
• {In order that you not despair over what has eluded you and not
exult [in pride] over what He has given you. And Allaah does not like
everyone self-deluded and boastful -} [Quran 57:23]
Also, Allaah The Almighty relates the story of the believing man of
the family of Fir'awn (Pharaoh), where He Says (what means): {O my
people, this worldly life is only [temporary] enjoyment, and indeed,
the Hereafter - that is the home of [permanent] settlement.} [Quran
40:39]
Ibn Mas'ood narrated that the Messenger of Allaah said: "I forbade you
to visit graves, butyou may now visit them as this would make you
ascetic towards this worldly life and remind you of the Hereafter."
Sahl ibn Sa'd As-Saa'idi said, "A man came to the Prophet and said, 'O
Messenger of Allaah, guide me to an action which, if I do it, Allaah
will love me and the people will also love me.' The Prophet said: 'Be
ascetic in this worldly life and Allaah would love you. Beascetic
towards what is in the hands of others [meaning, do notdesire what is
in their possession] and they would love you.'" Sahl ibn Sa'd
As-Saa'idi also said, "The Prophet said: 'Were this worldly life worth
eventhe wing of a mosquito in the sight of Allaah, He would not have
given even a drink of water to a disbeliever in this worldly life.' "
The Prophets Were the most Ascetic of People
The Prophets and Messengers areexamples for people in their asceticism
in this worldly life and inclination to the Hereafter, as Allaah The
Almighty Says (what means): {They are the ones whomAllaah has guided,
so from their guidance take an example.} [Quran 6:90] Anyone who reads
the biography of the Prophet would know how he would patch up his own
garment, mendhis shoes and milk his sheep. Also, he never quenched his
hunger, even with barley bread, for two consecutive days until he
died, and would even pass whole days without eating, not even finding
degraded dates to eat. Also, in the Battle of Al-Ahzaab, he became so
hungry that he tieda rock on his stomach, and three months would pass
and he and his family would not light a fire intheir house in order to
cook; their only sustenance would be dates and water. He would say: "O
Allaah, there is no true lifeexcept that of the Hereafter, so forgive
the Ansaar and the Muhaajiroon." 'Aa'ishah said, "The bedding of the
Messenger ofAllaah was a piece of tanned skin stuffed with palm
fibers." She once bought out a patched-up upper garment and a thick
lower garment and said, "The Messenger of Allaah died wearing these
two."
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