foolishness, because the worth of this world is not even equal to the wing of a fly in the sight of Allah Almighty. Remember that this world is the field of the Hereafter. If we sow seeds in it in the form of good deeds, then we will harvest the field of rewards in the Hereafter. Therefore, we ought to avoid the greed of wealth and be content upon the blessings which He has granted us, and save ourselves from the filth of greed while remaining content upon His will.

O devotees of the Companions and Ahl-ul-Bait! Instead of desiring and making efforts for the wealth and riches of this world, perform abundance of good deeds to acquire the blessings of the Hereafter, adopting aversion to this world.

The honourable companions رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهُم asked the Final Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم: ‘Who is better amongst us all?’ He صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم replied: اَزْہَدُکُمْ فِی الدُّنْیَاوَاَرْغَبُکُمْ فِی الْاٰخِرَۃِ i.e. The best amongst you is he who is more averse to the world and more inclined towards the Hereafter.’ (Shu’ab-ul-Iman, vol. 7, p. 343, Hadith 10521)

What is meant by being averse to the world?

In the commentary of this hadith, Allamah Abdul Ra`oof Manaawi رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه writes: ‘A person should have aversion to this world due to it being perishable and flawed, and be inclined towards the Hereafter due to it being noble and everlasting. Wise is he who saves himself from this world and its dirt and makes this world his own servant, gathers (the provisions of) this world as per his need, and besides this, adopts aversion from this world, because when a person turns his face away from this world, then it comes to him disgraced, and the more one runs after the world to earn it, the more it runs away from him; just like a shadow follows a person who walks facing the sun and stays ahead of him when he walks having his back towards the sun. He will fail if he even tries to catch the shadow ahead of him. (Fayz-ul-Qadeer, vol. 3, p. 666, under the verse 4114)