When Sayyidunā Salmān Fārsi رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ was passing away, the Companion Saʿd bin Abī Waqāṣ رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ visited and found him in tears. “O Salmān!”, he asked, “Why are you crying? You are about to meet your friends (the other Companions عَـلَيْهِمُ الرِّضْوَانْ) and the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم at al-Kawthar.”

Sayyidunā Salmān Fārsi رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ replied:

I do not cry because I fear death, nor do I cry because I am leaving this world. The reason behind my tears is I have many belongings and items strewn around me; yet we promised my friend—the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم—that our worldly possessions will amount to that of a traveller.

The narrator of this incident explains that at the time, Sayyidunā Salmān Fārsi رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ only possessed one bowl with which he used to perform wuḍū and wash his clothes.^[1]

اللہُ اَکْبَر! O devotees of the Messenger! These were the honourable Companions عَـلَيْهِمُ الرِّضْوَانْ. They were extremely distant from love of the world and only worried about the Hereafter. Look at how Sayyidunā Salmān Fārsi رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ only possessed one bowl, but he considered this to be excessive and started crying.

Our condition is the total opposite of this today. We have good salaries, huge bank balances, cars, household necessities and even extra items for our convenience. Despite all of this, we still want more. Day and night, it is only money, money and money we care about. If only we were indifferent to the world and strived to better our Hereafter. Instead of wandering here and there seeking to enhance our worldly lives, we should rely on Allah, be thankful and always remember the next life.

صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب                 صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلٰى مُحَمَّد