Practising az-Zuhd in the Dunya

WHAT DOES AZ-ZUHD MEAN?

Az-Zuhd is, "The opposite of being eager and concerned about the Dunya (the life of thisworld)." Further, ibn Al-Qayyim said,
"Az-Zuhd, in the Arabic language, the language of Islam, entails abandoning a matter while despising itand while belittling its significance, so that one will exchange it for what ismore significant." The Muslimancestors who set good examples in the application of Islam have variousopinions with regards to the meaning of Az-Zuhd. Ibn Al-Qayyim for example said,
"I heard Shaikh Al-Islamibn Taymiyyah say, 'Az-Zuhd entails abandoning what does not bring aboutbenefit in the Hereafter. Al-Wara' (abandoning a part of the permissible for fear of falling into the impermissible) entails abandoning what you fear itsconsequences in the Hereafter.'"Then, ibn Al-Qayyim commented,
"This statement is oneof the best and most comprehensive definitions of Az-Zuhd and Al-Wara'." In addition, Sufyan Ath-Thawry said,
"Az-Zuhd in this Dunya entails having a short hope (or avoiding having hopes that one will live long),not by wearing the thick clothes or wearing the garment (as some people whoobserve fake Zuhd think is a part of Az-Zuhd)."
Imam Az-Zuhry also said that Az-Zuhd,
"Entails avoidingthanking Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala only for the 'Halal, and avoiding beingpatient only with the 'Haram."The author of Al-Lisan (a dictionary on the Arabic language) commented on thestatement of Az-Zuhry,
"He means that oneshould not only thank Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala for the permissible things tha tHe has given him (but also for the obligations, for their rewards with Allahsubhanahu wa ta'ala are significant), and should avoid restricting his patienceto avoiding the impermissible (but couple that with avoiding enjoying all typesof the 'Halal, as an act of modesty, patience and Zuhd)."
Al-Hasan Al-Basri also said,
"Az-Zuhd in this Dunya is not achievedby prohibiting the Halal, nor by wasting money. Rather, it entails your beingmore certain in what Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala has in His Hands, than your areabout what you have in your hand. It also entails being eager for the reward of(practicing patience during) the calamity, if a calamity touches you, more thanif the calamity did not touch you (as in this case, one will not gain thereward for observing patience during hard times. However, one should not wishfor disasters to hit)." All these sayings given to us by the Muslimancestors who set good examples in the application of Islam, are among the bestdefinitions for the meaning of Az-Zuhd.
Az-Zuhd resides in the heart, and it canbe achieved by ridding the heart of the slave from the love and the eagernessfor this life. This way, the Dunya will be in one's hand, not in his heart,where the love for Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala and the Hereafter will and should reside. Az-Zuhd does not entail abandoning the Dunya altogether. The Messengerof Allah sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam was the leader of all those whopracticed Az-Zuhd. Yet, he married nine times. Also, Prophet Dawood (AS) andSulayman (AS) were kings as Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala has described them. Yet,they were also among the Zuhhad (those who observe Zuhd). The companions of theMessenger of Allah sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam were also among the Zuhhad.Yet, they all had wives, children and material possessions.
Imam Ahmad divided Az-Zuhd into threeparts:
1. Avoiding the prohibitions, and this isthe Zuhd of the commoners. Ibn Al-Qayyim stated that this type is anobligation.
2. Abandoning what is not a necessityamong the Halal matters. This type is the Zuhd of the distinguished people.
3. Abandoning what will busy one from theremembrance of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. This is the Zuhd of those who haveknowledge in the religion.
THE STATUS OF THIS HADITH
This Hadith's importance is demonstratedin the fact that it explains the way through which one can gain Allah'ssubhanahu wa ta'ala Love, which is the ultimate prize that mankind can andshould ever seek to achieve and attain. He whom Allah subhanahu wa ta'alaloves, Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala will honor him and will spread about his lovein the earth. As for he whom Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala hates, He will spreadabout his hatred in the earth. Further, this Hadith explains the conductbecause of which mankind will love the slave. It is a fact that when a personis loved by his community, he or she will feel great happiness and joy. Also,when one is loved by his community, he or she will be more acceptable andfamiliar to his people, and this will help those who call unto Allah subhanahuwa ta'ala succeed in their mission, Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala willing.
BELITTLING THE DUNYA
The Messenger of Allah sallallaahu 'alayhiwa sallam said,
"Perform Zuhd in theDunya."
There are many Texts in the Quran and theSunnah that encourage being a Zahid in the Dunya. These Texts demonstrate thelittle significance that the Dunya has and point out its briefness and quickdemise. These Texts also strengthen the eagerness in the Last Life, which joyis eternal. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala says,
"Whatever is with you,will be exhausted, and whatever with Allah (of good deeds) will remain." (An-Nahl 16:96)
"Know that the life ofthis world is only play and amusement, pomp and mutual boasting among you, andrivalry in respect of wealth and children, as the likeness of vegetation afterrain, thereof the growth is pleasing to the tiller; afterwards it dries up andyou see it turning yellow; then it becomes straw. But in the Hereafter (thereis) a severe torment (for the believers, evildoers), and (there is) Forgivenessof Allah and (His) Good Pleasure (for the believers, gooddoers), whereas thelife of this world is only a deceiving enjoyment." (Al-Hadid 57:20)
The Dunya, therefore, is brief and isbound to end sometime soon. Therefore, the slave ought not busy himself withits affairs, nor forget the affair of the Last Life which will never end.
The last Ayat states that the life of thisworld is a deceiving, short-lived joy that contains what does not bring aboutany benefit. Also the life of this world is pomp, which will encourage one toindulge in it and forget the Hereafter.
Further, this life is full of competitionand boasting about having what this life offers of money, offspring, etc. Allahsubhanahu wa ta'ala then illustrates the briefness of this life by mentioningthe rain when it comes down on the earth and thus the ground becomes green andlively with various plants and vegetation. Soon afterwards, the earth willrevert to its near past and will become dry and dead again. This is the exactcase with the life of this world.
REASON BEHIND AS-ZUHD
There are several reasons that encourageone to indulge in Zuhd:
1. The slave's Iman being strong, hisremembering when he or she will stand between the Hands of Allah subhanahu wata'ala, and his remembering the torments of the Day of Resurrection will allrid his heart from all will belittle the love of this Dunya and its short-livedjoys. Hence, the slave will avoid excessive indulging in the joys and thedesires of this life, all the while feeling content with whatever he has in it.
2. The slave's feeling that this Dunyabusies the hearts from the remembering of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala and that ithinders the path of mankind from stepping up the ladder of acquiring highergrades in the Hereafter. Also, the Muslim's feeling that mankind will certainlybe asked about the joys and the delights of this life, as Allah subhanahu wata'ala says,
"Then, on that Day, youshall be asked about the delight (you indulged in, in this world)!" (At-Takathur 102:8)
3. One will not acquire the material joysof this life unless he or she works hard to achieve such a goal. In thisregard, mankind pays a significant effort and deep thinking. One may then haveto mingle with the worst types of people. All this will come at the expense ofseeking knowledge of the religion, conducting Da'wah unto Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala,performing Jihad and worshipping Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. When the slavefeels all this and when he has an enlightened heart, he will feel compelled andencouraged to disregard the Dunya, so that he will be able to preserved what isessential and that which will never end.
4. The Quran's belittling the significanceof the Dunya and its joys, while describing this life as deceiving, false andshort-lived pastime that involves wasting the time. Also, Allah's subhanahu wata'ala criticism of the adverse effect that excessive indulging in the Dunyawill result in the Hereafter. The numerous Texts in the Quran and the Sunnahabout this subject will encourage the Muslim to abandon matters of the Dunyaand busy himself with what will truly remain.
Jabiribn Abdullah (RA) said that the Messenger of Allah sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam once passed by the marketplace, passing from the area of Al-'Aliyah,while people were all around him. He then passed by a dead goat, which earswere small, then took it by the ear, saying,
"Who amongst you would like to have this (dead goat with smallears) for a Dirham (a currency)?" They said, "By Allah subhanahu wata'ala! Even if it was alive, its small ears will be a deficiency, so how aboutwhen it is dead?" He sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said, "By Allahsubhanahu wa ta'ala! The Dunya is less significant in the Sight of Allahsubhanahu wa ta'ala than this is to you." (Shar'h Muslim)
Furthermore,Al-Mustawrid Al-Fihry related from the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallamthat he said,
"The Dunya, ascompared to the Akhirah (the Hereafter), is just like when one of you dips hisfinger in the sea! Let him see how much (water) it (his finger) willcarry." (Sahih Al-Jami')