Be indifferent to worldly life, and Allah will love you; and be indifferent to what people have, and people will love you

Be indifferent to worldly life, and Allah will love you; and be indifferent to what people have, and people will love you

Sahl ibn Sa‘d As-Sā‘idi (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that a man came to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and said: "O Messenger of Allah, show me a deed which, if I do it, Allah will love me and people will love me." He said: "Be indifferent to worldly life, and Allah will love you; and be indifferent to what people have, and people will love you."

[Authentic hadith] [Narrated by Ibn Majah]

Explanation

A man came to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and asked him to guide him to a deed that would cause him to be loved by Allah and by people. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) directed him to a comprehensive act that would bring him what he needed, saying: ''Be indifferent to worldly life.'' This means that one should acquire only what they need of this life and leave out the surplus and the things that do not benefit them in the Hereafter. Man should stay away from the things that may negatively affect their religiousness, and have no desire for the worldly life that people are engaged in. If there is a right or a contract between man and someone else, one should act according to the Hadīth that reads: "May Allah have mercy upon someone who is easy when he buys, who is easy when he sells, and who is easy when he charges.'' This way, one earns the love of people and the mercy of Allah.

Categories

Asceticism and Piety