Authentic Hadith pertaining to

WORLDLY ATTRACTIONS , VALUE OF THE WORLD AND CONTENTMENT

Extracted from Imam Nawaw !" Refere#ce $T%e &arde#" of R '%teo("#e"")
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THE VALUE OF THIS WORLDLY LIFE Allah, the Exalted says, This present life is like the water We send down from the sky. The plants of the earth mix with it and from it mankind and cattle eat; then when the earth has become lush and adorned, its inhabitants think they have power over it, ur command comes upon it by ni!ht or day, and We cause it to be stubble, "ust as thou!h it had not flourished they day before. in this way We distin!uish ur verses for those who reflect.# $%&'( )oran *ive to them a parable about this present life. +t is like water We have sent down from the sky with which the plants of the earth min!le, and in the mornin! it is straw the wind scatters. Allah is ,owerful over all thin!s. Wealth and children are the ornaments of this present life. -ut the thin!s that last and !ood deeds are better with your .ord in reward and hope.# $/&(01(2 )oran )now that the life of this world is but play and an amusement, and adornment, and a cause for boastin! amon! you, a rivalry for !reater riches and children. +t is like rain whose ve!etation pleases the unbelievers, but then it withers and turns yellow,

becomin! broken stubble. +n the Everlastin! .ife is a terrible punishment and for!iveness, and !reat pleasure from Allah. The life of this world is nothin! except the "oy of delusion.# 03&'% )oran 4ecorated for people are the desires of women, offsprin!, and of heaped up piles of !old and silver, of pedi!ree horses, cattle and sown fields. These are the en"oyments of the worldly life, but with Allah is the best return.# 5&$( )oran ,eople, the promise of Allah is true, so do not let this present life delude you, and do not let the deluder 6satan7 delude you about Allah.# 50&0 )oran The excessive !atherin! 6of increase and boastin!7 occupied you 6from worshipin! and obeyin!7 until you visit the !raves. -ut no, indeed, you shall soon know. A!ain, indeed, you shall soon know. +ndeed, did you know with certain knowled!e that you shall surely see 8ell9: $%'&$10 )oran The life of this world is nothin! but a diversion and play. +ndeed, the Everlastin! ;esidence is the Eternal .ife, if they but knew.# '<&2( )oran ATTRACTIONS OF THE WORLD |H 458 The Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, sent Abu Ubaidah, the son of Jarrah to Bahrain to collect the poll ta! and he returned from Bahrain "ith the mone#$ The Ansar heard the ne"s "hen the# %athered to%ether for the mornin% pra#ers "ith the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him$ After the pra#er had finished and the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, "as about to lea&e the# presented themsel&es before him$ 'hen he sa" them, he smiled and said, () thin* #ou must ha&e heard that Abu Ubaidah has returned from Bahrain "ith somethin%$+ The# replied, (That is so, , -essen%er of Allah, praise and peace be upon him$+ The Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said, (Be happ#, and hope for that "hich "ill please #ou$ )t is not po&ert# that ) fear for #ou$ 'hat ) fear for #ou is that the "orld is e!panded for #ou as it "as for the people before #ou, and #ou "ill compete as the# competed, then it "ill destro# #ou as it destro#ed them$+.
Bu*hari and -uslim "ith a chain up to Amr, the son of Auf Ansari "ho related this

hadith

DISTRACTIONS |H 450 The Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, sat upon the pulpit and "e 1the 2ompanions3 sat around him and he said, () fear for #ou after ) ha&e %one, the ornaments and embellishments of the "orld that ma# be thro"n before #ou$+.
Bu*hari and -uslim "ith a chain up to Abu 4a5id 6hudri "ho related this hadith

THE PITFALLS OF WORLDLY GAIN |H 08 -ost people become %reat losers on account of t"o bounties health and affluence$ )t is because of these the# do not "orship Allah as much as the# should do$7
Bu*hari "ith a chain up to ibn Abbas "ho related that the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said this$

ALLAH IS FOREVER WATCHFUL |H 489 The "orld is %reen and pleasant and Allah appoints #ou as caliphs in it and "atches ho" #ou conduct #oursel&es$ Therefore, protect #oursel&es a%ainst the "orld and protect #oursel&es from 1the attraction of3 "omen$7
-uslim "ith a chain up to Abu 4a5id 6hudri "ho related that the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said this

THE REAL LIFE |H 48: , Allah, there is no life e!cept the ;&erlastin% <ife$7
Bu*hari and -uslim "ith a chain up to Anas "ho related that the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said this

MOST WEALTHY PERSON AND THE MOST TRIED |H 48= The most "ealth# person in the "orld destined for Hell "ill be brou%ht for"ard on the >a# of Jud%ement and dipped once into the ?ire then as*ed, (, son of Adam, did #ou e&er en@o# an#thin% %ood, did #ou e&er e!perience an# happinessA+ His repl# "ill be, (Be&er, , <ord$+ Then the one "ho e!perienced harshest ad&ersit# in the "orld and is destined for Paradise "ill be brou%ht for"ard and dipped once into Paradise then as*ed, (, son of Adam, ha&e #ou e&er e!perienced ad&ersit#, did #ou e&er e!perience hardshipA+ His repl# "ill be, (Bo, ) neither e!perienced ad&ersit# nor hardship$+7
-uslim "ith a chain up to Anas "ho related that the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said this$

VALUE OF THE WORLD |H 484

)n comparison to the ;&erlastin% <ife the &alue of the "orld is @ust as if one of #ou dipped a fin%er into the ocean, "ithdre" it and e!amined ho" much "ater remained on it$7
-uslim "ith a chain up to -ustaurid, the son of 4haddad "ho related that the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said this$

THE WORLD HAS LITTLE VALUE |H 4C8 )f the "orld had a &alue eDual to that of the "in% of a mosDuito in the 4i%ht of Allah, He "ould not ha&e allo"ed an unbelie&er to drin* a mouthful of "ater from it$7
Tirmidhi "ith a chain up to 4ahl, the son of 4a5ad 4a5idi "ho related that the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said this hadith$

USELESSNESS OF THE WORLD |H 485 The 2ompanions "ere "al*in% on either side of the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, alon% a street "hen he sa" a dead %oat that had its ears slit$ He cau%ht hold of it b# its ear and said, ('hich of #ou "ould li*e to ha&e this for a dirhamA+ The# replied, ('e "ouldn5t li*e it for an# amount, "hat "ould "e do "ith itA+ He then as*ed, ('ould #ou li*e to ha&e it for nothin%A+ The# ans"ered, ()f it had been ali&e it "ould ha&e been disfi%ured on account of it5s ears bein% slit, and "hat use is it no" that it is deadA+ The Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said, ()ndeed, the "orld is e&en more useless in the 4i%ht of Allah than this is in #our e#es$+.
-uslim "ith a chain up to Jabir "ho related this hadith$

THE ATTRACTION OF THE WORLD |H :0:/ The Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, "ent amon% the %ra&es of those mart#red at the Battle of Uhud and supplicated o&er them ei%ht #ears after the battle @ust as if he "as sa#in% fare"ell to the li&in% and to the deceased$ Thereafter he ascended the pulpit and said, () am #our fore runner and ) am a "itness o&er #ou$ ,ur meetin% shall be at the Pool 1Al 6a"thar3 and ) am loo*in% to"ards it no"$ ) am not afraid that #ou "ill become %uilt# of associatin% an#thin% "ith Allah, ho"e&er, ) am afraid that #ou mi%ht become attracted to this "orld$+ U*bah commented that "as the last time he had the opportunit# of loo*in% at the -essen%er of Allah, praise and peace be upon him$7 'e are also informed, .) am afraid that #ou mi%ht become attracted b# the "orld and start fi%htin% amon% #oursel&es thereb# bein% ruined as those "ho "ent before #ou "ere ruined$.

U*bah commented that "as the last time he had the opportunit# of loo*in% at the -essen%er of Allah, praise and peace be upon him$ 'e are also informed, .) am #our forerunner and a "itness o&er #ou, and ) am loo*in% at m# Pool$ ) ha&e been %i&en the *e#s of the treasures of the earth, or the *e#s of the earth$ After ) ha&e %one, ) am not afraid that #ou "ill associate an#thin% "ith Allah, but ) am afraid that #ou ma# become attracted to the "orld$.
Bu*hari and -uslim "ith a chain up to U*bah the son of 5Amir "ho related that the -essen%er of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, said this$

ABANDONMENT OF WORTHLESS THINGS |H 88 )t is part of the e!cellence of a person5s )slam that he discards that "hich is of no benefit to him either in this "orld or in the ;&erlastin% <ife$7
Tirmidhi "ith a chain up to Abu Hurairah "ho related that the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said this$

THE WISE AND THE FOOLISH |H 8C A "ise person is one "ho %uards and restrains himself from that "hich is harmful and stri&es for that "hich "ill benefit him after death$ The foolish one is he "ho %i&es into his desires and see*s from Allah the fulfillment of his futile desires$7
Tirmidhi "ith a chain up to 4haddad son of Aus "ho related that the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said this$

THE PROPHETS DISREGARD FOR THE WEALTH OF THIS LIFE |H 488 Abu >harr "as "al*in% "ith the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, alon% the ston# plain of -edina "hen the# sa" 1the mountain of3 Uhud in front of them$ The Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, called to Abu >harr and he replied, (,bedient to #ou, , -essen%er of Allah, praise and peace be upon him$+ He said, ()f ) had as much %old as 1the "ei%ht of3 Uhud it "ould not please me to ha&e a sin%le dinar from it for three da#s, unless it "as *ept to repa# a debt$ ) "ould distribute it amon% the "orshipers of Allah li*e this and thatE this to the ri%ht, and to the left and behind$+ Then, he "al*ed on sa#in%, (Those "ho ha&e plent# of "ealth "ill be the ones "ho ha&e the least on the >a# of Jud%ement, unless the# spend their "ealth li*e this and thatE this to the ri%ht, and that to the left and behind, but such people are fe"$ Then he told Abu >harr, (Femain here and do not mo&e until ) come bac* to #ou$+ And he "al*ed a"a# out of si%ht into the dar*$ 4oon

after"ards Abu >harr heard a loud &oice and became afraid that the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, mi%ht ha&e encountered somethin% unto"ard$ He "anted to %o to him but remembered his instruction to remain "here he "as until he returned$ 4o he remained there until the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, returned, then said, () heard a &oice "hich caused me to fear but ) remembered #our instruction to me$+ The Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, as*ed, (>id #ou hear himA+ Abu >harr replied, (Ges$+ 4o the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, informed him, ()t "as Habriel, he came to me and said, 'hosoe&er of #our follo"ers dies, and has not associated an#thin% "ith Allah, "ill enter Paradise$5 Abu >harr as*ed, (;&en if has committed adulter# or theftA. He replied, (;&en if he has committed adulter# or theft$+7
Bu*hari and -uslim "ith a chain up to Abu >harr "ho related this hadith$

ABSTINENCE |H 48C )f ) 1Prophet -uhammad3 had %old eDual to 1the "ei%ht of the mountain of3 Uhud, it "ould please me that ) had nothin% left of it after three ni%hts unless ) retained some to repa# a debt$7
Bu*hari and -uslim "ith a chain up to Abu Hurairah "ho related that the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said this$

LAWFUL AND UNLAWFUL |H 50/ Both the la"ful and the unla"ful are clear$ Bet"een the t"o is that "hich is doubtful and most people do not realiIe it$ 'hosoe&er refrains from that "hich is doubtful secures their faith and honor, but "hosoe&er parta*es in "hat is doubtful parta*es in the unla"ful$ 4uch a case is li*ened to that of a shepherd "ho %raIes his floc* close to a reser&ed pasture and thereb# runs the ris* of some of his floc* stra#in% into it$ Ta*e care, e&er# *in% has such a pasture$ Be"are, the pasture of Allah is that "hich He has forbidden$ Pa# attention, in #our bod# there is a lump of flesh, "hen it is health#, the "hole bod# is health# and "hen it is un"ell the "hole bod# is un"ell, and that is the heart$7
Bu*hari and -uslim "ith a chain up to Bu5man the son of Bashir "ho related that he heard the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, sa# this$

WEALTH AND DISPLEASURE |H 480 Fuined are the "orshipers of dinars and dirhams 1mone#3, blac* cloa*s and striped cloa*s$ )f the# are %i&en the# are pleased but if the# are not %i&en the# become displeased$7
Bu*hari "ith a chain up to Abu Hurairah "ho related that the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said this$

THE PRISON OF BELIEVERS |H 4C:

The "orld is a prison for the belie&er #et the paradise of the unbelie&er$7
-uslim "ith a chain up to Abu Hurairah "ho related that the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said this$

STRANGER IN THE WORLD |H 4C/ The Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, too* hold of ibn ,mar b# his shoulders and said, (Be in the "orld as if #ou are a stran%er or a tra&eler$+. )bn ,mar "ould sa#, .'hen e&enin% arri&es do not loo* for"ard to the mornin% and "hen mornin% arri&es do not loo* for"ard to the e&enin%$ >urin% health prepare for illness, and "hile #ou are ali&e prepare for death$.
Bu*hari "ith a chain up to ibn ,mar "ho related this hadith$

HOW TO WIN THE LOVE OF ALLAH AND PEOPLE |H 4C= A man came to the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, and said, (, -essen%er of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, tell me somethin% that ) can do in order to "in the lo&e of Allah and the lo&e of people$+ He told him, (>o not desire the "orld, and Allah "ill lo&e #ouE and do not desire that "hich other people ha&e and the# "ill lo&e #ou$+7
)bn i -a@ah Abu Abbas 4ahl, the son of 4a5ad 4a5idi, ibn i -a@ah as "ell as others related this hadith$

REMEMBRANCE OF ALLAH, THE LEARNED PERSON AND THE STUDENT |H 4C0 (The "orld is cursed and so is all that is in it e!cept the remembrance of Allah, the Hi%h and that "hich is near to it, and the learned person and the student$+.
Tirmidhi "ith a chain up to Abu Hurairah "ho related that he heard the -essen%er of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, sa# this hadith

TEMPTATIONS OF THE WORLD |H 489 >o not tr# to acDuire too much propert# in case #ou become tempted b# the "orld$7
Tirmidhi "ith a chain up to Abdullah, the son of -as5ud "ho related that the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said this$

PREPARE FOR THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT |H 48:

Abdullah and others "ere repairin% the thatch on a roof "hen the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, as*ed, ('hat are #ou doin%A+ The# replied, (The thatch has "ea*ened and "e are repairin% it$+ He said, () see the matter 1the >a# of Jud%ement3 approachin% sooner than this$+.
Abu >aud and Tirmidhi "ith a chain up to Abdullah, the son of Amr, son of Al 5As "ho related this hadith$

MUSLIMS ARE TRIED BY THEIR WEALTH |H 48/ ;&er# nation is sub@ected to a trialE the trial of m# nation "ill be throu%h "ealth$7
Tirmidhi "ith a chain up to 6a5ab, the son of )#aI "ho related that he heard the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, sa# this$

ENTITLEMENT |H 48= The son of Adam is entitled to three thin%s, a place to li&e, a %arment to co&er his na*edness, and a piece of bread and "ater$7
Tirmidhi "ith a chain up to ,thman, the son of Affan "ho related that the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said this$

PROPERTY |H 484 Abdullah, the son of 4hi*ir "ent to the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, "hen he "as recitin% the chapter At Ta*athor The ;!cessi&e Hatherin% then he said, (-an*ind sa#s, -# propert#, m# propert#, but , son of Adam, from his propert# there is onl# "hat he eats and consumedE "hat he "ears and "hat he has "orn out, his charitable spendin% and "hat he for"ards 1for himself in the ;&erlastin% <ife3$5.
-uslim "ith a chain up to Abdullah, the son of 4hi*ir "ho related this hadith$

PREPARE FOR POVERTY |H 485 A man said to the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, (, -essen%er of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, ) lo&e #ou$+ He said, (<oo* at "hat #ou are sa#in%J+ The man said, ()ndeed, ) lo&e #ou+ and repeated it three times$ The Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said, ()f #ou reall# lo&e me, prepare for po&ert#, because po&ert# ad&ances more rapidl# to"ards one "ho lo&es me than a flood rushes to"ards its end$+.
Tirmidhi "ith a chain up to Abdullah, the son of -u%haffal "ho related this hadith$

WEALTH AND STATUS |H 488

)f t"o hun%r# "ol&es are loose amon% a floc* of sheep the# "ill not cause as much dama%e as a man causes to his reli%ion throu%h his %reed for "ealth and status$7
Tirmidhi "ith a chain up to 6a5ab, the son of -ali* "ho related that the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said this$

BE A TRANSIENT IN THE WORLD |H 48C The Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, slept on a mat and "hen he arose the impression of the mat "as &isible on his bod#$ 'e said, (, -essen%er of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, shall "e prepare a soft mattress for #ouA+ He replied, ('hat ha&e ) to do "ith this "orldA )n the "orld ) am li*e a rider "ho stops under the shade of a tree for a "hile, then passes on, lea&in% it behind$+7
Tirmidhi "ith a chain up to Abdullah, the son of -as5ud "ho related this hadith$

VANITY |H 40: The truest thin% a poet has e&er said is the sa#in% of <abid, (;&er#thin% e!cept Allah is &ain$+7
Bu*hari and -uslim "ith a chain up to Abu Hurairah "ho related that the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said this$

ATTRACTION OF THE MAR0ETS BEST AND WORST PLACES IN THE CITIES |H :80/ The dearest parts of cities to Allah are its mosDues and the most offensi&e parts are its mar*ets$7
-uslim "ith a chain up to Abu Hurairah "ho related that the -essen%er of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, said this$

SATAN'S HIVE OF ACTIVITY |H :80= )f #ou can help it, do not be the first to enter a mar*et nor #et the last to lea&e it because it is "here satan 1the stoned and cursed3 is acti&e and that is "here he hoists his fla%$7
-uslim "ith a chain up to 4alman ?arisi "ho said this$

TRICKS OF SATAN |H :804 >o not be the first to enter the mar*et and the last to lea&e because satan 1the stoned and cursed3 la#s his e%%s and hatches them there$7
BarDani also narrated that the -essen%er of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, said this$

PROSTRATION OF THE ANGELS |H 49C ) see "hat #ou do not$ The hea&en crea*s and is @ustified in doin% so$ )n it there is no space eDual to four fin%ers that is not occupied b# an an%el "hose forehead prostrates before Allah$ )f #ou *ne" "hat ) *no" #ou "ould lau%h a little and "eep a lot$ Gou "ould not en@o# se!ual intercourse "ith #our "i&es #ou "ould %o out into the streets and open roads see*in% refu%e "ith Allah$7
Tirmidhi "ith a chain up to Abu >harr "ho related that the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said this$

CONTENTMENT Allah, the Exalted says, There is not a crawlin! 6creature7 on the earth whose provision is not by Allah.....# $$&2 )oran 6=harity is7 for the poor who are restrained in the way of Allah, and are unable to "ourney in the land. The i!norant take them to be rich because of their abstinence. -ut you can reco!ni>e them by their si!ns. They do not persistently be! people. Whatever !ood you !ive is known to Allah.# '&'35 )oran who when they spend are neither wasteful nor miserly, between that is a "ust stand. '0&23 )oran + have not created mankind and "inn except to worship ?e. + do not desire provision from them, nor do + desire that they should feed ?e.# 0$&02103 )oran REALITY OF WEALTH |H 5/= Fichness is not an abundance of assets$ Father richness is the contentment of one5s self$7
Bu*hari and -uslim "ith a chain up to Abu Hurairah "ho related that the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said this$

TRUE PROSPERITY |H 5/4 'hosoe&er embraces )slam, and is %i&en pro&ision sufficient for his need, and is content "ith "hate&er Allah has %i&en him has achie&ed true prosperit#$7
-uslim "ith a chain up to Abdullah, the son of Amr son of Al 5As "ho related that the -essen%er of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, said this$

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NO BLESSING IN GREED |H 5/5 Ha*im as*ed the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, 1for somethin%3 and he %a&e it to himE he as*ed a%ain and the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, %a&e it to him, then he as*ed once more and the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, %a&e him sa#in%, .Ha*im, "ealth is %reen and s"eet$ 'hosoe&er acDuires it as a matter of course, it is a source of blessin% for himE but there is no blessin% in it for the one "ho see*s it throu%h %reed$ 4uch a person is li*e one "ho eats, #et is not replete$ The upper hand is better than the lo"er$+ Ha*im said, (, -essen%er of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, b# Him "ho has sent #ou "ith the Truth, ) shall ne&er as* an#one else e!cept #ou for an#thin% for as lon% as ) li&e$+. 1The first caliph3 Abu Ba*r "ould send for Ha*im in order to %i&e him somethin%, but on each occasion he declined to accept$ )n the time of ,mar5s caliphate, ,mar "ould do the same but Ha*im continued to decline$ ,mar told the people, () as* -uslims to bear "itness that ) offered Ha*im his share of the spoils that Allah has appointed for him but he has declined to ta*e it$+ ;&en up to the time of Ha*im5s death, he "as ne&er *no"n to ha&e accepted an#thin% from an#one after the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him$7
Bu*hari and -uslim "ith a chain up to Ha*im, the son of HiIam "ho related this$

GENERATIONS AFTER THE COMPANIONS |H 5:9 +The best of #ou are those "ho are m# 2ompanions, then those "ho follo" directl# after them, then those "ho follo" directl# after them$+ This he said t"o or three times$ (Then the# "ill be follo"ed b# those "ho "ill bear "itness but "ill not be as*ed to testif#$ The# "ill embeIIle and not *eep their trustsE the# "ill &o" and not fulfill, and obesit# "ill be common amon% them$+7
Bu*hari and -uslim )mran, the son of Husain "ho related that the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said this$

ENCOURAGEMENT THROUGH CHARITY |H 5/C There "ere some spoils of "ar or perhaps capti&es brou%ht to the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, for distribution$ He %a&e to some of the 2ompanions but not to others$ <ater the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, "as told that those "hom he had not %i&en an#thin% "ere displeased$ 'hen he heard this, he praised Allah and e!alted Him, then said, +)t is true ) %i&e to some and not to others$ Those to "hom ) did not %i&e are dearer to me than those to "hom ) %a&e$ ) %a&e to those in "hose heart ) felt "as an!iet# or uneaseE the others ) left in their understandin% and reliance that Allah has instilled in their hearts$+ Amon% these 2ompanions "as Amr, the son

::

of Ta%hlib "ho commented, (,n no account "ould ) e&er e!chan%e these "ords of the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, for &aluable red camels$+ 1Fed camels are considered to be the best camels3$
Bu*hari "ith a chain up to Amr, the son of Ta%hlib "ho related this hadith$

PROMISES |H 5=9 There "ere either se&en, ei%ht or nine 2ompanions "ith the Prophet "hen he as*ed, ('ill #ou promise the -essen%er of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, somethin%A. The# had @ust %i&en him a promise so the# 1"illin%l#3 reminded him of it$ He as*ed a%ain, ('ill #ou promise the -essen%er of Allah somethin%A+ 4o the# e!tended their hands sa#in%, ('e ha&e %i&en #ou our promise , -essen%er of Allah, praise and peace be upon him$ 'hat "ould #ou li*e us to promiseA+ He replied, (That #ou "orship Allah and ne&er associate an#thin% "ith HimE that #ou pra# the fi&e 1dail#3 pra#ers, obe# Allah at that point he said somethin% in a lo" tone of &oice then added, and "ill not as* an#one for an#thin%$+ ?rom that time on"ards Auf, one of the 2ompanions, noticed that if a ridin% "hip happened to fall from one of them, the# ne&er as*ed an#one to pic* it up$7
-uslim "ith a chain up to Auf, the son of -ali* Ash@5ai "ho related this hadith$

RELIEF FROM HUNGER AND POVERTY |H 5=5 'hosoe&er suffers from hun%er and po&ert#, and see*s relief from men "ill not be relie&ed, but "hosoe&er see*s relief from Allah "ill be relie&ed sooner or later$7
Abu >aud and Tirmidhi "ith a chain up to ibn -as5ud "ho related that the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, this$

BE GRATEFUL FOR THAT WHICH YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN |H 488 <oo* at one "ho has less than #ou and do not loo* at the one "ho has more than #ou$ This "ill help #ou to appreciate the bounties "hich Allah has %i&en to #ou$ 'hen an# of #ou loo*s at someone richer and more handsome than himself, he should also loo* at one "ho has been %i&en less than himself$7
Bu*hari and -uslim "ith a chain up to Abu Hurairah "ho related that the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said this$

TIME OF AUSTERITY |H 4C4 .,mar, the son of 6hattab reminded the people of the austere life -uslims once led before the# became rich and prosperous 1durin% his caliphate3 and said, () ha&e *no"n the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, pass da#s in hun%er, e&en da#s "hen he "as unable

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to %et some rotten dates to satisf# his hun%er$+.

-uslim "ith a chain up to Bu5man, the son of Bashir "ho related this$

EARLY MARTYRS |H 4CC The 2ompanions mi%rated "ith the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, see*in% the pleasure of Allah and loo*in% onl# to Him for their re"ard$ 4ome of them died "ithout en@o#in% an# 1"orldl#3 recompense$ Amon% such "as -us5ab, the son of Umair "ho "as mart#red in the battle of UhudE he left onl# a small sheet$ 'hen the# co&ered his head "ith it his feet "ere e!posed, and "hen the# co&ered his feet his head "as left unco&ered$ 4o the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, told us to co&er his head and to put some fra%rant %rass o&er his feet, "hereas, others amon% them en@o#ed the bounties of life$7
Bu*hari and -uslim "ith a chain up to 6hubaib, the son of Arat "ho related this hadith$

THE MERITS OF SELF:SACRIFICE Allah, the Exalted says, :..... and prefer them above themselves, even thou!h they themselves have a need......: 0<&< )oran :who !ive food, for the love of 8im 6Allah7 to the needy, the orphan, and the captive.: 32&/ )oran GIVING CHARITY IN DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES |H 588 A man came to the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, sa#in%, () am &er# hun%r#$+ 4o the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, sent a messa%e to one of his "i&es and she sent bac* the messa%e, (B# Him "ho has sent #ou "ith the truth, ) ha&e nothin% but "ater$+ 4o he sent a messa%e to another of his "i&es and recei&ed the same repl#$ He sent messa%es to each one of his "i&es in turn and the# all %a&e the same repl#$ Then he as*ed, ('ho "ill ta*e this person to be his %uestA+ ,ne of the Ansar replied, (, -essen%er of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, ) "ill$+ 4o he too* him home and said to his "ife, (Honor the %uest of the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him$+ He as*ed his "ife, (Ha&e #ou an#thin%A+ 4he replied, (Bothin%, e!cept a little food for the children$+ He said, (>istract them "ith somethin%, and "hen the# as* for food put them to bed$ 'hen our %uest comes e!tin%uish the li%ht, and let him feel that "e are also eatin%$+ 4o the# sat do"n, their %uest ate and the# "ent to bed hun%r#$ )n the mornin% he 1the Ansar3 "ent to the Prophet, praise and peace

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be upon him, "ho said to him, (Allah, the ;!alted is &er# pleased "ith #our beha&ior to"ards #our %uest last ni%ht$+.
Bu*hari and -uslim "ith a chain up to Abu Hurairah "ho related this hadith

DAILY NEEDS |H 580 Abu 4a5id 6hudri said that "hile the# "ere on a @ourne# "ith the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, a man came ridin% his mount and be%an loo*in% ri%ht and left, "hereupon the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said, ('hoe&er can spare a mount should offer it to the one "ho has none, and "hoe&er has food to spare should offer it to the one "ho has none$+ He continued mentionin% e&er# *ind of pro&ision until "e thou%ht none of us had an# ri%ht to an#thin% in e!cess of our needs$7
-uslim "ith a chain up to Abu 4a5id 6hudri "ho related this hadith$

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WORLDLY ATTRACTIONS , VALUE OF THE WORLD AND CONTENTMENT >OO0 9

THE VALUE OF THIS WORLDLY LIFE KORAN ATTRACTIONS OF THE WORLD DISTRACTIONS THE PITFALLS OF WORLDLY GAIN ALLAH IS FOREVER WATCHFUL THE REAL LIFE MOST WEALTHY PERSON AND THE MOST TRIED VALUE OF THE WORLD THE WORLD HAS LITTLE VALUE USELESSNESS OF THE WORLD THE ATTRACTION OF THE WORLD ABANDONMENT OF WORTHLESS THINGS THE WISE AND THE FOOLISH THE PROPHETS DISREGARD FOR THE WEALTH OF THIS LIFE ABSTINENCE LAWFUL AND UNLAWFUL WEALTH AND DISPLEASURE THE PRISON OF BELIEVERS STRANGER IN THE WORLD HOW TO WIN THE LOVE OF ALLAH AND PEOPLE REMEMBRANCE OF ALLAH, THE LEARNED PERSON AND THE STUDENT TEMPTATIONS OF THE WORLD PREPARE FOR THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT MUSLIMS ARE TRIED BY THEIR WEALTH ENTITLEMENT PROPERTY PREPARE FOR POVERTY WEALTH AND STATUS BE A TRANSIENT IN THE WORLD VANITY ATTRACTION OF THE MAR0ETS BEST AND WORST PLACES IN THE CITIES SATAN'S HIVE OF ACTIVITY TRICKS OF SATAN PROSTRATION OF THE ANGELS CONTENTMENT KORAN REALITY OF WEALTH TRUE PROSPERITY NO BLESSING IN GREED GENERATIONS AFTER THE COMPANIONS

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ENCOURAGEMENT THROUGH CHARITY PROMISES RELIEF FROM HUNGER AND POVERTY BE GRATEFUL FOR THAT WHICH YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN TIME OF AUSTERITY EARLY MARTYRS THE MERITS OF SELF:SACRIFICE KORAN GIVING CHARITY IN DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES DAILY NEEDS

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