Condemnation of Worldly Matters and Abstaining Thereby

“Amir al-Mu’minin (Ali ibn abu Talib) (a.s.) has said, ‘The most supportive, of religious moral behavior, is abstinence from worldly matters.’”

“A man asked Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) about renunciation of worldly matters. The Imam said, ‘It consists of ten issues. The highest degree of renunciation of worldly matters is the lowest stage of abstinence in worldly matters (sins). The highest stage of abstinence in worldly matters is the lowest degree of certainty. The highest stage of certainty is the lowest stage of consent. It is renunciation of worldly matters that is mentioned in the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘. . . so that you would neither grieve over what you have lost nor become much happy about what Allah has granted to you. . . (57:23)

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘When Allah wants good for a servant (of Allah) He makes him reduce his interest in worldly matters, grants him good understanding in religion, and shows him his shortcomings. Whoever receives these things receives the good of both this and the next life.’ The Imam then said, ‘For the seekers of truth no other door is better than abstinence from worldly matters and this is exactly opposite to what the enemies of the truth search for.’ I (the narrator) then asked, ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, abstinence in what?’ The Imam said, ‘It is abstinence in desire for worldly matters, except one who exercises graceful patience. It (the worldly life) is only few days. It is unlawful for you to sense the test of belief without reducing your interest in worldly things.’ I (the narrator) heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘When the believer evacuates worldly matters from his self he gains new heights. He then senses the sweetness of the love for Allah and to the people of the world he looks like those whose power of reason is mixed and confused. In fact, they have become mixed with the love of Allah and have cut off all business with the others.’ I (the narrator) heard the Imam saying, ‘When a heart is cleared, the earth will look small for him until he gains real height.’”

“I asked abu Ja’far (a.s.) ‘(I request you to) teach me a Hadith that can benefit me.’ The Imam said, ‘O abu ‘Ubaydah, speak of death very often. No one speaks of death very often but that it reduces his interest in worldly matters.’”