The Addiction That Destroys Harmony
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said:
Two hungry wolves let loose among sheep are not more harmful than a person’s craving after wealth and status is to his Religion. [1]
Shaikh Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:
The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, clarified that the corruption through craving for wealth and high status in the religion cannot be lesser than the corruption (caused) by two hungry wolves let loose among a livestock, and this is manifest, for indeed there is (nothing) of this craving in the sound religion. This is because when the heart tastes the sweetness of servitude to Allah and love of Him, nothing else becomes more beloved to it than that. Through this, evil and immorality are averted from the people who are sincere to Allah. [2]
Imam Ibn Rajab, may Allah have mercy upon him, said: Eagerness for high status is of two types: the first type is to seek high status through leadership, authority and wealth. This is very dangerous and in most cases it prevents (a person) from the good of the afterlife, its nobility, honour and elevated station. Allah, The Most High, said:
تِلْكَ الدَّارُ الْآخِرَةُ نَجْعَلُهَا لِلَّذِينَ لَا يُرِيدُونَ عُلُوًّا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا فَسَادًا ۚ وَالْعَاقِبَةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ
That home of the Hereafter (i.e. Paradise), We shall assign to those who rebel not against the truth with pride and oppression in the land nor do mischief by committing crimes. And the good end is for the pious. [Al-Qasas. 83]
The second type is to seek high status and to be raised in status above the people through the religious affairs, such as knowledge, deeds and Zuhd. This is more abominable than the first type and greater in danger and corruption. This is because knowledge, deeds and Zuhd are for seeking what Allah (has prepared for His slaves) of high station and everlasting bliss – a means to drawing close to Him and to receive His favours. Imam Sufyaan Ath-Thawree, may Allah have mercy upon him, said: “Knowledge has more virtue because it is for attaining fear of Allah, but if not, it is just like all other things”. [3]
Shaikh Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy upon him, also said:
The seeker of leadership – even through falsehood- is pleased with a statement that contains an exaltation of him, even if it is falsehood. He becomes angered by a statement that contains a rebuke against him, even if it is truth. The (true) believer is pleased with a statement of truth whether it is for or against him and he is angered by a statement of falsehood whether it is for or against him. This is because Allah, The Most High, loves truth, truthfulness and justice, and He hates lies and oppression. [4]
Imam Muhamad Ibn Salih Al-Uthaymeen, may Allah have mercy upon him, said: Two hungry wolves let loose on a flock! Then what will remain from the flock?! Even when a single wolf stops eating because its stomach is full, it still kills the rest of the flock, then what about two hungry wolves let loose on a flock!! Not a single will remain. Likewise, a person who craves wealth or status will corrupt the religion. Because of this, it is obligated to a person that his intention is far removed from this- far removed from craving for wealth and status in the religion. We ask Allah to aid us to accomplish this”. [5]
Imam Ibn Qudamah, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:
Envy usually occurs between contemporaries, peers, brothers, and cousins due to everyone’s competing aspirations, which causes strife and animosity. As a result, you will find that a scholar would envy another scholar but not a worshipper, a worshipper would envy another worshipper but not a scholar, a trader would envy another trader and a cobbler would envy another cobbler. The love of material things, which are limited for those who compete for them, is the root cause of this affair”. [6]
The Imam, may Allah have mercy upon him, also stated:
As for the afterlife, there are no restrictions because the one who loves knowledge and awareness of Allah, knowledge, and awareness of Allah’s angels, Allah’s Prophets, and Allah’s Mighty Dominion over the heavens and the earth, will not envy others after becoming acquainted with these affairs because they are not restricted by one another; rather, one particular individual (upright) scholar is known by thousands of (upright) scholars, and they rejoice because of the understanding he possesses. This is why there is no envy among (upright) scholars since their goal is to gain knowledge and awareness of Allah [Glorified be He and free from all imperfections], which is a vast affair. Their goal is to attain a high status in the Sight of Allah, and that which Allah has kept in the afterlife is unlimited because Allah’s loftiest blessing is the pleasure of meeting Him, which cannot be prevented or restricted, nor can some competitors in the affair make it restricted for others; instead harmony is enhanced as the competitors increase; but if wealth and status become the scholars’ goal, they will envy one another.
The difference between knowledge and wealth is that wealth does not remain in the hands of a single person, whereas knowledge settles in the heart of a scholar and the heart of the one taught by the scholar while remaining in the heart of the scholar. As a result, whoever contemplates the Greatness of Allah and His Mighty Dominion [i.e. pondering upon what Allah has created and upon the divine revelation], it will become the greatest delight for him than any other blessing, because he cannot be prevented or restricted from doing so. He will not be envious of anyone because even if others were aware of what he is aware of, it would not diminish his pleasure in the affair. You do not find people overcrowded to view the beauty of the sky because it is vast and unrestricted.
Therefore, if you are merciful to yourself, then it is obligated that you seek the bliss in which there is no hindrance and pleasure that never ceases. And the only way to find this in the life of this world is to become familiar with knowledge and awareness of Allah and the magnificent essence of His Dominion (over everything). However, if your desire is weak and you do not yearn to acquaint yourself with the knowledge and awareness of Allah, you will not find or experience its pleasure. As a result, you’re not man enough because this is a man’s affair, and yearning for something occurs after experiencing it. The one who has not tasted will not know, the one who does not know will not yearn, the one who does not yearn will not seek, the one who does not seek will not find (anything), and the one who does not find (anything) will be among the deprived. [7]
Wholesome Mutual Relationships
[1] Declared authentic by Imam Al-Albani [ may Allah have mercy upon him] in Saheeh Sunan At-Tirmidhee 2376
[2] An Excerpt from (Majmoo Al-Fataawaa) 10/215]
[3]Majmu Al-Fatawa. 10/600
[4 Excerpts from the book (Two hungry wolves let loose amongst a flock of sheep) pages: 29-33]
[5 An Excerpt from at-Taleeq Alaa Siyaasah Shar’iyyah. pages 454-455
[6] An Excerpt from ‘Mukhtasar Minhaj Al Qasidin’ page: 199-201
[7] An Excerpt from ‘Mukhtasar Minhaj Al Qasidin’ page: 199-20
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