Praise be to Allah who created us, sustains us, and guides us towards what is best for us in this world and the Hereafter. We seek His forgiveness, His guidance, and His mercy in all our affairs.
Brothers in Islam, today’s khutbah is about confronting the challenges we face in our lives, particularly the attachments that hold us back from truly connecting with Allah. For many of us, these attachments may not just be about wealth or luxury, but could be more subtle, like unhealthy habits, negative influences, or even despair.
We find ourselves in different circumstances, but the trials we face are a test from Allah. The dunya, or this worldly life, is filled with distractions and temptations, and our challenge is to rise above them, especially in an environment like this, where those distractions can be more psychological and emotional.
The Dunya: A Broader Understanding
Materialism isn’t just about wealth. It’s about anything in this world that distracts us from our purpose—serving Allah and preparing for the Hereafter. In prison, this might be clinging to anger, grudges, or negative influences that keep us from spiritual growth.
The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said, “The dunya is a prison for the believer and a paradise for the disbeliever.” This hadith reminds us that the comforts and distractions of this world can trap us, just as much as physical confinement can. But even in this setting, we can find freedom in our faith and connection to Allah.
Ask yourselves: What are the things that are distracting you from your faith here and now? It could be thoughts of revenge, regret, or even despair. These are the dunya’s hooks, trying to pull us away from our true purpose.
Islamic Perspective on Materialism
The Journey of Prophet Isa (Jesus, AS) with a Companion was recorded by Ibn Abi ad-Dunya in a few of his works [Az-Zuhd and Dham ad-Dunya]. The narrator of this story is Laith bin Sulaim who is from Tābu‘ at-Tābi‘een:
Prophet Isa (AS) was known for his ascetic lifestyle, detached from the luxuries of this world. One day, a man asked to accompany him on his journey. Prophet Isa agreed, and they began their walk together. When it was time for their first meal, Prophet Isa (AS) brought out three loaves of bread, saying, “One loaf is for me, one is for you, and we will share the third.” However, the man, driven by greed, secretly ate the third loaf overnight. In the morning, Prophet Isa (AS) asked him if he knew what had happened to the third loaf which he denied.
So they set out on their journey. They reached the edge of the forest. They saw a deer with her two baby fawns. Prophet Jesus pointed to one of the fawns and it came running towards him. He slaughtered it then cooked it. They ate from it. When they were finished Prophet Jesus collected the bones and said, ”Get up by the will of Allah.” The fawn came back to life by the will of Allah just as it had been before and went back to its mother. Prophet Jesus turned to the man and said, ”I ask you by Allah, the One who enabled you to see this miracle, who took the third loaf of bread?” The man again replied, ”I don’t know.”
They continued on their journey until they came to a river and there was no boat or way across it. Prophet Isa (AS), by Allah’s permission, walked on the water and invited the man to join him. The man was astonished but managed to walk across the water. Once on the other side, Prophet Isa (AS) asked, “By the One who allowed us to walk on this water, who took the third loaf of bread?” The man denied knowing what happened to it.
As they continued their journey, they came across 3 piles of sand. Prophet Isa (AS) performed another miracle by turning them into three piles of gold. The man asked immediately who are these three for? He(AS) said, “One pile is for me, one is for you, and the third is for the one who took the third loaf of bread.” The man, overcome by greed, confessed to taking the bread. Prophet Isa (AS) responded, “Then take all three of them, but you will not walk with me anymore.”
The man, now consumed by his newfound wealth, left Prophet Isa (AS). As he tried to carry the gold, he encountered a group of bandits who, seeing his wealth, decided to kill him and take the gold. After killing him, they argued over the gold and eventually poisoned each other to claim it all. In the end, all three of them died next to the piles of gold.
When Prophet Isa (AS) returned to the site with his disciples, he found the three dead bodies and the piles of gold. He remarked, “Hadhihi hiya ad-Dunya , Fahdharooha” This is the outcome of this world. This is the nature of the dunya—be cautious of it.” This story illustrates how materialism blinds people to the point where it leads to their destruction, both in this world and the Hereafter.
There are many lessons from this story including:
- The danger of attachment to this World: Despite witnessing miraculous events, the man’s greed ultimately led to his downfall. This serves as a reminder that material wealth can corrupt the soul.
- Betrayal by the World: The man, consumed by his desire for wealth, ends up dead along with the robbers, showing that material pursuits often lead to destruction and that worldly pleasures are fleeting.
- The importance of Honesty and Trust: The man’s initial dishonesty about the third loaf of bread set the stage for his eventual downfall in this world and spiritual bankruptcy destroying the Next also.
- Prophetic Detachment from the World: Prophet Isa’s minimalism and detachment from worldly pleasures set a powerful example of spiritual leadership. Strive for a life that is focused on spiritual growth and devotion to Allah.
- Impermanence of Material Wealth: This worldly life is temporary.
- Focus on the Eternal: Focus on what is eternal—their relationship with Allah and their deeds—rather than getting caught up in the temporary and often deceptive allure of worldly wealth.
- Moral Choices: Make the right decision even when faced with temptations.
- Consequences of Greed: The story also highlights the destructive consequences of greed – not only did the man lose his opportunity to accompany a prophet, but his greed also led to his death.
Isnt this our story? We’re so consumed with our bread or a pile of gold, despite the fact that you can’t satisfy yourself with it. You finally get the riches, but you lose your family on the way. You finally pull off the job but your friends abandon you.
The early scholars would say that the dunya is like a shadow. The faster you run after it, the faster it speeds ahead. But if you turn away from the shadow – you turn your back to it i.e. you face the light towards Allah (SWT), your shadow begins to chase you – the dunya will come to you.
Jabir bin ‘Abdullah (RA) reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “O people, fear Allah and be moderate in seeking a living, for no soul will die until it has received all its provision, even if it is slow in coming. So fear Allah and be moderate in seeking provision; take that which is permissible and leave that which is forbidden. ” [Sunan Ibn Majah 2144]
“ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَأَجْمِلُوا فِي الطَّلَبِ فَإِنَّ نَفْسًا لَنْ تَمُوتَ حَتَّى تَسْتَوْفِيَ رِزْقَهَا وَإِنْ أَبْطَأَ عَنْهَا فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَأَجْمِلُوا فِي الطَّلَبِ خُذُوا مَا حَلَّ وَدَعُوا مَا حَرُمَ ”
Every last smile, every last breath, every last pound – you will not die until you collect all of that so fear Allah and beautify your requests – so ask for that which is useful. That which is with Allah(SWT) can only be attained by obeying Him.
Jabir reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Were the son of Adam to flee from his provision as he flees from death, his provision would surely reach him just as death will reach him.” [Ḥilyat al-Awliyā’ 7/90]
Your rizq will catch you like death will catch you.
Anas ibn Malik reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Whoever is concerned about the Hereafter, Allah will place richness in his heart, bring his affairs together, and the world will inevitably come to him. Whoever is concerned about the world, Allah will place poverty between his eyes, disorder his affairs, and he will get nothing of the world but what is decreed for him.” [Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2465]
رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَنْ كَانَتْ الْآخِرَةُ هَمَّهُ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ غِنَاهُ فِي قَلْبِهِ وَجَمَعَ لَهُ شَمْلَهُ وَأَتَتْهُ الدُّنْيَا وَهِيَ رَاغِمَةٌ وَمَنْ كَانَتْ الدُّنْيَا هَمَّهُ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ فَقْرَهُ بَيْنَ عَيْنَيْهِ وَفَرَّقَ عَلَيْهِ شَمْلَهُ وَلَمْ يَأْتِهِ مِنْ الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا مَا قُدِّرَ لَهُ
Its very important when we speak about materialism and minimalism that we remind ourselves that Dunya itself is not bad in Islam, rather this is the planting ground of the Hereafter. The dunya is a place that you do something so little of good in it and you can get rewarded for it forever. How can that be an evil thing? The problem as stated in this hadith is whoever makes the dunya his concern – we get so caught up with it and we forget Allah(SWT). How caught up are we in it? Like a child who forgets themselves in the playground and if it was their choice they would stay until nightfall. Only then, they would realise that they should have listened to their parent and had their fair share of playing before their day was up. Similarly, we need to realise that our day will be up before we know it, and we spent our lives admiring the garden rather than recognising the One who created this garden.
What is zuhd (abstinence)?
A brother came to Shaykh Kamal and said “Molvi Sahib, I just destroyed my laptop. I shattered it because I felt like it was taking me away from Allah. The Shaykh said “The next time something takes you away from Allah, you give it to me, OK?”
Zuhd is not to make something permissible haram, nor is it about squandering your wealth.
Rather Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (rh) reported: Abu Muslim al-Khawlani, may Allah have mercy on him, said, “To renounce the world does not mean to forbid what is allowed, nor to squander wealth. Verily, to renounce the world means to be more reliant on what is in the hand of Allah than your own hand.
If you are afflicted with a calamity, you have stronger hope for the reward in store for you, if you continue to endure it.” [al-Zuhd li-Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal 96]
You’re the same in your commitment with Allah(SWT) in the easy times and the hard – not that you don’t feel stress and difficulty but that you bear it and in your moments of happiness, you don’t lose the plot also.
And in another narration, theres a third quality that when someone praises or criticises you, they are equal in your eyes. You’re not here to endorse yourself, you’re here for the Truth. Know that the world doesn’t revolve around you it revolves around Allah subhanahu wa’ta’ala – what He wants and what pleases Him is what’s important.
إِنَّمَا الزَّهَادَةُ فِي الدُّنْيَا أَنْ تَكُونَ بِمَا فِي يَدَيِ اللَّهِ أَوْثَقَ مِمَّا فِي يَدَيْكَ وَإِذَا أُصِبْتَ بِمُصِيبَةٍ كُنْتَ أَشَدَّ رَجَاءً لِأَجْرِهَا وَذُخْرِهَا مِنْ أَنَّهَا لَوْ بَقِيَتْ لَكَ
Against that measurement, are we addicted to the Dunya or not? In reality, we are very caught – with TV and movies, social media and news, music and influencers. Caught up with who did this and who did that. With the right garb and the latest gadgets. All of that since the beginning of time till the end of time is the dunya – the shadow. It’s a mirage and thats why its lowly.
Allah(SWT) said “This worldly life is no more than play and amusement. But the Hereafter is indeed the real life, if only they knew.” [Al Hashr 29:64]
وَمَا هَـٰذِهِ ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَآ إِلَّا لَهْوٌۭ وَلَعِبٌۭ ۚ وَإِنَّ ٱلدَّارَ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةَ لَهِىَ ٱلْحَيَوَانُ ۚ لَوْ كَانُوا۟ يَعْلَمُونَ ٦٤
How do we tame this desire for the Dunya?
How do we move out from addiction to attachment and from attachment to detachment?
Know that it’s not possible to remove your love of dunya entirely. Allah(SWT) has created us with instincts and desires and although Allah(SWT) does not expect us to become angels, He does not accept of you to be an animal. So you’re expected to tame your desires and refine them. Rather, Allah(SWT) wants the dunya to serve you, rather than you serve it. You should be back in charge.
Ibn ul Qayyim explains how to do this with 2 methods:
Bi Mukhaalafatihaa – Opposing it
After the battle of Badr, some people were hungry for the booty – the spoils of war – such that disputes arose as to the division of the spoils. One group said, “Whatever we find is ours,” while another group was of the opinion that everything should be brought before the Holy Prophet ﷺ and they would wait to see what was his command. Promptly the opening verse of Surah al Alnfal was revealed concerning this:
They will question you concerning the spoils. Say: ‘The spoils belong to God and the Messenger; so fear you God, and set things right between you, and obey you God and His Messenger, if you are believers.(The Spoils, 1)
The message was clear – fear Allah and fix your relationships. Some people weren’t paying attention this so one year later at the battle of Uhud, what happened when some were told to hold their position on the hilltop? Some ran down at the first sign of what they thought was the win. They came down before their time and they got ambushed. Why? They were hungry for the spoils and didnt pay enough attention. 60 verses were revealed about this and we still read them today in Surah aale Imran. Amongst them was this one that states
“Among you are those who desire dunya and among you are some who desire the Hereafter.”
And to help with this, there is a litmus test – a real test to find out if you’re addicted to this dunya.
In his Tafsir, Waki` reported, that `Amr bin Maymun said that
لَن تَنَالُواْ الْبِرَّ حَتَّى تُنفِقُواْ مِمَّا تُحِبُّونَ
(By no means shall you attain Al-Birr) is in reference to attaining Paradise.
Imam Ahmad reported that Anas bin Malik said, “Abu Talhah had more property than any other among the Ansar in Al-Madinah, and the most beloved of his property to him was Bayruha’ garden, which was in front of the (Messenger’s) Masjid. Sometimes, Allah’s Messenger ﷺ used to go to the garden and drink its fresh water.” Anas added, “When these verses were revealed, (By no means shall you attain Al-Birr unless You spend of that which you love,)
Abu Talhah said, `O Allah’s Messenger! No doubt, Bayruha’ garden is the most beloved of all my property to me. So I want to give it in charity in Allah’s cause, and I expect its reward and compensation from Allah. O Allah’s Messenger! Spend it where Allah makes you think is feasible. ‘ On that, Allah’s Messenger ﷺ said,
«بَخٍ بَخٍ، ذَاكَ مَالٌ رَابِحٌ، ذَاكَ مَالٌ رَابِحٌ، وَقَدْ سَمِعْتُ، وَأَنَا أَرَى أَنْ تَجْعَلَهَا فِي الْأَقْرَبِين»
(Well-done! It is profitable property, it is profitable property. I have heard what you have said, and I think it would be proper if you gave it to your kith and kin.)
Abu Talhah said, `I will do so, O Allah’s Messenger.’ Then Abu Talhah distributed that garden among his relatives and cousins.”
Give up what you love of this world
If you’re not addicted to the comfort of this dunya, get up for fajr consistently.
If you’re not addicted to your money, be serious about your zakat and charity.
If you’re not addicted to your reputation in this dunya, give up the argument, even behind closed doors.
If you’re not addicted to your own desires, give up the phone thats destroying you and your health. Fight it. Check your screen-time and cut down. Oppose yourself.
Wa Muhaasabatihaa – interrogating it and holding yourself accountable
Regularly ask yourself, what is really important? What am I clinging to that is preventing me from growing spiritually? In prison, it’s easy to let the environment dictate your mindset, but true freedom lies in your ability to choose faith over fear, hope over despair, and Allah over dunya.
Reflect deeply. Think about all the delights of this world. The best meal. The happiest moment in your life.
He says “How much has remained of the delights of your world?
The happiness of your wedding. The happiness of your newborn. Did that remain?
Be sure that what’s remaining is the same as what has passed.
And let’s say it remains – if it were able to pause it for your whole life – 60, 70 years – won’t you realise once you arrive at the hereafter that this entire life of yours compared to forever, is nothing but a single breath.
Aren’t we insane for jeopardising our forever for a single inhale? That’s the dunya compared to the akhira.
Also, you could ask yourself why did Allah give us this dunya.
When Ceasar fled Syria, Sa’ad (RA) sent to Umar bin Al-Khattab (radiallahu anhu) Caeser’s sword, belt, bracelets, trousers, short, crown, and shoes, all of which were very precious bedecked with silk, gold. and jewels. He glanced at the people present and saw that Suraqa bin Malik Jhath’am was the hugest man with the largest proportions. Umar said to him, “O Suraqa! Stand up and wear these.”
Suraqa later said,
“I really wanted to have those, so I stood up and put them on. Umar said, ‘turn around’ so I turned my back to him. He told me to turn around again so I turned toward him again. Umar commented, ‘Splendid! Splendid! A Bedouin wearing Khosrau’s clothes, sword, belt, crown, and shoes. There was a day, O Suraqa when possessing these belongings of the Persian Emperor might been an honor for you and your people. Take it off!’ So I took it off. Then Umar said,
‘O Allah! you did not give these to your prophet and messenger (sallallahu alyhi wasallam) who was more honorable and beloved to You than me. You did not give these to Abu Bakr (radiallhu anhu), who was too more honorable and beloved to You than me. You gave it to me! so, I seek refuge with You, that please do not put me to trial with these.’ Then he started weeping, until those around him pitied him. Then he said to Abdul Rahman bin Auf, ‘I order you to distribute all of this [for the sake of Allah in charity] before the evening.’ Tabaree (4/472) Al Bidaya wa Al-Nihaya (7/68).
Like the Sahaba, as much as you can, keep dunya (worldly life) in your hands, not in your heart. As for us, the dunya is in our hearts and so Allah(SWT) took it from our hands. They too had wealth and victory, but it never consumed them. That means when someone insults you, keep it out of your heart so it doesn’t make you bitter or defensive. When someone praises you, also keep it out of your heart, so it doesn’t make you arrogant and self-deluded. When you face hardship and stress, don’t absorb it in your heart, so you don’t become hopeless and overwhelmed. Instead keep it in your hands and realise that everything passes. When you’re given a gift by God, don’t hold it in your heart. Hold it in your hand so that you don’t begin to love the gift more than the Giver. And so that when it is taken away you can truly respond with ‘inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi rajioon’: ‘indeed we belong to God, and to God we return.’
Even in prison, the dunya can tempt us. It might not be wealth, but it could be the temptation to fall into despair, to give up hope, or to allow the environment to harden our hearts. But remember, the more we chase these negative feelings, the further we move away from the light of Allah’s guidance.
The dunya is a test, and our time here, whether in freedom or in confinement, is an opportunity to grow closer to Allah. Use this time wisely. Do not let the dunya’s distractions—whether they be material, emotional, or psychological—prevent you from achieving true success in the Hereafter.
This week, take a step back and identify one area of your life where dunya has taken precedence. Make a conscious effort to let go of that attachment, and replace it with something that brings you closer to Allah. Whether it’s spending more time in prayer, seeking forgiveness, or simply offering kindness to others, take that step towards spiritual freedom.
“Detachment is not that you should own nothing but that nothing should own you” (Sayyidina) Ali Ibn Abu Talib R.A.
O Allah, help us to overcome our attachments to this dunya. Guide us to use our time, our energy, and our hearts in ways that please You and benefit our Hereafter. Grant us the strength to face our trials with patience and faith, and make the Hereafter our ultimate goal. Ameen.
