Ten Virtues of a Mumin – (9) Aversion to Dunya

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

فَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَقُولُ رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا وَمَا لَهُ فِي الْآخِرَةِ مِنْ خَلَاقٍ، وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَقُولُ رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ،

'There are men who say: " Lord! Give us (Thy bounties) in this world!" but they will have no portion in the Hereafter. And there are those who say: "O Lord! Grant us the benefits of this world and the blessings of the hereafter.'

(Surat al-Baqara: Ayat 200-201)

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

مَنْ رَزَقَهُ اللهُ وَلايَةَ عَلِيّ ابنِ ابيطالب صع فَقَدْ أَصَابَ خَيْرَ الدُّنْيَا والآخِرةِ، ولا أشُكُّ لهُ بِالجَنةِ، وإنَّ في حُبِّ عَليٍّ وَوَلايَتِهِ عِشْرِينَ خَصْلَة، عَشَرةً مِنها في الدُّنيا وعَشَرةً في الآخرة* (1) الزهد (2) والحرص على العلم (3) والورع في الدين (4) والرغبة في العبادة (5) وتوبة نصوح (6) والقيام في الليل للصلوة (7) الإياس من الخلق (8) والحفظ للقرآن (9) وبغض الدنيا

'He who is given the sustenance/bounty (rizq - rozi) of the valaayat of Ali has attained the goodness of this world and the Hereafter, and I do not doubt that he will enter jannat. In Ali’s love and valaayat are twenty virtues: 10 in this world (dunya) and 10 in the Hereafter (aakherat). 1) renouncing materialism, 2) desire to seek knowledge, 3) piety and scrupulosity, 4) eagerness/desire for worship, 5) sincere repentance, 6) waking up in the night for prayer, 7) putting your trust in God, not people, 8) the memorization of the Quran, 9) aversion to this world (dunya).'

(Rasulullah SAW)

This article was written by Ra'sul Hududil Mayameen Janab Syedi Aziz Bhaisaheb Qutbuddin in 2015.

Rasulullah SA said, “he who is given the gift (rizq, rozi) of the valaayat of Ali has attained the goodness of this world and the Hereafter, and I do not doubt that he will enter Jannat.” In Ali’s love andvalaayat are twenty virtues: 10 in this World (dunya) and 10 in the Hereafter (aakherat). The ten in this world are: 1) renouncing materialism; 2) desire to seek knowledge; 3) piety and scrupulosity; 4) eagerness and desire for worship; 5) sincere repentance; 6) waking up in the night for tahajjud prayers; 7) to put trust in God and not people; 8) memorizing the Quran Majeed; 9) aversion to this world; and 10) generosity.

This year during Ashara, Syedna TUS narrated this Hadith and explained the many facets of this Hadith and the individual virtues. Syedna introduced the Hadith saying that this is a bishaarat for the Shi’a of Amirul Mumineen SA. He added that in one sense, those with true valaayat would necessarily have these virtues. If for some reason one with valaayat does not possess these virtues, then upon hearing this bayaan he/she should make a firm commitment to acquire them. The ninth virtue is aversion to this world (bughdud-dunya).

Rasulullah SA said, “this world (dunya) is a prison for the believer (mumin) and paradise (Jannat) for the disbeliever (kafir).” Amirul Mumineen SA wrote to Salman al-Farisi RA,

'Indeed, this world is like a snake—its touch is smooth, its poison fatal. The foolish lad rushes towards it, and the intelligent man is wary of it. Turn away from its attractions, for it will only be with you for a short time. Shrug off its cares, for you will soon depart from it. When you are most comfortable with it, beware of it the most. For each time its companion rests confidently in a happy event, an adversity forcefully removes him from it.'

Syedna al-Mu’ayyad al-Shirazi RA stresses time and again that this world is transient. In one instance, he describes it as a series of trials and tribulations and its inhabitants as those trapped in a cave, drunk with its temporary lures.

Our Mawali Tahereen AS make such strong statements about the temptations of this world because these temptations are enticing. The purpose of these statements is to remind us of the passing nature of this world and to emphasize the endurance of the Hereafter (aakherat).

That is not to say that one should not live a full life in this world. Amirul Mumineen SA said that the pious (muttaqeen) share this world with the people of this world (ahlud-dunya), but the people of this world do not share the Hereafter with the pious. The former live the best life in this world and they also journey to the Hereafter with adequate provisions and a profitable trade. Conveying a similar concept, Syedna Taher Saifuddin RA refers to dunya and deen in his qasida as twins. He counsels Mumineen that their worldly affairs should be conducted in accordance with their religion, and that religion should in fact be the moral compass that directs their worldly affairs (see Sijill Article 84 “The Twinship of Deen & Dunya”).

Our Hudaat Kiraam AS encourage us to live life in this world to the fullest but with the Hereafter and our purpose in mind. Living life in this world according the guidance of our Hudaat Kiraam and the precepts of Shari’at ensures that all worldly pursuits also garner sawaab.

The key is prioritization. Amirul Mumineen SA said that when dunya and aakehrat go hand in hand that is the best. But in the case of a conflict between the two, Eisa Maseeh’s SA teaching is proverbial: if there is a situation in which you must choose between dunya or aakehrat, then you must prioritize aakherat.

May Allah Ta’ala grant us the wisdom to prioritize everlasting Hereafter over a transient material world. May we continue to follow the guidance of His awliya’ to live a full and fulfilling life in this world and prepare for the Hereafter.

In our increasingly materialistic world, we are fortunate that we have a living guide, a Dai, who continuously reminds us of the permanence of the Hereafter, and the balance required to achieve happiness in this world and the aakherat. May Allah Ta’ala grant Syedna Qutbuddin TUS longest life till qiyamat to continue to guide us and our children.

We end with the prayer that is quoted in the ayat in the beginning of this article. Not the prayer of those who seek dunya with no share in aakherat (Surat al-Baqara: 200), but the prayer of those who say, “O Lord! Grant us the benefits of this world and the blessings of the hereafter” (Rabbana aatina fid-dunya hasanatan wa fil aakherati hasanatan waqina azaab an-naar – Surat al-Baqara: 201).