Part 10 (b): Fighting against one’s Love of this world- Heart Therapy

Read the Table of Contents of Heart Therapy

Read Part 10: Love of this World-Wealth

Extreme good or eagerness for wealth is a disease of the heart and it emanates from one’s excessive love for this world. There are a number of remedies that can facilitate one’s fighting against this in order to attain true contentment with what one has:

1. Aspiring for Economy: one should be economical when dealing with his livelihood and financial needs and be content with that which is available to him, etc.

   The Prophet (SAW) was reported to have said, “There are three things that save a person: fear of Allah in public and in private, being economical when rich or poor, and justice when pleased or angry.” [Al-Bazzar]

2. Firm belief in Allah’s Predestination: One should not be overly concerned with the future, especially when sufficient livelihood and wealth have been bestowed on one. Rather, he engenders in himself a certainty that his provision will come from Allah and Allah has pre-destined everything.
3. Contentment: One should be aware of the benefits of being content, such as the honour of independence, and the humiliation of materialism and greed.
4. Reflect over the lives of the Righteous and the Disbelievers: One should reflect over the easy lives that the disbelievers were given on this earth, as well as on the lives of the Prophet SAW and his companions, etc. Such reflection will serve to remind him of the patience and contentment with which these righteous people lived their lives and will encourage him to be likewise.
5. Engender contentment in Allah’s Decision: One should appreciate the dangers of hoarding wealth, as well as the rewards that the patient receive; also, one should consider those who are beneath him in financial standing.

   The prophet SAW said: ‘Look at those who are beneath you and not at those who are above you; this is more befitting so that you do not despise Allah’s favours upon you.’ [Muslim]

Read the next Part 11: Miserliness