Attaining Allah`s Love: Zuhud

Zuhud: Renouncing worldly pleasures in order to gain the love of Allah

 the authority of Abu Al-`Abbas Sahl Bin Sa`ad Al-Sa`idi, (radiyallahu`anhu), who said:

A man came to the Prophet, (Sallallahu`alayhi wasallam), and said: “O Messenger of Allah, direct me to an act which if I do it, [will cause] Allah to love me and people to love me.” Rasulullah, (Sallallahu`alayhi wasallam), answered: “Be indifferent to the world (worldly matters) and Allah will love you; be indifferent to what people possess and they will love you.”

“Zuhud” is an Arabic word and a vital concept in Islam. The English meaning is asceticism which means renouncing worldly pleasures, bieng indifferent to the world, in order to gain nearness to Allah.

How the Salaf described Zuhud

Ali ibn Abi Talib (ra) said "Asceticism is not that you should not own anything, but that nothing should own you."

Ibn Taymiyyah said Zuhud is to leave alone things which not benefit you in the next life. He also said  'Az-Zuhd entails abandoning what does not bring about benefit in the Hereafter. Al-Wara' (abandoning a part of the permissible for fear of falling into the impermissible) entails abandoning what you fear its consequences in the Hereafter.'"

Then, ibn Al-Qayyim commented,"This statement is one of the best and most comprehensive definitions of Az-Zuhd and Al-Wara'." In addition, Sufyan Ath-Thawry said,"Az-Zuhd in this Dunya entails having a short hope (or avoiding having hopes that one will live long), not by wearing the thick clothes or wearing the garment (as some people who observe fake Zuhd think is a part of Az-Zuhd)." this is part but pls read the attachment to fully understand what zuhd is and insha Allah it will answer the question the perosn who started the thread asked.

Ibn Taymiyyah also said Ikhlaas cannot be achieved except after having Zuhud, and there is no

Zuhud except after having Taqwa, and Taqwa is following the commands of Allaah and His Messenger) and keeping away from prohibitions. (Ibn Taymeeyah – 'al-Fatawa' 1/94)

Sufiyaan al Thauri said about Zuhud: “Zuhud is to have limited amount of expectations (very few hopes); it does not mean eating poor or inadequate foods as many think, or wearing a cheap gown or cloak”

Allah swt said regarding Zuhud “Thus, you should not grieve over anything you miss, nor be proud of anything He has bestowed upon you. Allah does not love those who are boastful, proud”. [57:23]

so zuhud in the above verse is defined as: not being over joyed with the glitters of the life of this world and not to regret things which have passed you by.

Ibn Mubarak said about zuhud: “It is having trust in Allah, and being content in times of poverty”

Abdul Waahid Ibn Zaaid said: “Zuhud can be practised by anyone even if he only possesses one deenar or dirahm”

Abi Sulimaan ad-Daa'raam said Zuhud means to leave, those things which distract you from Allah the Exalted and high and many Ulama have said this.

Ruweemul Ja'nayd said Zuhud is to belittle the dunya (this life) and to wipe away its traits from ones heart

Thu'il-Noon al-Misree said zuhud is controlling ones nafs (desires).

Why practise Zuhud?

There are many Texts in the Quran and the Sunnah that encourage being a Zahid in the Dunya. These Texts demonstrate the little significance that the Dunya has and point out its briefness and quick demise. These Texts also strengthen the eagerness in the Last Life, which joy is eternal. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala says,

"Whatever is with you, will be exhausted, and whatever with Allah (of good deeds) will remain."(An-Nahl 16:96)

"Know that the life of this world is only play and amusement, pomp and mutual boasting among you, and rivalry in respect of wealth and children, as the likeness of vegetation after rain, thereof the growth is pleasing to the tiller; afterwards it dries up and you see it turning yellow; then it becomes straw. But in the Hereafter (there is) a severe torment (for the disbelievers, evil-doers), and (there is) Forgiveness from Allah and (His) Good Pleasure (for the believers, good-doers), whereas the life of this world is only a deceiving enjoyment"  [Al-Hadid 57:20]

The Dunya, therefore, is brief and is bound to end sometime soon. Therefore, the slave ought not busy himself with its affairs, nor forget the affair of the Last Life which will never end.