Proper meaning of Zuhd
On the authority of Abu al-’Abbas Sahl bin Sa’d 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.” He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam, answered: “Be indifferent to the world and Allah will love you; be indifferent to what people possess and they will love you.” [A fine hadith related by Ibn Majah and others with good chains of authorities]
The first aspect mentioned is where a person realizes that all provisions and sustenance come from Allaah(swt) and not simply by his own acts. The second aspect is where, if a person loses anything of this world, this does not bother him because he is looking toward the Hereafter and not this world.
Many people have the misunderstanding of zuhd, and borrow it from other cultures. They disregard this world, forbid the permissible, voluntarily choose a life of poverty and refuse to work or follow the means to sustenance that Allah(swt) has laid down for this world. This is not the Islamic zuhd and is an innovation in Islam going against the Quran and sunnah.
Key arabic words mentioned in hadith and their meanings:
jaa-a : “he came”, masculine form
dul-lanee : “guide me, direct me”, the nee at the end indicates “me”
a7ab-banee : “loves me”, again the nee indicates “me”
iz-had : “be aloof”, this is sometimes translated as “renounce” but that is not quite correct.
This hadith is a weak hadith, therefore it is not discussed in details. However, it mentions zuhd and the correct understanding of zuhd (“Islamic asceticism”) is discussed further.
The correct zuhd in Islam is not an act of renouncing or giving up the world. It is an act of being aloof from the world, in the sense that ones’ heart is not attached to the things of this world but to the aspects of the Hereafter and one is indifferent about losing the bounties of this world. Zuhd is an action of the heart and not an outward action.
Abu Idrees al-Khaulaani said, “Zuhd in this world does not mean forbidding what is permissible or wasting wealth. Zuhd with respect to this world is only where a person puts more trust in what is with Allah than what is in his own hand. If he is afflicted with a calamity, he is more hopeful for its reward and what is stored for him in the Hereafter than if it were to have remained with him.”[1].
Sulaiman al-Daaraani said, “Do not testify that anyone has zuhd for zuhd is in the heart(and cannot be witnessed by others).”[2]
Wahb ibn al-Warad said, “Zuhd in this world is where one does not despair because of what he is given of this world.”
Sufyaan ibn Uyainah said, “Zuhd with respect to this world is where one, if he is blessed with something, gives thanks and, if he is tried, is patient.”[2]
References
[1] Zarabozo, Jamaal al-Din M., “Commentary on the Forty Hadith of Al-Nawawi, Volume 2.” Al-Basheer, 1999.
[2] Quoted in al-Bugha and Mistu, p217-219.
