Hadith 31

True Asceticism

الزهد الحقيقي

ازْهَدْ فِي الدُّنْيَا يُحِبَّك اللَّهُ، وَازْهَدْ فِيمَا عِنْدَ النَّاسِ يُحِبَّك النَّاسُ

Translation

Be detached from this world and Allah will love you. Be detached from what people possess and people will love you.

Narrated by

Sahl ibn Sad al-Saidi

سهل بن سعد الساعدي رضي الله عنه

Source

Ibn Majah

ابن ماجه

Explanation

Asceticism (zuhd) is not poverty but detachment. Not desiring what others have earns both divine and human love. This hadith balances material and spiritual concerns.

Key Lessons

  • 1Detachment from world earns Allah's love
  • 2Not coveting earns people's love
  • 3Zuhd is about the heart, not appearance
  • 4Balance material and spiritual