Hadith #3707

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all worlds. May peace and blessings be upon our beloved Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), his pure progeny, and his noble companions.

The Arabic Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) states:

إنْ كُنْتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ اللّهَ فَأخْرِجُوا مِنْ قُلُوبِكُمْ حُبَّ الدُّنيا۔

This Hadith emphasizes the importance of removing the love of this world from our hearts if we truly love Allah.

Let us delve into the meaning of some important words in this Hadith. The word (tuhibbuna) "تُحِبُّونَ" means "you love," indicating an action of the believers. (Allah) "اللّهَ" refers to the Almighty, the Creator of the heavens and the earth. (akhriju) "أخْرِجُوا" means "remove" or "expel," implying a deliberate and conscious effort to eliminate something. (min qulubikum) "مِنْ قُلُوبِكُمْ" translates to "from your hearts," signifying the innermost core of our being. Lastly, (hubb ad-dunya) "حُبَّ الدُّنيا" means

the love of this world,

referring to an attachment to worldly possessions, desires, and distractions.

To understand the enlightening message of this Hadith, we can turn to the Quran for guidance. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) reminds us in Surah Al-Imran, verse 14:

Beautified for people is the love of that which they desire - of women and sons, heaped-up sums of gold and silver, fine branded horses, and cattle and tilled land. That is the enjoyment of worldly life, but Allah has with Him the best return.

This verse highlights the allure of worldly possessions and desires that can distract us from our love for Allah. The love of this world can consume our hearts, leading us astray from the path of righteousness. It is crucial for us as Muslims to recognize this potential danger and take proactive measures to remove this attachment from our hearts.

In Surah Al-Hadid, verse 20, Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) advises:

Know that the life of this world is but amusement and diversion and adornment and boasting to one another and competition in increase of wealth and children - like the example of a rain whose [resulting] plant growth pleases the tillers; then it dries and you see it turned yellow; then it becomes [scattered] debris. And in the Hereafter is severe punishment and forgiveness from Allah and approval. And what is the worldly life except the enjoyment of delusion.

This verse reminds us that the pleasures and attractions of this world are temporary and fleeting. They can deceive us into thinking that they hold true value and significance. However, in reality, they are merely distractions from the ultimate purpose of our existence - to worship and seek the pleasure of Allah.

Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) urges us to remove the love of this world from our hearts because it hinders our spiritual growth and devotion to Allah. When we are attached to worldly possessions and desires, our priorities become skewed, and we may neglect our obligations towards Allah and our fellow human beings.

By detaching ourselves from the love of this world, we free our hearts and minds to focus on what truly matters - our relationship with Allah and the pursuit of righteousness. We become more conscious of our actions, seeking to please Allah rather than chasing after temporary worldly gains.

Removing the love of this world from our hearts requires self-reflection, self-discipline, and a conscious effort to prioritize our spiritual growth. We must constantly remind ourselves of the transient nature of worldly possessions and the eternal rewards that await us in the Hereafter.

In conclusion, the Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) serves as a profound reminder for Muslims to prioritize their love for Allah over the love of this world. By removing the attachment to worldly possessions and desires from our hearts, we can strengthen our relationship with Allah and strive for spiritual excellence. May Allah guide us all to follow the teachings of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) and grant us the ability to detach ourselves from the love of this world.