Hadith #3872

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

The Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) highlights the consequences of having a heart attached to the love of this world. Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ), known for his profound knowledge and wisdom, beautifully describes the three afflictions that befall those who are engrossed in worldly desires.

The first affliction mentioned is "hamm" which can be translated as worry or anxiety. This worry stems from the constant preoccupation with worldly matters, such as wealth, status, and material possessions. The heart that is attached to the love of this world becomes burdened with the never-ending pursuit of these temporary pleasures. This worry becomes a constant companion, never leaving the person's side.

Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) reminds us in the Quran of the fleeting nature of worldly possessions and the futility of excessive attachment to them. In Surah Al-Hadid, Allah says, (57:20)

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.

The second affliction mentioned in the Hadith is "hiras" which can be translated as greed or covetousness. This greed is a consequence of the heart's attachment to worldly possessions. It is a never-ending desire for more, a constant craving for accumulation and acquisition. The heart that is consumed by greed is never satisfied, always yearning for more wealth, power, and material possessions.

The Quran repeatedly warns against the dangers of greed and the love of wealth. In Surah Al-Imran, Allah says, (63:9)

O you who have believed, let not your wealth and your children divert you from remembrance of Allah. And whoever does that - then those are the losers.

This verse reminds us that excessive attachment to worldly possessions can lead us astray from the remembrance of Allah and ultimately result in loss.

The third affliction mentioned in the Hadith is "amal" which can be translated as hopes or aspirations. These hopes are never realized by the person whose heart is attached to the love of this world. They constantly yearn for success, happiness, and fulfillment, but their desires remain unfulfilled. Their hopes become a source of disappointment and frustration.

The Quran teaches us to place our hopes and aspirations in the hereafter, rather than in the transient pleasures of this world. In Surah Al-Kahf, Allah says, (18:45)

And present to them the example of the life of this world, [its being] like rain which We send down from the sky, and the vegetation of the earth mingles with it and [then] it becomes dry remnants, scattered by the winds. And Allah is ever, over all things, Perfect in Ability.

This verse reminds us that the true fulfillment of our hopes and aspirations lies in the eternal life of the hereafter, not in the temporary pleasures of this world.

Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) warns us of the consequences of having a heart attached to the love of this world. The worry, greed, and unfulfilled hopes that result from this attachment can lead to a life of perpetual dissatisfaction and spiritual emptiness. It is important for us as Muslims to prioritize our relationship with Allah and to detach our hearts from the transient pleasures of this world.

May Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) grant us the wisdom and strength to overcome the allure of this world and to focus our hearts and minds on the eternal rewards of the hereafter. May we strive to follow the example of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) in seeking knowledge, wisdom, and detachment from worldly desires. And may Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) guide us all on the straight path.