11- Love of this World and Love of the Hereafter- Spiritual Counsel: Wisdom on Turning to God from the Islamic Tradition -Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

In this episode, Shaykh Faraz explains the twenty-fifth, twenty-sixth and twenty-seventh hadiths from the Chapter on Matters That Soften the Heart from the hadith compilation, Mishkat al-Masabih, compiled by Muḥammad ibn Abdullah Khatib al-Tabrizi (d. 741 AH). The twenty-fifth hadith relates us “that whoever loves their worldly life harms their hereafter, and whoever loves their hereafter harms their worldly life, so choose that which lasts over that which perishes”. Shaykh Faraz explains the meaning of love and that it is that which takes over one’s concern. The twenty-sixth hadith relates that “accursed is the slave of the dinar, accursed is the slave of the dirham” (the slave of wealth and material gain). Shaykh Faraz explains that God isn’t cursing anyone, however, “accursed” means that which is distant from Allah. He clarifies that being attached to wealth and material gain distances from Allah. The twenty-seventh hadith relates that “two hungry wolves that are set upon a herd of sheep do not cause more harm to that herd than a person’s avidness for wealth and religious honor”. Shaykh Faraz explains that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) warns from two qualities that are more destructive than hungry wolves attacking a herd of sheep: excessive avidness for worldly gain and seeking religious honor for its own sake, as they slaughter one’s relationship with Allah Most High.