for all goodness begins with seeking Allah, His Messenger and the Hereafter. Hence the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Actions are judged only by intentions.”

It is thus established that obligatory renunciation consists in abandoning whatever [distracts one] from the obligatory pursuit of Allah and the Hereafter, while recommended renunciation consists in abandoning whatever distracts one from the recommended deeds of those brought near to Allah and those steadfast in truth.

It therefore becomes clear, in three respects, that the purpose of renunciation is to fulfil what has been commanded:

First: Were it not that this world distracts from worshipping Allah and seeking the Hereafter, renouncing it would not have been prescribed. Rather, renouncing it and not renouncing it would be equal, or one or the other would be preferable on worldly grounds.

Second: Suppose there were two people, one seeking both the Hereafter and this world, and the other renouncing both this world and the Hereafter. The first would be a praiseworthy believer, and the second an accursed unbeliever, even though the second renounces this world while the first seeks it. What distinguishes the first, however, is that he fulfils something commanded while committing something forbidden, whereas the second does not fulfil that command. It is thus established that fulfilling the command to seek the Hereafter is beneficial, while renunciation without fulfilling this command is of no benefit.

Third: What the Quran and Sunnah praise is seeking the Hereafter; the person they condemn is the one who abandons the pursuit of the Hereafter and becomes preoccupied with seeking this world