distance yourself from them. Do not keep letting your eyes roam past them—in other words, do not allow your gaze to move away from them in quest of the adornment of worldly life.

Take this example: there are two men. One devotes himself to obeying Allah—he calls upon his Lord morning and evening, establishes the prayer, gives zakah, fasts, and treats people kindly. The other is a wealthy notable, owning large sums of money, palaces, cars, and servants. Which of the two is worthier of our patience and companionship? The first man is the one who deserves that we stay with him, sit in his company, mix with him, and not pass him by in search of the glitter of this world.

All of life is but a fleeting display. Whatever delight or pleasure it contains is ringed with sorrow and vexation; there is no joy in this world except that grief and sadness follow it. Ibn Masʿūd—may Allah be pleased with him—said, as I recall: “No house is filled with rejoicing but that it will be filled with sadness and grief.” He spoke the truth—may Allah be pleased with him. Even if nothing else happened, its inhabitants will die one after another; each time one of them dies the others mourn him, and so those joys and celebrations are transformed into sorrows and afflictions. The entire world, then, is of no real substance.

Therefore, do not let your eyes pass beyond them, seeking the adornment of worldly life. Stay with them, support them, and pay no heed to whatever worldly enjoyment We have granted anyone. This is like His saying: “And do not extend your eyes toward that with which We have provided classes of them—the splendor of the life of this world by which We test them. The provision of your Lord is better and more lasting. And command your family to pray and persevere in it; We do not ask you for provision—We provide for you—and the ultimate outcome belongs to piety” (Ṭā Hā 20:131–132).

I ask Allah to grant well-being to me and to you, and to make the final outcome for us and for our Muslim brothers a praiseworthy one.