his intellect, his thoughts, his body, his sleep and his waking hours all revolve around this world: “What did I earn today? What did I lose?” You see him scheming for worldly gain by lawful and unlawful means alike—lying and cheating the authorities without the least concern—because the world has enslaved him; we seek Allah’s protection. The proof that such obsession is shirk is the Prophet’s saying: “May the slave of the dinar perish!” Do you think this man actually prostrates to a coin? No; but the dinar has conquered his heart. “May the slave of the dinar perish! May the slave of the dirham perish! May the slave of the khamīṣa (fine clothes) perish! May the slave of the khamīla (luxurious bedding) perish!” All he cares about is beautifying his clothing and decorating his bedding—these matter more to him than the prayer and other acts of worship. If he is given, he is pleased; if he is not given, he is enraged. When Allah bestows favor upon him he says, “This is the generous, sublime Lord who deserves everything,” but if Allah withholds, he becomes furious—Allah’s refuge is sought.

About such a person Allah says, “He worships Allah on the edge; if good befalls him, he is content with it, but if a trial touches him he turns on his face—he has lost this world and the next” (22:11). The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) also said: “If he is given, he is pleased; if he is not given, he is displeased. May he perish and relapse—he has lost! Matters are turned upside-down for him and Allah ruins his affairs. If he is pricked by a thorn, he cannot even extract it.” That is, Allah makes his affairs so difficult that he is unable to pull a mere thorn from his flesh.

Then, by way of contrast, the Prophet said: “Glad tidings (ṭūbā) to a servant who takes hold of his horse’s reins in the path of Allah.” Ṭūbā means a wholesome life in this world and the Hereafter for that servant who grips the reins of his horse in Allah’s cause, his hair disheveled, his feet dusty