Look at the first man: he is a slave to the khamīṣa and khamīla. The second man, however, pays no heed to himself; his sole concern is worshipping Allah and earning His good pleasure. His hair is unkempt, his feet dusty. If he is placed with the rear guard, he remains with the rear guard—meaning he does not care what station he is assigned so long as it serves the interests of jihad. Wherever benefit lies, there he will be. Such a person is the one who has truly profited in this world and the Hereafter.

The conclusion is that some people commit shirk without realizing it. My brother, if you find that the world has filled your heart and that you care for nothing else—you sleep on it and wake on it—then know that there is shirk in your heart, for the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “May the slave of the dinar perish!” This is proven by the fact that he strives to amass wealth by any means, whether lawful or unlawful. One who truly worships Allah can never take money through unlawful means, because the unlawful invites Allah’s wrath, whereas the lawful brings His pleasure. A sincere servant therefore declares, “I will take wealth only by the proper means, and I will spend it only by the proper means.”

To sum up, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Avoid the seven destructive sins.” They asked, “What are they, O Messenger of Allah?” He replied, “Associating partners with Allah…” If Allah wills, we shall address the rest of the hadith later. Allah alone grants success.