Ibn Daud - A Handbook of Spiritual Medicine

Love of the World
Signs & Symptoms
Qur’ānic, Prophetic
& Scholarly Evidence
Forgetfulness
Your acquisition of wealth and love of such
material objects causes you to forget Allāh
You have little or no concern for the Hereafter;
you have love for ephemeral aspects of the world
to the point that they suppress your spiritual
yearning
Allāh says, “Know that this worldly life is no
more than play, amusement, luxury, mutual
boasting, and competition in wealth and
children.” [Al-*adīd 57:20]
Disingenuousness
You are disingenuous with praise, by pouring
accolades upon others, worthy or not, desiring
something from other than Allāh because you
want something from them
Allāh
o
o
says:
“Do not let those who rejoice in their
misdeeds and love to take credit for
what they have not done think they
will escape torment. They will suffer a
painful punishment” [Āli ‘Imrān 3:188]
“Do not do a favour expecting more
(in return)” [Al-Muddaththir 74:6]
You receive credit for work others have actually
done, and attribute nothing to those that have
actually done the work
The Prophet said “When you see those
who shower (undue) praise (upon others),
throw dust upon their faces.” [%a#ī# Muslim
3002:69, Ibn Mājah 3742]
LOVE OF THE WORLD
Prying & Eavesdropping
You busy yourself with that which does not
concern you
Imām Al-Ghazālī said, "An indication of
the withdrawal of Allāh Most High from the
worshipper is his busying himself with what
does not concern him, and if an hour of a
man’s life slips by in other than that for which
he was created in the way of worship, then
it is proper that his affliction is protracted.
Whoever passes forty without his virtue
overpowering his vice, let him get ready for
Hellfire!" [Letter to a Disciple/Ayyuhāl Walad p.4-5]
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