The Transience and Deception of This World
According to Islamic belief, this worldly life is a temporary and deceptive abode of trial with an end. Attachment to the splendor and positions of the world distracts one from their true purpose: the Hereafter and Allah’s pleasure. Great saints (awliya) have viewed the world as old, worn-out, and unsightly, showing it no value. Those who enter the world only to develop it actually ruin their own Hereafter. When death arrives, all that is gathered—possessions, properties, and false titles—will bring no benefit; only righteous deeds remain.
Making the World a Field for the Hereafter
Islam does not command complete rejection of the world but rather to make it a means to the Hereafter. As our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “The world is the field of the other realm. He who sows goodness reaps joy, and he who sows evil harvests regret,” the wise believer transforms what they gain in this world into an investment for the Hereafter. They seek sustenance within the bounds of what is permissible (halal), take only what is necessary, and spend the surplus in the way of Allah, preparing for eternal life. To prioritize the world over the Hereafter means losing both; however, to center the Hereafter brings peace in this world and salvation in the Hereafter.
Purifying the Heart from Other Than Allah
The believer’s heart is the abode of Allah (Allah’s nazargâh); both love for the world and love for the Hereafter cannot coexist within it. The person who detaches their heart from worldly desires draws closer to Truth (Haqq) and attains spiritual tranquility. Although a servant may manage worldly affairs with their hands, they must always keep their heart attached to the Hereafter and Allah. Everything has a purpose; the true purpose of turning away from the world and turning towards worship is solely to find the Exalted Allah (Hak Ta’ala). Whoever finds Allah has found everything; whoever loses Him has lost everything.