Asceticism is Independence of Heart, Not Deprivation
In Islamic ethics, asceticism (zuhd) isn’t about completely withdrawing from the world and suffering in poverty; rather, it’s about not allowing worldly pleasures a place in the heart. Abdülkadir Geylani (q.s.) explains this profound truth with a striking example: “Take the world in one hand and the afterlife in the other. Bring them together. Place them somewhere. Step away from them. Turn to Mevlana.” In other words, a believer can utilize and possess worldly blessings; however, their heart must remain completely pure, containing only Allah’s love and approval. The person who removes worldly possessions from their heart has attained the true, boundless treasure.
External Beauty Should Not Be an Obstacle to Inner Asceticism
The life of Geylani (q.s.) is the most vivid example of this understanding of asceticism. When confronted by those who criticized him for wearing beautiful clothing, he responded: “The beautiful garment you see on me is like a shroud. It was beautiful to me, but after what?… I wore coarse clothes, ate dry food and remained hungry… Then…” For a wali whose heart has been purified from everything other than Allah (masiva), a silk robe or a patched cloak carries the same value. For he accepts the world not for his ego and desires, but as a portion allocated to him by Allah.
Contentment and True Wealth
The believer who frees their soul from worldly ambitions attains a treasure of boundless contentment. Geylani (q.s.), who said, “Teach your children contentment. Make them content with what they have,” advises that after securing what is necessary, one should direct the heart entirely towards worship and obedience to Mevla. The person who is not satisfied with the small amount of worldly possessions in their hand will never be full, even if they receive much. True wealth lies in trusting Allah and knowing that sustenance comes only from His powerful hand, turning away from means. A believer who casts off the love of the world from their heart becomes the richest and freest person in all of creation.