Who is a Zahid? - Portal Gems #42

Est. Read time: 1 min
Edition Number: 42
Adapted from: What Really Matters: Select Hadith from the Prophet ﷺ on Zuhd
Instructor: Shaykh Navaid Aziz

Assalamu Alaykum,

Today’s gem is from Shaykh Navaid Aziz’s course, What Really Matters: Select Hadith from the Prophet ﷺ on Zuhd. In this gem, Shaykh Navaid shares a question that Imam Ahmad (R) received about being a zahid and Imam Ahmad’s answer to the question where he explains what a zahid is.

Hope you enjoy!

We begin in the Name of Allah ﷻ, the Most Merciful and Compassionate,
We ask that He ﷻ sends Peace and Blessings upon our noble and beloved
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ

Imam Ahmad (R)  was asked:

If someone has a thousand gold coins, can they be a zahid (one that doesn’t have concern or desire for dunya and instead yearns for akhira)? 

He replied:

Yes, but with a condition.

The person can be a zahid with a condition that they do not become happy if that amount increases and they do not become sad if the amount decreases. So remember that you want to be attached to the Giver ﷻ, you don't want to be attached to the gift itself. 

May Allah grant us tawfiq to love the Giver ﷻ and not the gift.

أقول قولي هذا وأستغفر الله لي ولكم، فاستغفروه إنه هو الغفور الرحيم

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