How Much Should We Detach From This Dunya?

Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim. Amongst the plethora of misconceptions and misunderstandings people who adhere to religiosity have, irrespective of religion, is the idea that in order to increase my relationship with God, I have to decrease my relationship with this world, with Dunya. People will then avoid getting married in some circles. Others will deprive themselves for food they deem too luxurious and wear the most simple and modest of clothing. Imam Ali Alayhi as-Salaam, hits the nail on the head when he says "Laysa al-zuhdu 'an laa tamlika shay'an innama al-zuhdu 'an laa yamlikuka shay"- "to adopt a life of asceticism does not mean to not own anything, but rather nothing owns you."

A prime example we see in the life of the Holy Prophet is a lady by the name of Khawla. She approached the Holy Prophet and asked in complaint that my husband's behavior 'Uthman bin Madh'un, is it appropriate? All he does is fast during the day and pray during the night, he barely gives any time to us. He is adopting a life of asceticism and a very abstemious lifestyle-he abstains from all the pleasures life has to offer. Rasul Allah approached this 'Uthman and told him that if you devote yourself to Allah to such an extent that you deprive your family from your presence, then these acts of worship are not accepted.

And you find Allah in the Qur'an explains that the pleasures life has to offer take advantage of them. "Al maalu wal banun zinat ul-hayaat ad-dunyaa"(18:46)- "wealth, children, a big family are amongst the adornments of life". And we know that adornments are appreciated. 'Inna Allaha jamilun yuhibbu al-jamal'- as the Hadith says, 'Allah is beautiful, the absolute source of beauty and loves beauty.'

But strike a balance, like the Holy Qur'an says again: "Wa kadhaaalika ja'alnaakum ummatan wasatan" (2:143)-" and We have created you a balanced middle Ummah". Where you are not too extreme and you are not too loose.

You then find the Holy Prophet (S) stating. "Ya Uthman, Lam yursilni Allahu Ta'ala bi al-rahbaaniyyah"- "oh! Uthman, Allah has not sent me with the message of monasticism where you live your life like a monk." Only devote yourself to Allah, this Dunya is bad, it is evil, the pleasures, stay away from them and that is how you will increase your relationship with God. On the contrary, you can find a balance.

It is a Venn diagram-esque framework, where you have spirituality on one side, but you have materialism and they meet in the center, find that balance and may Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala bless us in achieving that goal.