Tradition

اَلزَّاهِدُ فِى الدُّنْيا مَنْ لَمْ يَغْلِبِ الْحَرامُ صَبْرَهُ وَ لَمْ يَشْغَلِ الْحَلالُ شُكْرَهُ.

Imam ‘Ali (‘a) is narrated to have said: “The true ascetic in this world is he whose resistance (against what is unlawful) is not overcome by the allure of unlawful wealth, while the lawful wealth does not take him away from the remembrance of God and his duty of being thankful towards him.”1

Brief Commentary

Some people have distorted the meaning of the term ascetic (Zahid) and they have transformed the concept into a very negative form. They have redefined this term as referring to someone who distances themselves from all things material, and who steps away from all economic activities and lives like the needy and poverty stricken. This is while such a concept is an incorrect one and true asceticism is that which was lived by the Ahl al-Bayt themselves.

The aforementioned tradition can be divided into two main points. The first is that one must resist and close their eyes to all forms of unlawful wealth. The second is that one should never forget the responsibilities that come with lawful wealth. If we were to define asceticism in this manner, then this is an asceticism which is progressive and positive for the society at large. This is the opposite of false asceticism, which is undoubtedly a negative and destructive force for the society.

• 1. From the book Tuhaf al-’Uqul.