Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Wretched is the slave of the dinar! Wretched is the slave of the dirham! Wretched is the slave of Khamīsah (a kind of fine garments)! Wretched is the slave of velvet! If given, he is pleased, but if not, he is displeased. May he be wretched and may he relapse, and if he is pierced with a thorn, may he not find anyone to take it out for him. Tūba (a tree in Paradise) is for a slave who holds the reins of his horse to strive in Allah's cause, with his hair unkempt and feet covered with dust: if he is appointed as a guard, he accepts his post with satisfaction, and if he is appointed in the vanguard, he accepts his post with satisfaction; (he is so simple and humble that) if he asks for permission, he is not permitted, and if he intercedes, his intercession is not accepted."
Wretched is the slave of the dinar! Wretched is the slave of the dirham! Wretched is the slave of Khamīsah! Wretched is the slave of velvet! If given, he is pleased, but if not, he is displeased. May he be wretched and may he relapse, and if he is pierced with a thorn, may he not find anyone to take it out for him
Explanation
In this Hadīth, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) says that there are people who are fully overwhelmed by the worldly life, for which they pay their utmost attention. Such people will be led to destruction and loss. They are characterized by their deep greed for the worldly life; if one of them is given of its pleasures, he is pleased, and if not, he is displeased. There are other people, however, who aim to please Allah and seek the Hereafter. They have no desire for prestige or fame. They only seek to obey Allah and His Messenger. Such people do not care about how they look, they are satisfied with the place they are placed in, they are insignificant in the eyes of people, and they are distant from the people of authority. If one of them seeks permission to enter upon a person of power, he is not granted permission, and if he intercedes, he is not given such a privilege. However, he is destined to Paradise, which is definitely the most excellent reward.
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