Usul16

The Meaning of Zuhd (Asceticism)

alkafi-8324Vol. 5, p. 70-71

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ لَيْسَ الزُّهْدُ فِي الدُّنْيَا بِإِضَاعَةِ الْمَالِ وَ لَا تَحْرِيمِ الْحَلَالِ‌ بَلِ الزُّهْدُ فِي الدُّنْيَا أَنْ لَا تَكُونَ بِمَا فِي يَدِكَ أَوْثَقَ مِنْكَ بِمَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ.

‘Zuhd (restraint from worldly matters) is not in wasting one’s belongings or making lawful things unlawful.’”

alkafi-8325Vol. 5, p. 71

سَمِعْتُ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع يَقُولُ‌ الزُّهْدُ فِي الدُّنْيَا قَصْرُ الْأَمَلِ وَ شُكْرُ كُلِّ نِعْمَةٍ وَ الْوَرَعُ عَنْ كُلِّ مَا حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ.

‘Zuhd (restraint from worldly matters) in the world is to shorten one’s hopes, give thanks for every bounty and restrain from everything that Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has made unlawful.’”